This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: June 26, 2008 - It won't be the rain that brings out the rainbows this weekend as the region's 29th PrideFest gets underway.
Organizers and businesses in the South Grand area say this year will be the biggest festival in the event's history despite some money issues. With new entertainment, booths and the longest parade in Pridefest history, they hope to bring out not just gays and lesbians but "everybody."
"It'll be rainbow, rainbow, rainbow," Sasha Feline, manager of Cheap TRX, said. The shop at 3211 South Grand has been prepping for the festival for weeks. During the weekend, it will run tattoo and piercing specials along with a barbeque. "Because South Grand in itself is so diverse, this diversity of cultures ... that's one of the things that's so welcoming to have Pride in."
The festival, which runs June 28 and 29, expects to draw about 80,000 people this year. PrideFest features booths, volleyball and washer tournaments, musical and comedy acts and a parade.
Some of this year's entertainment acts include Martha Wash of the Weather Girls.
The Pride parade will be the longest in festival history, projected to last close to three hours, C.J. Saenz, president of Pride St. Louis, said. Pride St. Louis, a community-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender awareness group, puts on the festival.
"Every single year, it continued to grow," Saenz said.
A commitment ceremony for couples, gay and straight, has seen more than a hundred people participate in past years. Although the meaning of marriage has become a hot button nationally, Saenz said PrideFest's ceremony isn't about making a political statement.
{C}{C}
"It really is all about the couples that day and their love for one another," Saenz said. "[PrideFest] is about people getting to know one another. This is not just for same gendered couples. We want to make people welcome."
Funding the festival, which will cost about $215,000, was challenging this year, Saenz said, although its organizers met all of their goals.
"A lot of individuals who donated in the past have had difficulty or haven't been able to this year," Saenz said. The festival has benefited from greater visibility, neighborhood support and more companies becoming involved. The festival is also cracking down on outside alcohol because it cuts in the festival sales that contribute to next year's PrideFest. The festival turns 30 in 2009 and planning is already underway for that anniversary, Saenz said.
Feline, who has worked at Cheap TRX for 10 years, has seen a lot of PrideFests. While the weekend is great for business, Feline said she enjoys atmosphere and variety of people who come out.
Although the event has been going on for decades, people can still have misconceptions about what PrideFest is, Saenz and Feline said.
"Obviously, it is gay pride, but it's not exclusively for gays and lesbians; this is for friends, for family, for anybody who wants to enjoy the festivities," Feline said. "I think it's like, for someone who has never been, they think it's like Mardi Gras. This is not Mardi Gras. It's more family oriented. It's about people having fun but it's not Mardi Gras in the decadent sense."
A bonus for pets
Pets and their owners are getting in on Pride weekend's action as the neighboring Morganford area has its second annual Pet Parade.
"It's going to be more of a little party beforehand," organizer Jennifer Coke said. The parade is put on by the Tower Grove Business Association and other groups. "I think, last year, everybody sort of just walked down." Planning began in February.
Vendors such as Four Muddy Paws will participate. Pet owners can have their faces painted while their pets can be immortalized in pet portraits. More than 200 people and pets are expected to participate.
Proceeds will go to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. The group's founder, Randy Grim and Quentin, "the wonder dog" will be grand marshals.
Partnering with PrideFest shows neighborly support, Coke said, and allows the smaller event to gain some visibility.
"It's sort of a natural sharing," Coke said.
The Second Annual Morganford Pet Parade
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 28
Events begin with "Yappy Hour" and registration at the intersection of Morganford and Utah. Parade begins at noon. Awards ceremony at 1 p.m. in Tower Grove Park.
For information, visit www.morganfordpetparade.com
Amelia Flood, St. Louis, is a freelance writer.
PrideFest2008
When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., June 28 and 29
Commitment ceremony, 3 p.m. Saturday in Tower Grove Park
Parade starts at noon Sunday on Gravois, goes along South Grand, ends at the park.
Where: In Tower Grove Park and along South Grand Boulevard
No outside alcohol will be allowed at the festival.
For information, visit www.pridestl.org/pridefest.html