| June 13, 2015 |
OutSpokane Rainbow Festival – Annual parade through the streets of downtown Spokane the second Saturday in June. Spokane, WA.
Since 1992, Spokane has seen the LGBTQA community come together to honor those brave individuals that fought back against the police raids in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York. The Stonewall Riots were a turning point for the gay rights movement. The following year, in 1970 the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles and New York all held parades commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Since then, cities around the globe have started marches and parades as well.
The first march that happened in Spokane was literally on the sidewalks and was sponsored by PFLAG. The following year a permit was ordered and the march was in the streets, followed by a small rally in the part. In 2004 our march turned into a parade. That first parade brought together 300 members of the LGBTQA population. We’ve grown a bit since then, with 2011 bringing in 5,200+ people. Large organizations like UUCS (Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane), Spokane AIDS Network, and Planned Parenthood as well as smaller groups like Spokane Transpeople, EWU Pride Center, and the SFCC Alliance participate in the parade. We have groups that march with banners, groups on bicycles, others in cars and floats. Some make their own music and others bring their own. Floats and lots of Rainbow are encouraged.
OutSpokane 2015
Each and every year, the festivities commence for the Rainbow Festival at 12:30 on the second Saturday in June to a large crowd gathered in the beautiful Gondola Meadows in Riverfront Park. It wasn’t always this way; the first Pride Parade in 1992 was a couple of people marching on a sidewalk and there was no Festival portion of the event. But today the Festival has become a crowd pleaser, with up to 5,200+ people coming to see the entertainment, booths, beer garden and family area that have become a staple of the Rainbow Festival.
Organizations large and small, national and local join us for our Rainbow Festival every year by getting booth space to advertise their shops, services, advocacy and educational material. Groups ranging from Statewide LGBT organizations like Equal Rights Washington and local youth groups like INMx and Odyssey Youth to local businesses and shops like The Garland Theater, Over the Rainbow Shop and Native Bead Art participate in our festival. We also have a large family area with plenty of activities from face painting to children’s bouncy castles and the WSU Raptor Club showing off their beautiful birds.
We invite all of you to come enjoy the fun this year in Gondola Meadows at Riverfront Park (South-West corner of the park by the Bloomsday Running Statues). The Rainbow Festival kicks off immediately after the Parade. Bring your friends, your family and your children! Celebrate our community. There is something for everyone at Pride; be a part of it.
OutSpokane 2015
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