Kent Rainbow Weekend, the city's annual Pride Festival, begins this Friday
A celebration of Kent's LGBTQ+ community returns this Friday and Saturday with Rainbow Weekend, the city's annual Pride Festival.
Presented by Main Street Kent, this year's festival includes a host of offerings, including a free screening of the documentary "Mama Bears," featuring women willing to fall out of lockstep with their fundamentalist Christian upbringing to protect their LGBTQ+ children.
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Bar crawls, safe space training and storytelling events are scheduled throughout the city as well. A full schedule of events can be found on Main Street Kent's website.
Some events are ticketed, like the midnight screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Friday at the Kent Stage. But many more, such as the exhibits at the FJKluth Art Gallery, are free.
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Safe space training and panel discussions require registration but are free to attend. Donations are are welcome and go to benefit the LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund, which supports in-crisis Kent State University students, oftentimes after being disowned by family for coming out as LGBTQ.
Friday kickoff to Kent Rainbow Weekend
Festivities begin early Friday morning at Scribbles Coffee Co. and Bent Tree Coffee. From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Justin Collier's artwork will be on display at Scribbles, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bent Tree will be holding a children's' coloring contest.
Bell Tower Brewing, FJKluth Art Gallery, Troppus Projects, Squirrel City Jewelers, and McKay Bricker Framing also will be holding events throughout the day.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., people can stop in to Water Street Tavern to get their bar crawl pass, as well as an Absolut-branded mason jar, rainbow Jello shots, Kent Rainbow Weekend bracelet and other assorted goodies. Guests will be entered automatically into a grand prize drawing. Bar crawl tickets are $15.
Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kent-rainbow-weekend-bar-crawl-2022-tickets-402824818877 to register.
Beginning at 7 p.m., runners will depart Risman Plaza for the Rainbow Run 5k. Registration fees — $20 for students, $25 for non-students — will be used to refill the coffers of the LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund. Visit https://www.kent.edu/lgbtq/rainbow-run-5k for more information and to register.
Runners can attend the End of the Rainbow celebration at North Water Brewing after finishing the race.
The party will continue all over town until last call. Entertainment throughout the night can be found at Water Street Tavern, Zephyr Pub, 157 Lounge and the Kent Stage.
Saturday Kent Rainbow Weekend schedule
Things start early again on Saturday at Scribbles and Bent Tree with the second day of Collier's art exhibition at Scribbles and the coloring contest at Bent Tree.
Education and panel discussions begin at 10 a.m. on the second floor of the Kent Free Library, located at 312 W. Main St . Registration is required, but it's free to attend. Donations are welcome. Three events will be held at the library throughout the day.
The schedule includes:
Safe Space Ally Training 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register here
How Faith Leaders Create LGBTQ+ Affirming Spaces 12:30-1:45 p.m. – Register here
Parents: Pitfalls and Proud Moments, PFLAG Panel 2:15-3:30 p.m. – Register here
The "Mama Bears" documentary screening begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Franklin Hall FirstEnergy Interactive Auditorium on Kent State's campus.
The weekend will wrap up with evening entertainment at Bell Tower Brewing, North Water Brewing, Water Street Tavern and the Zephyr Pub.
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent celebrates diversity with third annual LGBTQ+ pride event
