Iowa City Pride celebrates 54 years with "Forward with Strength" theme

Bigger, bolder and even more fun.

Iowa City has long been a beacon of pride and inclusivity for more than half a century, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community well before June was recognized as Pride Month. This year, the city's vibrant tradition triumphantly returns with the Iowa City Pride Festival and parade on Saturday, June 15.

Joe Reilly, President of Iowa City Pride since 2019, believes this year's event is bigger than ever.

"I know we said that last year, but it's even bigger," Reilly said. "Getting together has evolved over the years, from back in the 70s, where it was very much like in a parade, being out in the streets, being public, being visible, advocating for rights. Now, it's grown into a community event."

"Forward with Strength" is this year's theme as a response to state and national legislative decisions that have impacted the LGBTQ+ community. Iowa City Pride is also reminding the LGBTQ+ community to continue pushing forward.

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"We're not going back into the closet. We won't give up the ground we've been given," Reilly said. "With all the things we have been experiencing, politically, nationally, statewide, we still have to keep pressing forward. We still must be present for each other, and we need to rely on each other and lean on each other. Strength doesn't mean you do it alone. Strength is strength in numbers. And so, we're going forward with strength."

Celebrating beyond downtown Iowa City

Pride board members acknowledged the need to expand the festival beyond the downtown corridor, making a point to include as many neighborhoods as possible. The 2024 Pride Festival does just that by incorporating a putt-putt event as well as several shows and performances throughout the week leading up to Saturday.

"There are just folks of the LGBTQIA plus community who just aren't downtown Iowa City-centric, and so we want to find spots where we can meet them, where they're at," Reilly said. "Looking forward as a board, we're going to identify more of those events that may be on a year-round basis, not just in June."

Local business partnerships allowed Iowa City Pride to create events in Coralville for even more accessibility.

Putt Putt Pride, hosted Monday at Tavern Blue in Coralville is the festival's newest activity. Hosted by Lucky Kiche, Diversity Officer and board member of Iowa City Pride, Putt Putt Pride is an interactive LGBTQIA+ history mini golf event. A pop quiz will follow each participant's round with various Iowa City Pride swag available as prizes. The family-friendly event is open to all ages and also includes live music.

A drag show on ice

Another new event to this year's lineup is the Drag Icecapades, which is like a typical drag show but on ice. The show will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Coral Ridge Mall with local drag performers hosting high-energy numbers. An open skate, free of charge, will follow the drag show.

"Our driving mission in our event is we want people the one to have no barrier, like no cost or location barrier, from joining us in public," Reilly said. "It takes great partnership, and we need those key partners to help drive the event and provide support."

Other Pride Festival activities throughout the week include fan favorites Pride at the Pool at City Park Pool on June 12 and the Big Gay Bar Crawl on June 11, which will be free this year.

Record-breaking vendor fair and parade fueled by community support

This year's Pride Festival and parade are the biggest yet, with 130 vendors and nearly 50 sponsors anchoring Saturday's festivities. The success continues to build as more and more businesses and organizations join the fray.

"As a volunteer board with Iowa City Pride, we rely on partners to help facilitate spaces, and we are always trying to identify different pockets for our community to show up, to meet up, to experience things with one another, "Reilly said. "We are loved and supported. That helps us cover those across from our festival in our parade and continue to do other year-round programming."

The Pride parade will start at noon on Saturday as it makes its way downtown. The Pride Festival on the Pedmall will also start at noon, featuring performances by local artists and drag performers.

The parade begins at College Green Park, working its way downtown along Iowa Avenue and E. Washington Street.

The Iowa City Afties at the Englert is also new to this year's festival. Set to begin at 10 p.m. at Englert Theatre, the afterparty will feature an intimate performance from transgender singer-songwriter Ms. White and local artist Josiah Scherr Kang.

The 51st edition of the Iowa City Pride Festival will surely be one to remember, an event that connects all facets of society for a massive celebration.

"I think we're just very fortunate here in Iowa City to have folks that support us, love us, want us to thrive, and trust us to, you know, bring that forth for our LGBTQIA community," Reilly said. "Here's to another 50 years of Iowa City Pride; we're going to keep growing and keep being there for folks."

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached atJRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_