The Soldotna Pride Council Presents:
A Pride in the Park 2024 announcement
We have a date! June 22nd (a Saturday)
Times & Activities TBD
Visit us on facebook for more up-to-the-minute announcements: https://www.facebook.com/SoldotnaPride
OUR MISSION
An Inclusive Community for All.
Soldotna Pride in the Park is about celebrating our diversity in support of our LGBTQ community!
We also strive to maintain a welcoming environment. ALL are WELCOME! LGBTQAI2S+ and allies, etc! If you didn't see your letter or label, let us know - and KNOW that you are welcome too!
HISTORY
Bringing Queer Joy to our community on the Kenai Peninsula
TWO-SPIRIT MARCH
The local Pride March started as an effort in 2018 by a local Youth Suicide Preventionist as an alternative and affirming activity for our local youth. The LGBT Alliance at Kenai Peninsula College heard about the event and joined the effort. About 75 people participated in the march from the Soldotna Sports Center to Soldotna Creek Park. Upon reaching the park, the group dispersed to enjoy the Music in the Park series.
MARCH AND FESTIVAL
Though the first march was a great success for our community, the participants wanted more. In 2019 the second Two-Spirit Pride March and first annual Soldotna Pride in the Park festival launched. Over 150 people participated in the march and even more joined our 20 vendors in the park. We included local musicians, youth dance groups, and drag queens. Local businesses sponsored prizes for contests including "So You Want to be a Drag Queen?". There was face painting, a potluck, and lots of dancing and laughter. 2020 brought the Coronavirus pandemic and the cancelation of Pride events. SPitP felt that as an already historically underserved and underrepresented population, we didn't want to put our community at more risk. We almost cancelled in 2021 due to the continuation of the pandemic, but due to community member enthusiasm, we brought back the original March-only. As a socially distanced and outdoor event, we ended with a photograph on the lawn of the Park.