‘Bigger every year’: Now at home in September, Boise Pride is back. Here are the plans

Boise is gearing up for another Pride Festival this weekend, with organizers hoping that around 70,000 people will attend.

The festival made a permanent move to September in recent years, even though June is Pride Month and when most celebrations take place nationwide. But there are several benefits of the change, including better weather, the fact that college students are in town and avoiding the “Pride premium” fee for talent, according to Michael Dale, president of Boise Pride’s board of directors.

“I think in Idaho, especially, we are all different,” Dale said. “Diversity is our strength. The more we can come together and celebrate that, the stronger our voices.”

This year, the stage has moved from the west side of Cecil D. Andrus Park across from the Idaho Capitol downtown to the east side, to accommodate growing trees. On Sunday, the Pet Pride Show will return at 12:45 p.m. after its debut last year — and someone even called asking whether they could bring a donkey, Dale said.

(The answer? Yes, just clean up after it.)

The festival opens Friday, with fireworks that same night. Saturday is the big day, with events from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., including the Hometown Drag Spectacular at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday morning the festival will continue after the Pride Parade, which goes from 9 to 11 a.m.

The parade starting time was moved earlier, Dale said, because there were 104 entries. It will start at the intersection of 9th and Jefferson, go down to 12th, then drop down to Bannock and end at 8th and Bannock.

The Boise Pride Festival has faced controversy and opposition in the past. In 2022, sponsors dropped out after a Drag Kids event was announced as part of the program. Boise Pride ultimately pulled the show from the lineup, according to Statesman reporting.

There’s usually a handful of protesters, Dale said, but he said hasn’t heard anything concerning ahead of this year’s festivities. Boise Pride works with the local police, the FBI and the Department of Justice to monitor threats, Dale said.

“It gets bigger every year,” Dale said. “It takes everybody to be a part and make sure that we all feel included in our community.”