Pride attendees take a break from Music Bingo at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Organized by new nonprofit Itasca Pride, the event marks the first large-scale gathering in support of the region's LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month.
GRAND RAPIDS — On a pleasant summer day with sunny skies, thousands of community members gathered Sunday, June 23, for the Itasca Pride Fest in downtown Grand Rapids.
Organized by new nonprofit Itasca Pride, the event marked the first large-scale gathering in the city in support of the region's LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month.
The festival took place on the grounds of Old Central School and featured a headlining band, dozens of vendors, visits from political candidates, music bingo and an area set away from some of the louder events for face painting, giant bubbles and sidewalk chalk.
Itasca Pride board member Ehryn Summers, who coordinated the arts and entertainment for the event, said the group never expected such a large turnout. Volunteers at the entrances and exits counted an estimated 2,000 people over the course of the day.
"We were very humbled but also extremely excited," Summers said. " ... When we're hearing all these people in our community saying that we needed this, it really proved that, wow, we did need this."
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Emily Olson, Laylani Olson, Andi Fredrickson and Deidra Mankus wear colorful outfits for Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Local and visiting drag performers also took the stage Sunday, drawing the most spectators of all events, according to organizers.
Summers, who performed a number dressed as an androgynous Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, said the drag show was well received and the most well attended of all Pride events.
"Clearly there were people wanting to come for something that's not exactly common in our community," Summers said.
Summers added that despite coming at the end of a full day, an interfaith service organized by Community Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids also drew about 70 people.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Jeff and Robin Russell play Jenga at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
While most people attended the event for fun and fellowship, a small group of people appeared in protest. Since plans for the Pride Fest were announced, some community members pushed back with claims of an inappropriate environment for children. People dressed in white conducted surveillance on the grounds, capturing photos and videos — when those lenses weren't being blocked by rainbow Pride flags, bingo cards or other means.
Summers said Itasca Pride board members prepared for the probability of protesters, training in de-escalation tactics with Minneapolis-based organization Sequeerity.
"My personal opinion is, they actually just helped us get more and more [people] at the festival, really — much to, I think, their dismay," Summers said.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Pride attendee blocks a video camera with a bingo card at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids. A small group of protesters at the event gathered photos and videos, which were often blocked by rainbow flags or other items from capturing footage.
Efforts by those who disagree with Pride Fest continued this week, as a group of nine people — a few again dressed in white — spoke during public forum on Monday at the Grand Rapids City Council meeting. Five of the nine were not Grand Rapids residents.
"Would you please take down the sign that says, 'Happy Pride'? It is up now in front of the Central School grounds. The Pride Fest is over," said Catherine McLynn of Grand Rapids. "We put up with it. We hope it will never happen again. And we'll do all we can to let you know how very disappointed we were in the outcome of this event."
As is common practice, council members did not respond to comments made during the public forum.
Looking ahead, Itasca Pride's leaders are planning LGBTQIA+ events throughout the year, including film showings and social gatherings like bowling nights.
"We have set up a really, really good future for the community," Summers said.
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Krissalyn Dahl, Dezarae Shaw and Emma’lou Shaw pose for a photo during Musical Bingo at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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Attendees sit on the lawn of Old Central School at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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Colorful buttons lie on the Gender Justice table at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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Paola Lopez-Cortez and George Cordero stand at the Gender Justice table at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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Pride attendees visit the Outfront Minnesota table at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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People hold a Pride flag in front of the stage at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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Two protesters of the event in white shirts photograph Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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A sign at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, encourages attendees not to engage with protesters on the Old Central School grounds in downtown Grand Rapids. A small group appeared at the event under the premise of praying for children.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters of the event wear white shirts and stand near the stage during Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
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Zoey Friesen, Mary Jenkins and Dawn Poppe stand at their booth at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Volunteers from the Minnesota Historical Society visit with attendees of Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Itasca Pride Fest was on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Pride attendees take a break from Music Bingo on the lawn of Old Central School during Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Paula Nix-Vroman sits at the Itasca Area Indivisible table at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Itasca Pride Board member Liz Branum at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Branum is the religious organization liaison for Itasca Pride.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Podcaster Cameron Kruger sits at the Transgenda table at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Attendees show their support for Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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A Pride bracelet lies on the Itasca Area Indivisible table at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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A person holds a colorful popcorn container at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
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Flags like "Let me be perfectly queer" fly at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Andi Fredrickson models her colorful LGBTQ earring at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Tracie MacDowell, Kim Phillips and Renata Rogalla give free mom hugs at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Julia Nelson poses at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Selina Watson of Organized Chaos leads Music Bingo on the lawn of Old Central School during Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Pride attendees hold a flag at Itasca Pride Fest in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Amelia Grigsby makes giant bubbles at Itasca Pride Fest on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.
KAXE was a media sponsor of Itasca Pride Fest. Coverage produced by KAXE News is always independent and never influenced by business and community partnerships.
Chelsey Perkins became the News Director in early 2023 and was tasked with building a new local newsroom at the station. She is based in Brainerd and leads a team of two reporters covering communities across Northern Minnesota from the KAXE studio in Grand Rapids and the KBXE studio in Bemidji.
