State College Pride events aim to ‘spread happiness and support’ to LGBTQ community

State College’s Pride celebration is returning in full swing for its second year, with events from Wednesday to Sunday.

The Pride parade starts at 3 p.m. Saturday on Westerly Parkway outside the State College Area High School and ends at 5 p.m. in downtown State College. After the parade, there will be a festival with vendors and music at Sidney Friedman Park until 8 p.m. Events leading up to Saturday’s festival and parade include a self-defense course on Wednesday, a family fun day at Tussey on Friday and several drag shows. The full list of times and locations of events, as well as admission prices is on the Centre LGBTQA Support Network’s website.

Cat Cook, director of operations for the Centre LGBTQA support network, said this year’s Pride has been months in the making. Community involvement this year has been through the roof, Cook said, with dozens of local sponsors helping the event take place.

“We are beyond elated to have not just businesses but so many local organizations and local residents involved,” Cook said.

This year will feature Rainbow Cards, a $10 card that gives discounts and deals at various stores downtown during Pride Weekend. A full list of discounts and where to buy cards can be found online. Competitions for best decorated parade cars and storefronts will also take place throughout the weekend.

Many of the events incorporate children and their families, including a drag story hour, Thursday’s State College Spikes game and the Pride Fun Day at Tussey Mountain. Cook said Pride events are especially important for young members of the LGBTQA community, who may be lacking support or acceptance in their daily lives.

“To be able to have that within the community which they live and to see that there’s so much support it can literally alter how they feel about themselves,” Cook said. “It can change their perspective. It can make them feel welcomed.”

But the love and connection that Pride events bring isn’t limited to the month of June.

“It all culminates in Pride, so to speak, but all year long we are providing support groups and social groups for community members,” Cook said.

CLSN has groups for LGBTQA community members of all different ages, genders and orientations, as well as support groups for loved ones and families members.

So what should people expect to see at Pride events this weekend?

“A whole lot of love and kindness and bright colors and support,” Cook said. “It’s just designed to literally spread happiness and support to the LGBTQ community and to advocate for the community as well.”