By Bethany Carlson
Pride Corvallis will host its sixth annual Pride in the Park festival on Saturday, June 28. The event is free, and will be held in Corvallis Central Park from 2 to 7 p.m.
Pride in the Park is a family-friendly event and will offer kids’ activities such as games and crafts, face painting, and a balloon artist. The event will be MCed by local radio personality Debi Starr, and there will be live music.
The festival’s theme this year is “Get Engaged,” which represents a nod to the recent marriage equality decision along with a chance for Corvallisites to connect with and support members of the local LGBT community. Local vendors will also showcase wedding-planning options.
A beer and wine garden will be provided by Squirrel’s, with all proceeds going to Pride Corvallis. Local food vendors round out the event, which was organized this year by PFLAG Corvallis/Albany. Co-planner of the event Kathy Thompson reports that this year’s festival was sponsored by the Benton County Health Department, HP, Office Max, PFLAG Corvallis/Albany, PQ Monthly, the Pride Foundation, Special Occasions, Squirrel’s, and Stash.
In addition, Mayor Julie Manning presented a proclamation to the City Council earlier this week declaring Saturday, June 28 of this year to be Corvallis Pride Day.
It’s been a good year in Oregon for the LGBTQ community and its allies. We celebrated the May 19 overturning of the same-sex marriage ban, as a rainbow cloud floated over Corvallis; let’s continue the festivities with Pride in the Park.
More info is available at www.pridecorvallis.org.
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