SPOKANE, Wash. — Big crowds gathered in downtown Spokane on Saturday for the 30th annual Pride Parade and festival.
Bikers, floats, and groups made their way through Spokane streets as people waved flags and cheered from the sidewalks.
The parade started with a roar of motorcycles, some decorated with rainbow pinwheels. People were invited to join at the end of the parade and walk to Riverfront Park.
Following the parade, the celebration continued at Riverfront Park with the Pride Festival. The festival features several stages with entertainment including musicians, drag, and karaoke along with dozens of booths, food trucks, and the Pride Bar.
"We're all people, we're all human. Just because of who we love doesn't really make us that different. And I know a lot of people who come to Pride that aren't from the local area but this is someplace they know that's safe for them to come out and be who they are," Hayley Olson and Kara Roadruck said. "I'm so happy to see so many people out here living their truths. That sounds really cliché but living it out and it doesn't matter what these people say, look at how many people love you."
The festival also features a teen zone at the Pavilion where teens can connect with other teens and learn more about the support services that are available.
This was a return to a big in-person celebration for Spokane Pride since the pandemic. Spokane Pride's President Esteban Herevia told KREM 2 that having the festival in person this year will allow for friends to reconnect.
“We also know that this is the first time since COVID, that a lot of folks are coming out,” Herevia said. “And so we want to provide the opportunity for some of our young friends to get the chance to make new friends or to reconnect with their friends in person.”