LEWISTON — Organizers of the annual Great Falls Pride Week are looking to bring some joy to the Lewiston-Auburn community when the festivities kick off Saturday.
“We’re expecting to have a wonderful celebratory event,” spokesperson Cara Courchesne said. She added that she expects it will be the biggest pride week ever. It recognizes and celebrates members of the LGBTQ+ community and the response from the community has been positive.
“It’s been very positive,” Courchesne said. “We’ve gotten amazing support from the business community.”
According to organizers, a pride event has been held in the Twin Cities for the past eight to nine years.
The marquee event is the Pride March and Festival scheduled for Sunday. The parade begins in Auburn at Great Falls Plaza at the corner of Turner and Hampshire streets beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Marchers will cross Longley Bridge at 11 a.m. and turn down Lincoln Street and continue to Simard-Payne Memorial Park. Following some speeches, participants can enjoy the weekly farmer’s market and the inaugural Great Falls Pride Festival at nearby Oxford Street.
Courchesne said she expects more than 60 vendors at the festival.
Organizers have asked participants to bring signs. According to its website, “rock a great outfit and cheer.”
Participants have also been asked not to bring pets to the parade, saying “the march will be loud and busy.”
The rest of the schedule includes:
• Saturday, June 1: Drag queen story hour at 10 a.m. at Quiet City Books, 124 Lisbon St.; Pride Prom at Agora Grand Event Center, 220 Bates St., 6-11 p.m.
• Sunday, June 2: Flower crown workshop, 9-10 a.m., Simard-Payne Memorial Park; drag show at Public Theatre, 3:30-5:30 p.m., 31 Maple St.; queer karaoke, 6-11 p.m., Olive Pit, 16 Main St., Lisbon.
• Monday, June 3: Queer board game night, 5-8 p.m., Forage Market, 180 Lisbon St.
• Tuesday, June 4: Queer bike ride with Queers in Gear, 6-8 p.m., Rainbow Bikes, 97 Lisbon St.
• Wednesday, June 5: Pride printmaking workshop, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Downtown Handmade, 178 Lisbon St.
• Thursday, June 6: The Corner, live storytelling, 7-9 p.m., LA Arts, 168 Lisbon St.
• Friday, June 7: Pride community kickball, 5-8 p.m., Lewiston Athletic Fields, 65 Central Ave.; queer wine tasting, 5-7 p.m., The Vault, 84 Lisbon St.
• Saturday, June 8: Queer Dungeons and Dragons, 12:30-5 p.m., Nerdcore at Auburn Mall; Second Saturday Social, 6-9 p.m., Café Obscura, 108 Lisbon St.
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