29-06-2025
PrideFest Parade caps off June in Oklahoma City
The heat and humidity didn't prevent paradegoers from attending and participating in the 2025 PrideFest Parade on a bright and somewhat breezy morning.
People of all ages found some shady spots and others slathered on sunscreen and downed water as they lined the streets Sunday, June 29, to support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and have some fun.
The Oklahoma Pride Alliance hosted its fifth annual event, complete with a weekend of activities. The parade route started near the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, then traveled south on Walker Avenue to Oklahoma City Boulevard, then east to South Robinson Avenue, ending at Scissortail Park.
Pride events began on May 30 with the Oklahoma City Pride on 39th Festival and culminated in PrideFest this weekend with featured performances by rapper Baby Tate and "American Idol" contestant David Archuleta.
Paradegoer Amber Shelton said it's important to celebrate everybody, and the festival is just one more way to celebrate. In Oklahoma, the political climate affected her decision to attend the parade.
'In Oklahoma, it always does. We need to stand with our LGBTQIA community and if our state's not going to do it, the people are,' she said. Shelton's favorite thing about pride in Oklahoma City is seeing the joy and love. 'You can't help it to be happy.'
Other events in June included Pride: an OKC StorySLAM at the Church of The Open Arms UCC in Oklahoma City, Ada's Second Pride Event, PRIDE! on The Plaza, Sequoyah Pride in Sallisaw, Out in Oklahoma! Art Exhibition, Equality Gala hosted by Oklahomans for Equality in Tulsa, Pride at the Park Festival at Claremore Lake, and Pride on 9th hosted by Factory Obscura in Oklahoma City.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Paradegoers attend PrideFest Parade in OKC despite heat, humidity
