Tucson Pride is moving the date of its annual celebration event, the Tucson Pride Festival, to Saturday, Nov. 22.
Organizers stated that the date shift was done to prioritize safety and comfort due to extreme heat and to better align with other local events. The festival will run from noon to 9 p.m. at Reid Park. A full updated schedule of the many festival activities will be posted on Tucson Pride’s website and social media.
Tucson Pride was founded in 1977 and is Arizona’s first and longest-running LGBTQ+ Pride organization. The first Pride gathering was organized in response to the death of Richard Heakin, a young gay man who was brutally attacked outside a local nightclub. That tragic event catalyzed a movement for visibility, justice, and community solidarity in Tucson, and has grown into a large-scale celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, resilience, and diversity. Over the decades, the event has expanded to include parades, live performances, family-friendly activities, wellness resources, and partnerships with local organizations and allies.
Tucson Pride, while being a celebration, also remains grounded in a greater purpose. The annual gathering expresses an ongoing pursuit of equality for the LGBTQ+ community. Indeed, Pride is both a commemoration and a call to action. It is a reminder of the long struggle for recognition and rights, as well as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of gender and sexual fluidity. Organizers strongly believe that these differences are integral to the robust fabric of individual and community identity.
This year’s festival will take place at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, with the main grounds located near the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center. Attendees are encouraged to travel by car, bike, or public transit. Sun Tran buses stop nearby, and organizers will designate rideshare drop-off points and ADA-accessible parking. On the day itself, festival-goers can expect an engaging program of live music, LGBT+ performances, and local entertainment, alongside food trucks, community resource booths, and vendors representing LGBTQ+-owned businesses and allies…