There’s only one thing that could have topped trekking out in the 90 degree weather on Saturday to walk down Main Street in a crowd of a couple thousand sweaty Akronites…
And that would have been sipping an ice-cold margarita in my 68 degree condo while binge watching Bridgerton with Lincoln and Bug.
But all jokes aside, the heat was worth every drop of sweat to hang out at one of the most well organized, best attended, fun, wild, and welcoming events Akron has to offer -- the Akron Pride Festival.
The Festival was hosted in its new venue this year, taking over Main Street and the Lock 3 and 4 stages and parks downtown.
And even though it was a scorcher, that didn’t stop the LGBTQIA+ community from coming out in full force with rainbow capes, costumes, tutus, mermaid tails (no joke), knee highs, thigh highs, platform boots, and stilts with bell bottom sequin gauchos.
Not to mention the makeup, leather, pleather, fringe, fishnets, and mounds of luscious locks we saw up on stage during the drag shows -- how any of them kept it all on (especially the painted queens’ makeup) was beyond me.
In case you missed the epic festivities, let me be the first to tell you that Akron did not go small and did not disappoint.
Gia Gunn and Jiggly Caliente -- both of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame -- graced our little city, each hosting their own drag shows on the Lock 3 stage.
The crowd was also captivated by a live performance by Wrabel -- the Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter who has written songs for none other than Kesha, PINK, and the Backstreet Boys, to name a few.
The Cleveland Cavaliers Dance Team also put on a show for the thirsty crowd.
But even with all the glitz and glam and celebrities, Akron Pride Festival was still very Akron (aka down to earth, accessible, and friendly).
I mean, where else in the country can city residents take advantage of FREE, prime downtown parking on the weekends? Whether you’re out on the town for Pride Festival, or you want to visit the beautiful downtown Akron library, the Art Museum, or the plethora of bars, restaurants, breweries and tasting rooms, you can find parking. For free. Every weekend.
And it warmed my heart to see our big, local corporations and institutions -- like Smuckers (the 2021 Presenting Sponsor of Akron Pride Festival), Goodyear & Bridgestone, the local hospitals and banks, and Akron and Kent State Universities -- hosting vendor tables with Pride swag giveaways and t-shirts and signs promoting love in all forms.
And Mark Smucker -- the jams and jellies CEO himself -- kept the beats alive as the Lock 4 Smuckers Stage DJ all day long.
I sure hope someone kept him hydrated!
Seeing the number of families coming to the event together -- LGBTQIA+ families and ally families alike -- reminded me how lucky we are to live in what I like to refer to as a big-little city. Akron is progressive enough to feel like New York City at times, but small enough to where you can’t even run into the grocery store for a forgotten jug of milk or bag of ice in your pajamas because you’re bound to run into a neighbor or friend.
