Join Macaroni KID Annapolis on Saturday, June 4th as we celebrate Pride Month with the 2nd Annual Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival.
This is a family-friendly event. There will be face painting, games, food and several exhibitors for youth and families.
We will be in the parade and have a booth in the youth area, located in the parking lot next to Stan and Joe's on West Street. Stop by the Macaroni KID Annapolis booth and say hi. We will be giving out some cool swag, according to my daughter.
History
A group of determined community members began creating the concept for Annapolis Pride during winter 2018. On May 25, the Annapolis Pride Facebook page launched with the iconic anchor logo created by Pomerantz Marketing and quickly began to gain followers. At the request of Annapolis Pride, Mayor Gavin Buckley declared June as LGBTQ+ Pride month for the first time in history for the City of Annapolis. The proclamation stated that Annapolis would host its first pride parade and festival in June of 2019. The first parade and festival were held on June 29 with nearly 6,000 people attending. After a two year hiatus due to Covid, the festivities are back and set for June 4, 2022.
2022 Theme
The theme of the 2022 Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival is Many Faces, One Pride. Annapolis Pride recognizes that the LGBTQ+ community is composed of many people, all skin tones, genders, sexualities, religions and abilities.
Parade Noon
The half-mile parade will take place on June 4th and step off at noon at the intersection of Amos Garrett Blvd. and West Street. The parade continues along West Street (toward downtown) then takes a left on Calvert Street where the festival will occur. Nearly 100 groups are expected to participate in the parade.
Festival Noon to 5pm
The festival will take place on Inner West Street between Church Circle and Calvert Streets. It will begin when the parade ends.
More than 140 artisans, businesses and community organizations will have tables in the People’s Park, West Street, between Calvert Street and Church Circle and adjacent parking lots.
Food Trucks and several restaurants will be selling food.
There will be two stages for entertainment featuring over ten musical acts including; IAmYoungAye, L. Rodgers, Honey Sol, Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band, C. Rafter, Ronshaye Clark, M.E.G.A. YOUTH, and more! Celebrate at the Pride Block Party at the Graduate Annapolis Hotel with DJ Dirty Panda, and drag performances from Shawnna Alexander, Jalah Nicole, and Candi Fuentes.
Parking
Paid parking at City garages will be available, including Park Place, Gotts, and Knighton. Information about additional garage and surface lot parking is available at Access Annapolis.
Event Map
Sponsors
More than 75 businesses and organizations are sponsoring this year's event. You can see the complete list by clicking here. Macaroni KID Annapolis is proud to be a media sponsor.
Other Pride Events
Go to the events page at www.annapolispride.org/pride-events/ for a list of Pride events happening in our community. Some are family-friendly. If you are hosting an event, you can add it to the calendar.
Resources
The Annapolis Pride website has a thorough list of resources for the LGBTQ+ community. It includes:
What is LGBT Pride Month?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBT Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
Sources for this article: The City of Annapolis and Annapolis Pride
Event Facebook Page
