Walking in and around Ting Pavilion Saturday felt like walking into June. From the Downtown Mall to the Pavilion itself, everything and everyone was decked out in rainbows to celebrate love.
This lively event marked the 12th annual Charlottesville PrideFest. The event was organized and run by Cville Pride, Charlottesville’s official pride organization and a key source of community and support for the LGBTQ+ community of greater Charlottesville.
Like other Pride celebrations in Virginia, Cville PrideFest takes place in September to avoid the intense southern June heat. The September date also allows University students — an integral part of the Charlottesville community — to join in the festivities.
This year, the seven-hour-long festival ran through the afternoon and early evening until 7:30 p.m. There were over 90 local vendors and organizations tabling at the festival selling food, art, books, flowers and more, as well as performances from local bands and drag artists.
Many local organizations — including activism groups, identity organizations and even local schools — were also there to offer information and support to passersby. The University’s LGBTQ+ center even had a table set up, greeting people with smiles as they walked by.
Cville Pride President Nick Hutchins said that the event serves as an annual gathering where people can meet each other and foster new connections and relationships, as well as find out about support resources and like-minded organizations.
“It's a really important event to do every year that brings the community together and reminds us all that there's just so much love here in Charlottesville … and that we're all here to support each other,” Hutchins said. “I hope we've accomplished that today.”
Many of the local artists featured at the festival have previously showcased and sold their work at The Beautiful Idea, Charlottesville’s queer bookstore and market. The new Rivanna Area Queer Center sold flower bouquets — complete with vase and decorative pride flag — for pick-your-price donations. There was even a local chocolate shop, Cocoa & Spice, with a tent selling “iced drinking chocolate” and ice cream sandwiches.
Community members of all ages wandered around, exploring the countless tables offering support, community, creativity and love. Meanwhile, little kids with flags around their necks like capes weaved between the vendor tents. WTJU host Sandy Snyder spent the day behind the radio table, taking in the cheerful scene. She said that it was wonderful to be a part of the event, especially because Pride events did not always look so inclusive.
“I'm 71 years old, so it's [been] a long journey to be able to come to an event here that's colorful and positive and friendly and happy and representing any lifestyle that people choose to live,” Snyder said. “What's to not love?”
Around the concert pavilion, there were groups of people lying on the grass. Local bands such as Butterfly Vendetta and The Falsies performed to crowds of dancers, and afterward, a drag show took over the stage. For Snyder, the collective joy of the event was huge.
“It's just colorful [here], and that's a happy thing,” Snyder said.
Third-year College student Kalen Murphy attended Charlottesville PrideFest this year as their first ever Pride. They said they were excited to finally get to experience the celebration that they do not usually see in their more conservative hometown.
“It's very, very big for me to be able to come to Charlottesville and be open with who I am,” Murphy said.
While the PrideFest attendees said that the LGBTQ+ community may be facing a political environment more fraught and uncertain than that in recent years, they still celebrated with the colorful enthusiasm typical of Pride.
“We're not going to go away, despite whatever else is going on in the world. It's good to have a reminder that we do have a community,” Murphy said.
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