While June is the start of Pride Month, which celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) history and culture, two big Akron Pride events will take place in August.
Akron Pride Festival 5K
The first event is the Akron Pride Festival 5K. It will be on Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bounce Innovation Hub at 526 S. Main St. in Downtown Akron and finishes at Canal Place. Registration is now open; fees will vary depending how soon you sign up.
If you register before June 15, it will cist $30. Then it will increase by $5 with deadlines of July 15, Aug. 10 and Aug. 22.
Each runner will receive a T-shirt, but you must be registered by Aug. 1.
Akron Pride Festival and Equity March
The second event for the month will be the annual Akron Pride Festival and Equity March. Registration begins June 1 and the march will take place Aug. 22 marking its 10th year celebration.
The theme for this year’s Equity March is “United As One.” The organization says they want to continue to bring focus to all members of the community and intersectionality with the understanding that any oppression or discrimination experienced by one community impacts other communities as well.
It will start at 10 a.m. at Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot at 510 S. Main St. in Downtown Akron. The march is a 0.6-mile walk.
For more information on both events and to register you can go to akronpridefestival.org.
Other Akron Pride events
Leading up to the two main events, Akron Pride is hosting two other events.
One is the Fire & Ice Soiree for the 10-Year Akron Pride Festival Anniversary Cruise aboard Virgin Voyages. The trip will be from June 18-22 and go from Miami and Key West, Florida to Bimini, Bahamas. You don’t have to be a part of Akron Pride to join the trip, the organization said. See details about registration and more here.
The organization is also hosting a Pride Night at an Akron Rubber Ducks baseball game on July 8 at 6:30 p.m. at 7 17 Credit Union Park at 300 S. Main St. in Downtown Akron.
Why does Akron celebrate Pride in August?
Akron Pride is scheduled later in the summer to avoid directly competing with other Pride Month events held each June in Northeast Ohio.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Pride events will be in August not June, learn when and where
Reporting by Alisson Toro-Lagos, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
