Peoria Proud’s River City Pride Fest is back for the second year, and organizers say they’re bringing even more entertainment, vendors and community resources to Riverfront Park on Saturday.
“We’ve more than doubled our footprint on the riverfront,” said Peoria Proud treasurer Jake Bowers. “Going all the way from the CEFCU stage down to the bridge.”
More than 100 different vendors and community organizations reserved a spot at the festival, including a family zone provided by Positive Health Solutions. The event had 30 vendors last year.
The stages also are full from sunrise to sundown. Bowers said the morning starts with affirming faith services, followed by a wide variety of genres and local performers between two stages. The day ends with a performance from Jax, a competitor on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The event costs $5 for admission this year, but there are ways to reduce or remove the cost. Bowers said you can bring canned food for a Neighborhood House food drive; each can knocks $1 off the admission. There also will be “Love Tickets” for those unable to pay.
Bowers said it’s important to have ways to make the event as accessible as possible.
“It's also about providing a safe space for people within our community who may not have that otherwise,” he said. “A place that they can go and feel like they can be themselves and be surrounded by people who accept them and find community resources that may be available to them.”
For example, Positive Health Solutions will have resources on site and Central Illinois Friends will offer a mobile STI testing unit.
Organizers have measures in place for safety as well, said Bowers. Similar pride events across the country have drawn protesters and he said there were some negative interactions last year.
“We have security provided from both the park district and Peoria police, and then we have private security on site as well,” Bowers said. “Of course, people have the right to picket or protest. But yeah, our hope is that we have the same turnout as last year in terms of everyone who showed up. Everyone was safe.”
The Pride events don't stop at the boundaries of the riverfront. Peoria’s Dozer Park is hosting “Pride Night with the Chiefs” on Friday and Peoria Proud hosts a “Drag’N’Paint” brunch Sunday at Par-a-Dice Casino.
You can find more information on tickets and all the pride weekend events here.
