The annual Mid-Missouri PrideFest is returning to downtown Columbia’s Rose Music Hall and North Village Arts District on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29. 

Janet Davis, president of Mid-Missouri PrideFest, wrote in the formal press release that “in today’s polarized political climate, Mid-Missouri PrideFest serves as a beacon of hope and solidarity, reminding us all of the power of love and unity.” 

“The minute you step outside of the city of Columbia, you’ve got the rural communities who don’t have the support and they don’t have the GSAs [Gender Sexuality Alliances] or the Pride fests, and I think it’s really important that we keep on with Mid-Missouri PrideFest because it gives us [the] opportunity to hold a space for all of those people,” Davis said.

The festival is from noon to 6 p.m. both days. There is no cost to attend, and it is open to all ages with free parking available near the event. 

Here are five events to attend at this year’s Mid-Missouri PrideFest.

Drag entertainment

Drag performers Xunami Muse and Jessica Wild, who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, are scheduled to headline a drag showcase at 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at Rose Music Hall. Meet and greets are at 7 p.m. both nights to meet the queens and the 2024 Mid-Missouri PrideFest Royal Court. Passes cost $20 for either Saturday or Sunday or $35 for both nights and can be purchased on the Mid-Missouri PrideFest website. 

Drag performers from the Columbia-based drag network DIVAS by Design are scheduled to perform at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Rose Music Hall, and performers from Missouri entertainment group Nclusion Plus are scheduled for Sunday at the same time. 

Drag queen Veronika Versace will perform with DIVAS by Design and also host for other performers. Versace first performed at Mid-Missouri PrideFest in 2015.

“It’s grown so large just since I’ve been around, I remember seeing crowds of a couple hundred, maybe a thousand,” Versace said. “Now we hit between like six to ten thousand people between two days. It’s crazy to see how many people from all over really come out and celebrate.”

Performances

In addition to the drag performers, Mid-Missouri PrideFest will feature various Missouri-based musicians and a comedian at Rose Music Hall.

“Our goal every year is to find more queer bands and somebody new, like a whole new set of people every year, so that we don’t just keep repeating the same thing over and over,” Davis said. “So this year we have literally 100% all new [musical] entertainment that we’ve never had before.”

On Saturday, Columbia’s LGBTQ+ choir The Quorus is performing at 2 p.m.; Columbia band Double Helix at 3 p.m.; funk band Rochara Knight & the Honey Doves at 5 p.m.; and singer pure xtc at 6 p.m.

On Sunday, the Missouri Symphony is performing at 1 p.m.; the central Missouri-based Megan Boyer Band at 3 p.m; singer Frankie DoWop at 5 p.m.; the Jefferson City-based Bobby Showers Band at 6 p.m.; and comedian Andrea Caspari at 7:15 p.m.

Caspari is currently on the Bored Teachers “The Struggle Is Real” Comedy Tour and says she has always enjoyed going back to Columbia.

“I was honored when they asked me [to perform at Mid-Missouri PrideFest],” Caspari said. “The set is going to really resonate, I think, with everyone. It’s just going to be a good time.”

Mid-Missouri PrideFest is also hosting its first open mic event this year at the Artisan Court on St. James Street from noon until 6 p.m. both days. Davis said singers and bands are currently scheduled to perform at the event.

Parade

The third annual Mid-Missouri PrideFest parade begins at noon on Sunday at the Armory Parking Lot on East Ash Street. Visitors can view the parade on East Ash Street, Ninth Street and Broadway. It is estimated to end around 1 p.m. at Fourth Street.

Street fair

Mid-Missouri PrideFest’s first full food court will be located on Orr Street with six vendors, including Aging Best, 2 Odd Dawgs, Big Daddy’s BBQ, VooDoo Sno, Mr. Murphy’s Stuffed Potatoes and Gina’s Vegan A Go Go. An artisan market with four food and snack vendors will be located on St. James Street. 

In addition to the food, 170 stands representing different organizations will be lined up on Park Avenue, St. James Street and Orr Street. There will be a wide variety of vendors present, including community organizations, local businesses, Pride merchandise vendors and Mid-Missouri PrideFests’ sponsors.

Family area

The Mid-Missouri PrideFest family area will be located at the intersection of Park Avenue and Orr Street. In the family area, visitors can do yoga with puppies, take photos with an Arabian horse, hear a drag performer tell a story, face paint, do puzzles and more.

With drag performers, family area, live entertainment and more, Mid-Missouri PrideFest has something for everyone.

“We’re a family friendly, all ages event … I don’t care how old you are, you know that right here in the middle of the state, you have a safe place to come celebrate, be yourself and spend the weekend,” Davis said.

Edited by Julianna Mejia | jmejia@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Amelia Schaefer and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com