Lancaster Pride Announces New Venue for Pride Festival 2023

Lancaster Pride Festival 2023 will be held at the Convention Center in Downtown Lancaster

Lancaster, PA – Lancaster Pride Association announces the annual Pride Festival to occur on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the Convention Center in downtown Lancaster!

During LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, we reflect on the progress we have made as a Nation in the fight for justice, inclusion, and equality while reaffirming our commitment to do more to support LGBTQ+ rights at home. The Pride Festival is an opportunity for our community to show up as their authentic and true self while inviting individuals, families, allies, and everyone in between, locally, and afar, to stand in solidarity and experience love.

“My number one goal was trying to find a new place to hold Pride, because in 2022, we sold out our festival and had to turn people away,” Tiffany Shirley, Lancaster Pride President says. “And we’re not just doing this to plan a party, but to give people a safe spot to be.”

Last June, between 5,000 and 6,000 people, gathered at Clipper Magazine Stadium for the nonprofit’s signature Lancaster Pride event, which led the event to be at capacity.

“Seeing the whole concourse full, the entire grass area full of vendors, everyone smiling and laughing, enjoying the performers, the influx of rainbows and trans flags, all types of flags of inclusivity—I didn’t see a sad person in the stadium besides my blubbering face,” Shirley says. “Everybody was just loving each other.”

Considering feedback and suggestions gathered since the last Pride festival began, Lancaster Pride is committed to creating experiences and access to our entire community, including many of those who have been most underserved and underrepresented.

Clipper Magazine Stadium has hosted the Pride Festival for the past 3 years. “I am very excited that we are holding Pride 2023 at the Lancaster convention center! After last year we sent out a survey to the community and we heard you loud and clear! This venue checks every box including accessibility and capacity! I don’t ever want to turn someone away again. Here is to new and bigger things!” Lancaster Pride has considered many options for the parade.

“By having the Pride Festival in the heart of Lancaster City, I’m quite thrilled about improved accessibility and access to many fantastic downtown businesses in Lancaster City that we can work with,” says Micki Dawson, Vice President of Pride, “this opportunity allows us to be able to welcome everyone who aren’t familiar with Lancaster and the LGBTQ+ community.”

Lancaster Pride was founded in 2007 with the concept of creating a welcoming event to celebrate the lives of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. One year later in 2008, Lancaster’s first Pride festival was held at Buchanan Park. Lancaster Pride has since planned and held yearly festivals as well as other affirming events to celebrate the community. As support and visibility have grown, every year Lancaster Pride Festival welcomes more visitors, volunteers, vendors and performers.

With more several thousand attendees each year, the Lancaster Pride Festival attracts a diverse local and regional crowd. Lancaster Pride is committed to providing our LGBTQ+ Community with a premier festival celebration and experience. We are also dedicated to planning and hosting inclusive events throughout the year.

During the Pride Festival, we strive to ensure our community enjoys a diverse lineup of local and regional talent, an accessible venue location, and an incredible array of vendors and services. The yearly cost of the Lancaster Pride festival is around $45,000.

While we are able to secure some funding from sponsorships to cover these costs, we rely on the support and generosity of our community to ensure that we are able to continue the legacy of Lancaster Pride. Consider making a donation to support Pride: http://lancpride.com/donate

For sponsorship, vendor and talent inquiries, contact Lancaster Pride at info@lancpride.com For more information, find Lancaster Pride on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit http://lancpride.com

About Lancaster Pride

Lancaster Pride is a celebration of the progress that the local LGBTQ+ community has made toward achieving visibility, acceptance and equality within Lancaster County As an organization, Lancaster Pride is committed to producing a vibrant festival that honors these achievements. We want to educate, collaborate, and build partnerships with our allies, associations, and other organizations that directly support the LGBTQ+ population. For more information, visit http://lancpride.com