The Riverside Pride Festival at White Park in Downtown Riverside on Saturday, September 13, 2008 is said to have drawn over 2,000 people. A benefit for the Jeffery Owens Community Center, the festival's shady park setting featured entertainment and a safe space for local LGBTQs to come together. Not only were there booths with vendors, local businesses, and local grassroots organizations, but also a chapel for couples to get married, the Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance Teen Zone, a dance floor, a dunk tank, and of course, a main stage that featured many acts, including the day's headliner RuPaul. Despite this being the first year of the festival, the event seemed well-organized and without difficulties (except for technical difficulties on the main stage, which did put a damper on RuPaul's performance). Otherwise a fabulous day, and I am looking forward to next year's Pride!
Here's some video I shot of RuPaul on Saturday:
For more information about the event, including press coverage and networking, check out JOCC's website and Pride's MySpace page.
