We are committed to keeping Pride Fest FREE for everyone. We are happy to accept donations to help us maintain services, pay our performers, and pay our maintenance crew who keep things clean and tidy! Please visit one of the three information booths if you are interested in donating, or you can do so anytime online at grpride.org/donate

This year’s Pride Festival will still be at Calder Plaza, but we will again not have a fence around it because it is free. This also makes it more easily walkable and more accessible for various abilities. 

Unfortunately, this also means that protesters may have easier access as well. While we are doing our best to manage that issue and always learning/trying new ways to address this matter and keep everyone safe, we want you to be aware and alert. We ask that you try to refrain from interacting with or being perceived as antagonizing any protestors, which reduces unnecessary incidents. Security does patrol the area where protestors typically gather. Please report any issues to our security team or GRPC staff (Blue or Tan shirts).

We are also aware that they have begun to station outside of their designated area and are becoming more vocal. Unfortunately, per city ordinance, we cannot force them to stay in one area or remove them from a public event for expressing abhorrent opinions. Pride Fest is not the time to educate anyone dedicated to protesting us, nor is antagonizing them helpful or safe for anyone. Obviously, if their behavior is more than just loud/obnoxious talk, please do alert security/staff immediately!

Pride Festival is open to ALL 2-SLGBTQ+ people, so please be aware that we are a diverse community. While there are aspects of the events that are family-friendly and children are certainly welcome (the children’s area is located on the corner of Ottawa and Lyon and closes at 6pm), the Festival does not cater exclusively to children and we do not censor the expression of attendees or performers either. Please be aware that children will be exposed to the full diverse sartorial and aesthetic display of our wonderful community.

We will have a private professional security team! The Pride Festival Committee has contracted with a local 2-SLGBTQ+-owned private professional security service to provide security for the event. These are trained security professionals who also care personally about the safety and particular needs of 2-SLGBTQ+ people. In fact, 80% of the staff are 2-SLGBTQ+ themselves. If you have any concerns, we encourage you to reach out to a member of the security team. There will be roaming security spread throughout the Festival.

The Grand Rapids Pride Center remains in solidarity with our most impacted and historically silenced community members (BIPOC, trans, disabled, etc.) and our stance is that police don’t belong at Pride and aren’t welcome in our space. The City of Grand Rapids mandates that in order to obtain a permit for events, organizers must accept that the GRPD has the right to decide if they will staff the event as well. The GRPD makes their determination based on their own concerns around the size and scope of the event, the community it serves, and potential perceived safety issues.

They do not always inform us of their concerns or their decision about if they will or will not choose to be present. The last couple of years they have chosen to respect our preference, trust our security, and to NOT be present. We hope this will continue, but are also aware of the changing political landscape and rising community issues with GRPD, and that they were making their presence known last year. We would just like for community members to emotionally prepare in the event GRPD is visible. If, while in the scope/area of Pride Fest you have concerns about GRPD’s behavior, please reach out immediately to our security team.

There will be three tables throughout the Pride Festival that will serve as combined Information/Accessibility booths. The folks staffing these booths can help you with:

• Information about the Pride Festival schedule of events
• Cold water
• Free earplugs
• Free rainbow surgical mask to help you stay safe if you forgot yours
• Free condoms (latex & non-latex, as well as internal condoms) & dental dams
• Free fentanyl test strips
• Get information on disability accessibility issues & provisions at the Pride Festi