Rhode Island PrideFest returns with flying colors after two years of pandemic pause

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island PrideFest came roaring back on Saturday, in a bigger location across the river, drawing crowds from throughout New England after the cancellation of the Pride parade in Boston and in advance of New York's Pride parade next weekend.

Under an overcast sky, crowds danced to music, yelled in call-and-response songs and perused arts, crafts and medical information at more than 225 booths.

Kaitlynn Rathbun, of West Warwick, and Raymond Miller, of Manchester, New Hampshire, got to the Pride festival at Innovation District Park a few hours before its noon start time to have some breakfast and sit by the Providence River.

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It was Rathbun's first Pride event, although not Miller's.

"It's nice to be back," Miller said.

Miller said the festival was freeing, and he was happy to see so many community organizations offering services, including information on testing for sexually transmitted infections and COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

Rathbun said they got their hair braided, while Miller got his covered in glitter.

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Bigger and better location

Alan Degrafft and his partner, Angel Soto, both of Providence, said they were excited to come to Pride this year. Degrafft estimated it's his 31st time. He said he was surprised at how big Pride is this year, but was not surprised by the large attendance, given the Boston cancellation. The festival, which was last held on South Water Street in 2019, had more room in its new location.

"Over here, it's a lot bigger, better, with more tents," he said. "This is big."

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Kelsi Soares and Yessenia Portillo both came down from Boston for their first Pride festival.

"I love it so far," Portillo said in the afternoon. "I feel like I'm at a place that I belong."

Portillo and Soares said the festival gave them a sense of being part of a community.

The pair found the festival to be so large that they got lost, and even after being there for a few hours, estimated they had only seen half of the booths.

Both said they were excited to see their first drag show.

"I never knew Providence had such a big queer community," Portillo said.

Latoia Grear, of Providence, came to the festival to support her 15-year-old daughter. Her favorite aspect was the stage performances.

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Her friend Joy Black, of Providence, said she liked the festival more now that it’s across the river, although she said it needs more food trucks, evidenced by long lines at the trucks that were there.

“It’s way bigger and more centralized,“ she said.

Shanika Edouard, of Boston, said she liked Providence’s festival more than the one in Boston in past years because of the vendors, which Boston lacked.

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Night parade lights up downtown

Two hours after PrideFest officially ended at 6 p.m., the Illuminated Night Parade filled downtown with revelers as banks, health centers and national liquor brands joined three marching bands and a slew of local groups in an hour-long parade, starting at Greene Street and ending at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Bags of chips, beads, flags and bracelets were thrown into a roaring crowd that cheered for each dancer, walker and musician as they paraded down Washington Street.

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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence PrideFest returns for first time since 2019