This year’s Fox Valley Pride Fest will be held on June 21, bringing entertainment, food and drinks and the first-ever Pride Promenade to the area.
From 1 to 8 p.m., attendees can gather for free at Jones Park, 301 W. Lawrence St. in Appleton, for an evening of performances and fun.
But first, from noon to 12:30 p.m., the Fox Valley Pride Promenade will get the party started.
Starting at 11:15 a.m., those interested in the promenade can gather on the front lawn of the History Museum at the Castle at 330 E. College Ave. The group will then march, rally, party, or walk however they choose to display their pride from the museum, down College Avenue to Houdini Plaza.
Because the Pride Promenade will take place at the same time as the Downtown Appleton Farm Market, attendees must adhere to a list of rules in accordance with local ordinance. They may not use megaphones, must not have nudity, must follow the path and walk together as a group from start to finish, may not consume alcohol and may not throw or give away candy. Participants must be mindful of the market and should not engage with any protestors.
For more information and a full list of rules for the Pride Promenade, visit fvpride.org.
The promenade will end in Houdini Plaza, where guests can participate in the Make Music Day Dance Party.
Just down the street, at 1 p.m., the Pride Fest will commence with a performance by singer Michael Grabner.
Following that, guests will have the opportunity to see performances from artists like The Traveling Suitcase, Kat and The Hurricane and Rai Hudson.
The event will also feature over 100 vendors, providing the opportunity to shop and get information from establishments like Blind Date with a Book, Cheeky Ceramics, Mystikcat Creations and Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
A number of local food trucks will be in attendance, including Bel Air Cantina, Ong’s Food Truck, Houdini’s Panini’s and Osario’s Latin Fusion. The organization has partnered with McFleshman’s Brewing Co. to provide beer, seltzers and non-alcoholic options.
The cornhole tournament kicks off at 3 p.m., where teams of two will compete in two brackets, a winner’s bracket and loser’s bracket, until a first and second place winning team is decided for brackets. Teams are encouraged to wear team attire and get in the cornhole spirit.
The event will close out with the Drag Show performance from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring appearances from queens like Mama J, Dominque DeGrant, Jessica Bee and the newly crowned Miss Gay Fox Valley 2025, Krystal Kuttabish.
The event guarantees a safe space as Star Protection and Patrol has partnered with Fox Valley Pride to provide security for the day. The website ensures there is well-trained, inclusive personnel that will be affirming and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
For more information and a full schedule of the event visit fvpride.org.
Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@gannett.com. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Watch live drag performances, become a cornhole champion at this year’s Fox Valley Pride Fest
Reporting by Jelissa Burns, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
