Since the construction of its big pavilion in 2005, Headwaters Park has been a hub for Fort Wayne nightlife every summer. Longstanding festivals have devoted local followings, and regional celebrants plan trips to the Summit City to coincide with their favorite events. 

No occasion has a more passionate following than the annual Fort Wayne Pride.

“Fort Wayne does a lot of summer festivals, but the energy at Fort Wayne Pride is unmatched,” said Jess Stoddard, a regular Pride reveler. “It manages to pull together an already close community and gives people a time to not only be themselves, but celebrate themselves.”

This year, Fort Wayne Pride will be held in its regular festival slot July 21-22. 

No shortage of activities

Like most of the downtown events at the pavilion, there will be beer. And there will be music. And there will be celebration. Mostly celebration. You hear the word “celebration” a lot, because Pride is primarily a celebration of the LGBTQ community and its supporters. 

That celebration includes a ton of live entertainment: Awesome musicians like Kristen Ford from Nashville, Tennessee, and The Palace out of Indianapolis. A couple of local bands you’re really going to like in Midnight Mimosas and the wildly popular band called L80’s Night.

But the real highlight is the Saturday Night Drag Show, with local professionals producing extravagantly staged performances especially for this show. This is a bigger show than you might expect, with elaborate light shows and backup dancers. Yes, the incomparable Della Licious will be performing.

The vendor market has expanded dramatically this year as the fast-growing festival recently stretched to both sides of Headwaters Park, giving it space to fill all the demand for merchants. There will also be room for a larger nonprofit resource fair.

‘Something special’

First-timers often say that they wish they had discovered Pride earlier, and most attendees return time and again. 

“Fort Wayne Pride was the first place I got to celebrate a part of me I never really had occasion to celebrate, and I got to do it around others like me,” Greg Tippmann said. “And I got to learn about so many other types of communities out there that all get to find and see each other. It really is something special.”

The Pride March is one of those “something special” parts of the festival, and its time is changing this year. Because of all the construction headaches and the ever-increasing number of supporters who want to participate, the start time has been moved to 2 p.m. on Saturday. 

Participants should meet at the Headwaters fountain to join the joyful procession through downtown. All members of the LGBTQ community and their supporters are encouraged to join. Comfy shoes and cool clothes are highly recommended. Especially the cool clothes.

One of the most common questions about our Pride festival really shows how much a part of the community it has become. New visitors often wonder why it isn’t held during Pride Month in June. The Fort Wayne celebration has grown up rapidly over the past few years, and with Headwaters Park filled with the other traditional cultural celebrations in June, local organizers have kept their July spot at the only venue big enough to hold everyone who wants to go. 

The July date helps spread out the various Pride festivals in the region, as well. Folks from all over the area can support their home community’s events yet still meet up in The Fort in July.

Year-round support

Fort Wayne Pride is an all-ages event and includes a KidsZone and lots of welcoming resources for teens. 

After 8 p.m., it becomes a little less “family friendly.” You might hear profanity from the bands and the music volume is turned up. Children under 5 are required to leave after 8 p.m. to ensure their safety in a jubilant, crowded atmosphere.

The Fort Wayne Pride success has helped organizers give back to their community with the creation of a year-round Pride Center. From that location at 527 W. Berry St., the Fort Wayne Pride organization can host regular events and offer a space for LGBTQ groups all year.

“The Pride festival is one of the few times that I can feel completely safe from judgment,” said Rachel Oakley, a longtime Pride fan. “I can kiss my partner without feeling like I have spectators. Pride is incredibly important for those teenagers and young adults who need that community.”

Whether you’re considering your first visit or you’re an experienced festivalgoer, you’ll find a friendly welcome at Fort Wayne Pride. You’ll also find beer. You’ll find music. You’ll find dancing. Lots and lots of dancing. Dancing with unmatched energy in cool clothes. 

Could you ask for a more perfect summer Saturday night?