Two Pride festivals to take place in Port Huron
PORT HURON — Pride is growing in Port Huron with two LGBTQ Pride events taking place this weekend.
Blue Water Pride and Port Huron Pride will both take place on Sunday at McMorran Plaza and the Foundry. Organizers involved in both events said that having two Pride festivals in Port Huron is wonderful as it will be expanding the general celebration for the area's LGBTQ community.
MJ Collins, one of the organizers of Port Huron Pride, said this is the first step to having the feel of a larger, overall festival.
"Looking at places like Ferndale, you can see that it's not just one place organizing something for Pride, but every single business," they said. "I hope that this is the start for Port Huron where people could go throughout downtown to show off their pride."
Port Huron Pride at the Foundry
Port Huron Pride is being organized by various organizations including Haus of Salad, Honeydew Homestead and Gay Stuff for Sale. At least 30 vendors will be present, both inside and outside the Foundry. Also, 10 drag performers will be performing between 2 and 5 p.m.
Collins said Port Huron Pride is also being sponsored by other LGBTQ organizations, such as Forever Pride, which allows the event to provide various refreshments and resources.
Port Huron Pride will also feature a drag queen pageant called Miss Port Huron Pride at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Foundry. This pageant traces its roots to Seekers, a now closed LGBTQ bar in Port Huron. Collins said holding the pageant allows the community to not only continue that tradition, but also carry its torch for younger generations.
Admission to Miss Port Huron Pride is $10 online or $20 at the door.
Blue Water Pride at McMorran Plaza
Blue Water Allies will kick off its second annual Pride festival at 10 a.m. on Sunday. This year's Blue Water Pride will have 40 vendors, a kid's play area, food trucks and drag performances. New this year will be the headliner act, Puddles Pity Party, who was an act on "America's Got Talent" in 2017.
The Pride March will start at 11 a.m. and head down the sidewalk on Huron Avenue towards Quay Street before turning around and going back to McMorran. Live entertainment will then begin at 11:30 a.m.
Additionally, Community Mental Health will be providing resources, and the St. Clair County Health Department will also be at Pride to provide free vaccines to those interested.
Blue Water Allies Director Barbara Payton said it's important for people to feel represented, and so having Pride allows a place for people to be proud of who they are and feel accepted by the community.
"I want to leave a legacy for the younger generations so that they don't have to fight the way that my generation and previous generations had to fight," she said.
Collins said having Pride events is important to the Port Huron area because the LGBTQ community still faces retaliation. They said having these two Pride events will show not only solidarity, but also raise awareness and provides LGBTQ youth a place to feel welcome in the community.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Two LGBTQ Pride fests taking place in Port Huron
