Pride 2023 in Sioux Falls is right around the corner. Here's what to know.
Pride 2023, the Sioux Falls Pride parade and festival planned for June 9-11, is right around the corner.
The Sioux Falls Pride Marketing Coordinator Rachel Polan shared what the organizers plan for the event, although a full official program will only be available in a few weeks when finalized.
“We have a whole bunch of events planned for the festival and the parade, and we have events planned all month for various groups in our community,” said Polan.
Polan explained some events are aimed at adults, some for teens and some for kids. In addition, during all three nights of the event, drag shows are planned at Club David and at Cion Lounge for ages 21 and older.
The parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. June 10, at 8th Street and continue to the 8th and Railroad Center, where the festival is planned to kick off at 11 a.m. in the private parking lot area.
“We will be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” said Polan.
Why did Sioux Falls Pride move locations, and where is Sioux Falls Pride 2023?
Sioux Falls Pride used to be held at Terrace Park until it outgrew that location and moved to Cherapa Place in 2021. Because of construction at Cherapa Place in 2022, the organization worked with the City of Sioux Falls and 8th and Railroad Center to secure an accessible downtown location for the 2022 festival and parade route.
The 2023 festival will have vendors, including from other states, such as Minnesota and Iowa, said Polan, various performers on the main stage, as well as a kids’ corner and food trucks, and other kinds of attractions.
The headliner for the musical performances of the festival is Convict Julie, an artist from Atlanta, Georgia, who reached out to the organizers of the event wanting to perform in the community. Julie is known as a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
“We are very excited to have her,” said Polan.
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The major event on June 11 is the drag party during brunch for ages 21 and older, where live drag performances will occur during the meal for all the attendees hosted by Icon Lounge, she continued.
“Those are alcohol and bars, and so we can only have people that are 21 years or older attend,” said Polan.
What other events will this year's festival have?
The rest of the events are planned throughout the month of June, and will include a family bingo night, a board game night, a drink and draw event, as well as yoga and self-defense classes.
The teen events will include aerial silks, aerial hoop and acroyoga mini classes offered by South Dakota Aerial & Arts in the frameworks of celebrating the Sioux Falls Pride 2023.
The Sioux Falls Pride Festival started in 2000, and this is its 23rd year of existence. Since, the event's only continued to grow. The parade was added to the event in 2019 when it was attended by 8,000 guests.
Polan said the event is important for the community as South Dakota has a state-wide legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, and for that the pride events present an opportunity for the city queer community to let the legislators know they have the LGBTQ+ constituency in their community.
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She further noted the event typically has a few state officials visiting, though not in their official capacity, but as individuals.
“Letting our legislators know they do have LGBTQ+ constituency, and people that they are representing is really important, and to be here and supporting those people is really our goal,” said Polan.
The event's program should be available at https://www.siouxfallspride.org soon.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: From drag shows to bingo night, Pride 2023 starts June 9 in Sioux Falls
