Guide to Pride: Columbus offers new Downtown event, several suburban celebrations
If you're in the mood to "pregame" before the Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival & Resource Fair, mark your calendars for June 8, when the new Downtown Pride debuts at Pearl Alley and Gay Street. From 4-10 p.m., the event features two stages of entertainment with DJs, drag queens, dancers, divas and other delights.
On the Gay Street Stage, Virginia West hosts the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, musicians Trey Pearson and Amuka & Kelo, then performs herself before bringing on EDM DJ Allegedly Defeated.
Meanwhile, over on Pearl Street, the party gets jumping with rotating drag shows by Blonde Vanity and friends, as well as DJ sets from Industrial Badger and Govan Jones.
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Stilt-walkers, aerialists, fire performers and other entertainers from the Tantalizing Tigers are to roam the streets and there is to be a family zone at Palmas Tropical Escape for the littlest celebrators, with face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy and more.
There's also a plethora of Pride festivities happening in the suburbs of Columbus, including:
Bexley Pride Walk: 5:30 p.m. May 31, Capital University, 2265 E. Mound St. ? Starting on the lawn of the university, the walk proceeds east down Main Street and crosses over the Rainbow Crosswalk, then turns south on Euclaire Avenue. Finally, walkers turn west on Mound Street, bringing them back to Capital University. Girl Scout Troop 1512 organizes the event in partnership with Bexley Pride. There are to be activity booths and raffle prizes.
Delaware Pride Fest: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 1, Boardman Arts Park, 154 W. William St. ? The fest is to feature live music by the Lucky Penny Sisters, Levi Brown, Isis Yasmeen Attia and the Columbus Pride Band. The entertainment lineup also includes inanimate-object impersonator Clinica Deprecious, Maja Jera, Robyn DaCultyre, Crunchwrap, Godiva, Amora Rose and drag king Logan Jaymes St. Jaymes. Food trucks also are to be on-site.
Sunday Funday: Worthington Pride: Noon to 5 p.m. June 2, Worthington Historic District ? The fourth annual pride celebration welcomes all to celebrate diversity and love in all forms and offers hands-on activities and crafts, food and local shopping specials, live music and entertainment and booths representing LGBTQ+ organizations.
Pride New Albany Day: 4-7 p.m. June 6, New Albany Market Square, 240 Market St. ? Wear your Pride-themed apparel to the Healthy New Albany Farmers Market and visit Pride New Albany's table.
Hilliard Pride: Noon to 3 p.m., June 8, Station Park, 4021 Main St. ? Vendors, live music, educational organizations and activities for kids are to be featured at the fourth annual Pride event. Plus, the fountains are to be on, so feel free to splash, cool off and dance in the water.
Upper Arlington Pride: 1-5 p.m. June 9, Sunny 95 Park and Amelita Mirolo Barn, 4395 Carriage Hill Lane ? Enjoy entertainment, vendors, swag, goodies and more.
Granville Pride: 4-7 p.m. June 22, Lamson Lodge, 200 Washington Drive ? This event at Denison University offers food trucks, drag queens, speakers and lots of vendors.
Reynoldsburg Pride Celebration: 4-8 p.m. June 22, Huber Park, 1640 Davidson Drive ? Festivities include music, food trucks, arts-and-crafts vendors, community groups and a pet parade.
Westerville Pride: 5-8 p.m. June 22, parking lot at North State and East Home streets ? At the fourth annual pride fest, attendees can visit tables with information about local organizations, check out local vendors with special Pride-themed goods and dance the night away with drag performers, dancers and a DJ.
If you don't mind taking a short road trip, here are a couple more Pride happenings nearby:
Marysville Pride Fest: 3-9 p.m. June 8, Partners Park, 125 E. Sixth St. - Emceed by Atlas Stone and Kiki Babylon, the fest offers food trucks, vendors, music, art and other performances.
The Rainbow Alliance of Fairfield County has planned a full slate of events in Lancaster:
Pride brunch: Noon to 3 p.m. June 9, MermGoddess Tattoo Studio & Gallery, 130 S. Columbus St.
Pride pub choir: 7-9 p.m. June 13, O'Huids Gaelic Pub, 167 W. Main St.
Flag Day: June 14 (all day) at the Downtown gazebo
Pride Yoga: Noon to 3 p.m. June 21 at the Downtown gazebo
Pride Music Bingo: 7-9 p.m. June 26, Double Edge Brewing Company, 158 W. Chestnut St.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pride events taking place in Columbus and suburban communities
