For more than 20 years, Columbia has welcomed the LGBTQ community and its allies as we celebrate identities and discuss issues at the annual Mid-Missouri Pridefest.
This year’s fest will run from noon to approximately 10 p.m. on Sept. 28 and 29 from west to east along the 1000 to 1100 blocks of Park Avenue, south along Orr Street and St. The event will be held around what will become North Village Park. Scheduled for completion by September 30, 2026. This area is near Rose Music Hall. PrideFest is a free, family-friendly event that’s open every day until 8 p.m.
Here’s what else will happen throughout the weekend.
saturday festival
The PrideFest vendor fair begins at noon, but the opening ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at Rose Music Hall. The hour-long ceremony, held in years past, included a proclamation from the mayor, blessings from members of the city’s faith community and blessings from the Sisters of Eternal Indulgence of the City of Fountains. The Pridefest flag will also be officially raised during this ceremony.
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Quoras, Columbia’s LGBTQ choir, will perform “Rally for the Human Spirit” on the Rose Music Hall Stage at 2 p.m. This choral performance set includes songs that “celebrate resilience, unity, and the strength of the human spirit through themes of love, equality, and hope.”
Entertainment from Columbia-based band Double Helix will follow from 3 p.m. Their set lasts until 3:30 p.m. Drag performance by Diva By Design begins at 4 p.m. Locara Night and Honey Doves take the stage at 5 p.m. Music from Pure XTC Saturday Drag Showcase is the last act you can watch before a special performance at Rose Music Hall at 6 p.m.
Saturday night’s headliner will be “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Kushnami Muse, who appeared on the most recent season and finished ninth, co-winning Miss Congeniality with runner-up Saphira Crystal was awarded. The ticketed meet and greet will take place at 7 p.m., and Muse will take the stage at Rose Music Hall at 8 p.m.
Sunday festival
The third annual PrideFest downtown parade begins at noon. Floats in past years have included representatives from local churches, businesses, elected officials and candidates for office, and student organizations from Columbia’s three institutions of higher education: the University of Missouri, Columbia University, and Stevens College. I was there.
The parade route begins at the Armory Sports and Recreation Center, heads east along Ash Street, and turns south at 9th Street. It then turns west on Broadway for four blocks before returning north on Fifth Avenue, ending at the parking lot at Fifth and Walnut.
The Central States Arabian Horse Association will bring two Arabian horses to a social event Sunday only from noon to 3 p.m. Last year, this association was located in the family area.
A vendor fair along Park Avenue, Ore and St. James Street also begins at noon. Music performances on the Rose Music Hall main stage begin at 1 p.m. Act 1 is a string quartet performed by the Missouri Symphony Orchestra. They will finish around 1:45 p.m. An hour later, the doors of Rose Music Hall will open again to welcome the Megan Boyer Band. It starts at 3pm. Their set continues until 3:45 p.m. A drag performance by Nclusion+ will follow at 4 p.m. Frankie Dowop will take the stage at 5 p.m., followed by the Bobby Showers Band at 6 p.m., and Andrea Caspari Spears’ 30-minute stand-up comedy will begin at 7:15 p.m.
Sunday’s Drag Showcase, presented by fellow “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumna Jessica Wilde, begins at 8 p.m. A ticketed meet and greet will be available at 7 p.m. For those interested, tickets are available for a nominal fee for both the Saturday and Sunday meet and greets. Higher price. Wilde placed 6th on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, 3rd on the 8th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and even won a “lip-sync” contest for one person on the show’s sixth season. He played the role of “Assassin”. Among the regular contestants of the season.
What’s available, dos, don’ts, and more throughout the weekend
Pridefest features 158 vendors available throughout the weekend. However, it does not include food vendors or activities available in the family area.
The family area offers a variety of craft activities, including a drag story teller, balloon artist, and puppy yoga.
Pride Fest organizers encourage attendees to stay hydrated, wear comfortable clothes, support vendors, and properly dispose of trash. Organizers suggest leaving marijuana and other illegal drugs at home, as bullying, harassment, and aggressive behavior will not be tolerated and public use remains prohibited. Emergency exits must be left open. Weapons are prohibited and will be confiscated at baggage inspection upon entry. Organizers also ask that while visitors are welcome to bring their service animals, they are asked to leave their pets at home.
The Pride Vibes art exhibition, already running this week, was held at Orr Street Studio from Tuesday to Sunday. A reception was held on Thursday. For more events and information, visit the PrideFest website and Facebook page.
Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general topics for the Tribune. Contact us at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X (formerly Twitter). Please support important local journalism by subscribing.