GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Among the many festivals that have fallen to the coronavirus is the Grand Rapids Pride Festival, traditionally scheduled for the third Sunday in June.
The Grand Rapids Pride Center announced the cancellation of this year’s event.
“Pride Festival drew over 12,000 attendees in 2019; holding a large event at this time was a risk we were not willing to take,” said Pride Center executive director Thomas Pierce in a release.
The loss of this year’s Pride Festival as a revenue source places the Pride Center in a precarious position. “Grand Rapids Pride Center relies on the over $100,000 raised at the GR Pride Festival to serve the LGBTQ+ community,” said Tommy Allen, interim board chair.
The Pride Festival 2021 is scheduled for June 19, 2021.
June 2020 marks the 50th year observing Pride Month.
