Grays Harbor Pride is moving inland — which might seem illogical, given this year’s pirate theme.
The fifth annual festival, titled “Hoist Your Colors,” will take place from 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday in Hoquiam. But instead of the downtown riverfront at Eighth and Levee streets, as in years past, it’ll be at Olympic Stadium.
Growth is part of the reason.
“When we first did it, we didn’t know if 10 people would show up, I’ll be honest,” said Miki Cabell, executive director of Out & Proud Grays Harbor Coalition, which organizes the festival. “We were like: If we build it, maybe they’ll come? And we were so happily surprised to see how many people actually did come that first year.”
And it continues to grow: She estimates 1,500 people attended last year.
Prom and festival
The kickoff event, Pride Prom 2018, will start at 7 Friday night at Events on Emerson. It, too, has a maritime theme: “Under the Sea.”
“This is kind of a ‘throw the door open’ celebration for the kiddos who maybe identified in high school but never could go to a prom, or folks that hadn’t come out, or were very closeted or reserved and never got the opportunity to celebrate a prom,” said Cabell.
Everyone is invited to the all-ages dance, sponsored by Steven and Emily Puvogel and Harbor Include. Tickets will be available at the door. (It’s “pay as you can,” she said.)
Then, on Saturday, the festival will offer a full day of kids’ activities, entertainment, vendor booths and more.
“It’s really family-centric. We have free games for the kids, and glitter tattoos, and bouncy houses,” said Cabell. “It’s a really wonderful place for those who’ve never had any exposure (to the LGBTQ community) to bring their families and … become purposeful allies themselves.”
At 7 p.m., the professional drag show will begin on the main stage.
“We’ll have queens and kings from all over Washington coming, and we’re really excited to have Small Town Big Hart’s Drag Revue, with Caesar Hart,” said Cabell. “They’ve done it every year we’ve had Pride, and it’s been just an amazing event each time.”
The drag show also is free, with donations accepted; but she suggests bringing dollar bills to tip the performers. “They come here on their own time and their own gas, so tips help alleviate that burden.”
City alliance
The move to Olympic Stadium also made sense for other reasons beyond growth.
“Around 3 in the afternoon every year, it got so windy that it was picking up tents and putting them in the river, even with tie-downs. We loved the location there, but the wind was a real hindrance,” said Cabell.
Safety, too, became a concern after some conflict during last year’s festival.
“Olympic Stadium is a city-owned facility, so Tracy (Wood) worked with Out & Proud to find a date available and walk them through the paperwork,” said Hoquiam Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff.
Wood runs Hoquiam’s Community Services Department.
“Our job is to ensure the safety of all our citizens and provide a community where people know they have the support they need to freely express themselves without fear of physical harm, harassment or discrimination,” said Dickhoff.
“We know that the richness of a culture relies on people’s abilities to live in their truths,” she added. “We will do whatever we can to ensure that end.”
The city’s strong alliance has not gone unnoticed.
“Hoquiam has been an absolute steadfast supporter of the Pride festival since we began five years ago and has been really focused — in Jack Durney’s day and now in Jasmine’s day — on wanting Hoquiam to be identified as equitable and diverse and inclusive,” said Cabell. “So we’ve been really lucky to have them back us in such an ethical way.”
Not too late
There’s still time for anyone who wants to have a booth at the festival. Vendors can sign up that morning for $25 and set up between 9 a.m. and noon. “Just bring your stuff and come on!” said Cabell.
Olympic Stadium is located at 101 28th St. in Hoquiam. Admission is free, with donations requested.
“We work all year to raise money so we can offer as many things free to families as we can,” said Cabell. “We just really want people to come and enjoy themselves. It should have nothing to do with money and more to do with community.”
For more information, contact Cabell at 360-500-3444.
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FRIDAY
Pride Prom 2018
7 p.m., Events on Emerson
SATURDAY
Grays Harbor Pride
1 to 11 p.m., Olympic Stadium
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
4 p.m., hosted by Beyond Survival
Small Town Big Hart’s Drag Revue
Daily World file photo Grays Harbor Pride organizer Miki Cabell addresses attendees of the 2014 festival at Eighth and Levee streets in downtown Hoquiam. This year, the event is moving to Olympic Stadium..
