‘A very diverse community:’ 2024 Rochester Pride sees record attendance for first year at Highland Park

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A day of celebration spanning most of Saturday as the 2024 Rochester Pride Parade and Festival occupied Highland Park for most of the day. Everyone coming together – to celebrate each other.

Organizers say the Rochester Pride Festival’s first year at Highland Park was a success. And those who made up that record attendance say it was a day of inclusivity.

“We have a very diverse community here, and we are celebrating that. And everyone’s here, and it’s absolutely phenomenal,” Javannah Davis said.

The pride festivities started Saturday morning on South Avenue and Science Parkway with a parade. Everyone who walked, and those on the sidelines, waving flags and showing pride.

The party then came to Highland Park for the first time. Trillium Health says moving the festival to Highland Park was a decision to better the community.

“We deserve a day to celebrate and talk about how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.,” Director for Trillium Health Susanna Speed told News 8.

That decision was proven right. Trillium Health reports the festival reached record attendance for this year’s event – with between 20,000 to 25,000 attendees. A group of friends News 8 talked to say this year was the best yet.

“I love how this gives festival vibes with all of the shops, and I just love it.”

The main thing that created those good vibes all around was maintaining a message of unity. Javannah Davis was this year’s Honorary Pride Marshall, spotlighting her work in the community.

She says this about what makes pride so special: “The comradery and the energy and the love. That everyone shares each other, it means that people still have that hope that our community is moving forward in the right direction.

Others agree.

“I think it’s important that everyone needs to be seen… everyone needs to feel like ‘I can be a human being,'” Nicole Rivera who flew in from Miami for Rochester Pride said.

“Always love. You don’t see people wear what they wanna wear on a normal day. So, it’s fun that we can all come out and wear what we want and feel free and and everyone supports each other. It’s fun!,” Jenna Baird said.

The countdown to the 2025 Rochester Pride Festival and Parade for 2025, begins.

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