Rochester's annual Pride Festival, presented by the Out Alliance, takes place Saturday, July 14, through Sunday, July 22. This year's fest, "Stand Out: [Live] in Color," aims to spotlight the full spectrum of who we are and promote individuality and diversity. Here's some dates and details for this year's main events, but head over to rocpridefest.org for a full schedule of events, including drag shows, GAYme nights at The Playhouse, youth events, euchre tournaments, and history tours at various venues around the city.
Q-Day at Seabreeze takes place on Saturday, July 14, noon to 6 p.m. at the amusement park (4600 Culver Road). Tickets are $34 and include admission and the park, rides, an all-you-can-eat buffet of summer foods, and the company of LGBTQ+ family, friends, and allies. Registration required.
The Pride 5K Run is scheduled for Sunday, July 15, kicking off at 8:30 a.m. concluding at 11 a.m. Registration costs $30 (advance and day-of, which starts at 7:30 a.m.). Meet at Cobb's Hill Park, 80 Culver Road.
Also on Sunday is the Pride Kick-off Beach Party Picnic, held from noon to 6 p.m. at Ontario Beach Park, 50 Beach Avenue (basically follow Lake Avenue until you see the water). The picnic will take place at the pavilion — bring your own cooler and make use of the on-site grills. Admission is free and all are welcome; glass and pets are not allowed.
Pride's Opening Ceremonies take place at City Hall (30 Church Street) on Monday, July 16, 6 to 7 p.m., with Grand Marshal Peter Mohr and Honorary Marshals Carlos Merriweather and Arlisha Massey. The Rochester Gay Men's Chorus and the Rochester Women's Community Chorus will perform. Free to attend; bring your flags!
The Roc Pride Parade takes place on Saturday, July 21, beginning at 1 p.m. and will travel from Park Avenue and Alexander Street to Park Avenue and Brunswick Street. Line-up is at noon (location to be emailed those who register no later than July 16). Free to attend.
And the two-day Roc Pride Fest takes place at Cobb's Hill Park on Saturday, July 21, 1 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, July 22, noon to 6 p.m. Each day will be filled with games, activities, food, and performances; this year's headliners include singer-songwriter Deborah Cox, Ada Vox (the first drag queen to perform on American Idol's stage), "band-of-the-future" NicK & Six, DJ Citizen Jane, Rochester-based dance and music group Daughters of ArT, and Rochester vocalist Champagne Brown. Tickets are $9.99 for a weekend pass, $7.50 for Saturday, $5 for Sunday and student weekend passes, and free to veterans and kids under age 16. More details and the full lineup at rocpridefest.org.
