By: Trent Chassy
C-U pride fest hosted by Uniting Pride Champaign County is returning to our area from September 24th to September 26th. This multi-day festival brings together the community to celebrate the experiences of our neighbors in the LGBTQIA+ community. While 8there will be great food and entertainment, this event serves to educate our community about issues that may be invisible to some. This event is supported by the work of volunteers, donations, and the partnerships formed with institutions in our community.
Returning with the C-U pride fest is the PRIDE parade. The Pride parade taking place at 3:00 pm on September 25th will promote the pride our area holds for our LGBTQIA+ community. This event will feature floats and delegations representing local businesses, churches, and other local interest groups marching to support the PRIDE movement. The parade route will begin at the intersection of S Busey Ave. and Green St. eventually makings its way to the intersection of Broadway Ave. and Water St. Businesses and organizations can take part in this event by submitting an application found on the Uniting Pride Champaign County website. There is, however, an entry fee that supports the continuation of Uniting Pride Champaign County.
Along with the parade, a vender fair will be taking place from 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm on September 25th. The vender fair brings all types of local businesses, non-profit organizations, and other interest groups all to one place for display. With this comes the opportunity to try all kinds of food, enjoy a variety of entertainment options, and connect with the conversations taking place within our community. The vender fair will take place in a “+” shaped formation along the intersection of Springfield Ave. and Race St. Businesses and organizations can become festival venders by applying on the Uniting Pride Champaign County website. Like the parade, there is an entry fee to participate as a vender that serves to support the continuation of Uniting Pride Champaign County.
Of the many events taking place not all are purely celebratory, they are also educational. The theme of this year’s pride fest is, “What the Health? Fighting. Surviving. Thriving.” In keeping with this theme Julie Pryde, public health administrator of champaign county, will be in attendance as Grand Marshall of the event. Her expertise attained through managing Covid-19, in partnership with Uniting Pride Champaign County, will be shedding light on the effects of Covid-19, and other pandemics, as well as how they were responded to. In an online workshop being held on the 23rd of September at 7:00 pm, entitled “MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE,” the similarities, differences, and implications of each pertaining to both the Covid-19 and HIV viruses, in communities often overlooked, will be discussed. Nicole Frydman, an organizer for Uniting Pride Champaign County said about this event, “We are very excited to welcome the Trauma and Resilience Initiative as a partner to present a workshop on communities that are typically less visible and less focused on.”
Along with offering plenty of opportunities to celebrate, and be educated by, the PRIDE movement this event offers an opportunity to actively support their causes. The pride fest is supported by those participating in the festival but also by its volunteers, donors, and sponsors all of which have applications still open for submission.
Students with availability through the festival are encouraged to join the volunteer programs. There are several options that can be found on the Uniting Pride Champaign County website. You can set your availability from the application. Frydman mentioned on this topic “Volunteering not only looks good on a resume but is great for getting actual experience working within different communities.”
Pride fest’s sponsors and partners also play a large role in the continuation of this festival. Local businesses and public institutions, such as the city of champaign, are involved in supporting the event financially. Partners such as the Trauma and Resilience initiative, however, also support the festival through a partnership on the important event pertaining to Covid-19 and HIV.
Frydman explained that “the best way to help out is to spread the word” which as students is a service we can provide. Students are also, more available to support the festival through volunteerism, which will ultimately benefit the event as well as our own views of the world. Finally, as students we can push our own public institution to support the festival. Frydman explained that financial partnerships are not the only important mechanism of support, and whether or not Parkland could contribute monetarily, it may have resources at its disposal to promote and expand the reach of the event.
For more information about the festival, you can find an itinerary, volunteer information, and all other applications at https://www.unitingpride.org/.
