EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was written by Hannah Martin.
ASHLAND — About 50 people gathered downtown on Saturday for Ashland’s fourth annual pride parade.
Participants marched in a parade starting from Corner Park, then down Main Street and circling back. The crowd was filled with many different rainbow flags and signs.
A number of people watched from the street as the parade passed. A few people who worked at the businesses on Main Street also stopped and watched.
Alexandra Emmons walked in the parade with her husband and children. Emmons said this was their third year participating in the parade. Her favorite part about coming to Ashland Pride every year is being able to support the community, helping them feel celebrated and be visible.
Opal was another attendee at the event. Opal shared that Ashland Pride has become a great place where you can connect and see other queer individuals from the area.
“We have even gotten people from Columbus coming here,” Opal said. “It is good because it makes one small space safe in Ashland for them.”
Opal was most excited to see familiar faces come out each year at the festival.
“Everyone is kind to everyone else and it’s not transactional,” Opal said. “People are kind just to be kind.”
After the parade, a crowd gathered at Waters Edge Event Center with vendors and food trucks set up, as well as a DJ for music and dancing.
Haley Newhouse, vice president of Ashland Pride, has been involved in this event for the last three years.
“We are excited to have new craft, food, and drink vendors and performers joining us as always,” Newhouse said. “We are most excited to have Third Street Family Health Services offering free HIV testing on-site and free voter registration.”
Newhouse stated that planning for each parade usually starts in January.
“Contact with our venue happens first to secure a date,” Newhouse said. “After that, we start reaching out to volunteers, vendors, and performers to be involved in the event.
“We also start reaching out to local businesses and nonprofits to become involved with and create sponsorship opportunities so we can be as involved in the community as possible.”
Kelley Fox, who was with Faith Choice Ohio as a vendor, was excited to be involved since this was their first year at Ashland Pride.
“We are a statewide organization, which means we can not be everywhere, so it is nice when we get to be somewhere,” Fox said.
Simkah, a vendor with Kosher Kind Love, said her favorite part about the community is thee unity thee event fosters.
“Everyone is loving,” Simkah said. “We lack that as a society. When you come here, everyone loves and accepts one another.
“That’s how it should be.”
Before the parade, Studio Rise offered a free morning yoga class.
A celebration with vendors and nonprofits went on until early Saturday evening, followed by the Ashland Pride after-party at the Eagles club, which featured performances and raffle baskets.
Tickets for the after-party were either monetary donations to Ashland Pride or an item donation to any of the local animal shelters.