Kewanee Pride Fest is back for its second year. The now annual event is presented by the Kewanee Commission on Human Relations. Committee members are working to make this year bigger and better than ever and attendees will note a few changes to the 2024 schedule.
Committee Co-Chairs August Wolf and Sarah Hughes said that the committee made the decision to make it a weekend-long festival. In 2023, the event took place on a Saturday with the daytime events at Northeast Park and nighttime events, for the over 21 crowd, taking place at the Chrome Gypsy Compound.
The locations haven’t changed, they said, but the festival has been extended to include both Saturday and Sunday. The evening portion of the event, with burlesque, a DJ, and a Drag Show, will occur on Saturday evening, while the daytime portion in the park will take place all on Sunday.
In addition, the Sunday park event has been opened up to retail vendors.
“There will be a lot more shopping,” said Wolf, and attendees can also purchase T-shirts with Pride Fest logos at the event.
Staying the same will be the food vendors. They currently have over four food vendors and are still trying to book a few more, they said. Returning this year will be the fan-favorite food truck, Azteca De Oro.
The Sunday park event will also see the return of Dot the Storyteller and the addition of a musical performance by Alisabeth Von Presley, who appeared at the Dixon Pride Fest and the Galva Levitt Amp series. Presley’s performance is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Sharon ShareAlike Show will also be featured at 1 p.m. The Drag Show ensemble will make a return appearance to Kewanee after performing several years ago at the Flemish American Club.
Some of the retail vendors already lined up are Never Bother Designs that sells bags and clothing and Stella Blue Art that offers a selection of artwork and craft items.
Wolf said the committee looks at this year’s festival with “optimism but a lot of realism.” The first year of the Pride Fest was mired in some controversy and met with trepidation by some community members, but Wolf said that the support is strong for the 2024 festival. All of the sponsors from last year are returning and they have even added a few more, Wolf said. Last year’s event was considered a success.
Wolf said the hope for this year’s Pride festival is to “create a space where people of the LGBTQ community can feel loved in a world where that’s not always the case.”
Hughes said the goal is to foster an environment of inclusiveness.
“It feels good for my friends to be able to come and be accepted,” she said.
So far, the feedback for the second festival has been positive.
“I don’t think we’ve seen anybody come out vocally like we did last year,” said Wolf.
To raise more funds, a sip and paint fundraiser is being planned. The Kewanee Pride Paint Party Fundraiser will take place on May 10 at the Krans Kafe in Bishop Hill from 6 to 8 p.m. Wine will be available for purchase for participants over the age of 21. The cost is $50 and registration can be found here. The funds raised will benefit the festival.
The Kewanee Pride Fest is also accepting donations for the event through https://venmo.com/CHRKewanee.
And Hughes said volunteers are still needed for help with preparations and during the festival. More information on how to volunteer can be found on the Pride Fest Facebook Page.
The Kewanee Pride Fest 2024 is scheduled for Saturday, June 8 at the Chrome Gypsy Compound from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and on Sunday, June 9 at Northeast Park from noon until 6 p.m.
