The 21st annual Pride Day Festival and Parade held on Saturday looked a bit different this year compared to the first few that were held in Prince George.
“When you’re walking along the street as a participant in the parade and look at the people lining the streets, everyone looks so happy now,” Tess Healy, one-half of the first same-sex couple to be married in Prince George in 2003, said. She remembers parades where protesters carrying placards cast a shadow on an otherwise joyful day for her and Wendy Young, who have been together since 1998.
“It warms my heart to see a grandma and grandpa attending the festival and grandma is waving a rainbow flag while grandpa has a rainbow painted on his face,” Young, an artist who has been a vendor at the festival since its inception, said. “It sure has changed. Look at all the smiling faces.”
The parade took a route through the downtown streets ending at the festival site at 1100 Patricia Blvd., right beside the Four Seasons Pool.
The Pride Festival featured information booths, vendors, food, a DJ and live musical entertainment including Judy Russell’s performers showcasing songs from the upcoming production of Legally Blonde the Musical.
Hundreds shared their time between the Pride Festival and the BMO KidzArt Dayz held at Canada Games Plaza as both events were family oriented and kid friendly with hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill at both locations, and a petting farm at the Pride Festival, while there were mini rail train rides and many arts and crafts booths at the plaza.
