Mid-Missouri PrideFest celebrated their 16th annual fest on Aug. 28 and 29 at Rose Music Hall in downtown Columbia.
The event has been a part of the LGBTQ community for more than 16 years, with over 70 different sponsors, including MU Health Care and KOMU. The festival was free and open to the public to attend and enjoy, with a live DJ and food vendors like Big Daddy’s BBQ, Kindle Concessions, Ozark Mountain Biscuits and more.
A few examples of the events at the fest included youth talent, drag shows, a homecoming procession, dance party, youth drag show, the Missouri Symphony and more. PrideFest co-chair Janet Davis said this kept the overall structure of the festival similar to the past ones.
“Luckily we have had almost the same group for a long time now [sponsors and vendors], so we basically keep it the same,” Davis said. “We would love to grow soon, but since we have been in the Rose Music Hall, it just worked out so well that we have kept the footprint and everything the same every year.”
While the event was free, people had an option to get VIP tickets between $40 and $70. Shops sold piercings, floppy hats, glitter tattoos, colorful sunglasses, rainbow ribbons and more. There was also a kids zone with activities, a bounce house and a teen lounge.
Davis also said organizers made equal contributions in their work, which included emailing vendors, reaching out to sponsors and gathering the Pride Royalty Pageant before the event could take place.
She also said the increase in COVID-19 cases caused them to lose out on social events in Columbia.
“We had to cancel PrideFest last year due to COVID. We lost our LGBTQ bar here in town,” Davis said.”We feel a little loaded and homeless and so it’s been so fantastic this year being able to put something together because it’s outdoors.”
In order to avoid traffic coming all in one day, the festival was celebrated, for the first time, over two days to limit crowds.
Drag queen Veronika Versace, who was crowned queen during the 2016 festival, hosted this year’s event. She said she enjoyed being part of it and seeing Missouri grow since she won her crown.
Versace also said it is essential for people to embrace Pride in a society where discrimination still plays a role and there is so much prejudice.
“I think that Pride is incredibly important, Versace said “I think just keeping up with the tradition and gathering, celebrating and remembering that you are loved and you are valid is very important.”
Brandon Banks, one of the local vendors at the fest, linked PrideFest to the community, and described how local businesses at the festival help support the idea that everyone is equal and worthy of love and respect.
“Really just being comfortable with who you are and not being afraid to express yourself,” Banks said. “More like surrounding yourself with others who you love, and people who are always there for you.”
Edited by Emmet Jamieson | ejamieson@themaneater.com
