Davis Pride to celebrate
10th anniversary
Festivalgoers enjoy the 2023 Davis Pride Festival. This year’s event is June 1. - Photo By Wendy Weitzel
The Davis Phoenix Coalition plans a month full of events to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, beginning with its 10th annual festival on June 1. Activities also include a festival after party, fun run, skate and comedy nights, and plenty of drag queens.
The activities share the theme “Davis Pride – Because Yolo County is for Everyone!” It follows the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s recent lawn sign messages “Davis is for Everyone” and “Yolo County is for Everyone,” to counter the far-right actions experienced in the community.
The 10th annual Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival has a new location this year: Civic Center Park, at Sixth and B streets. The community-focused, family-friendly event includes a music festival, resources, vendors, food, drinks and more – from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. Headlining the musical lineup is Davis’ own Butterscotch, a Season 2 finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Other performers include Deuces & Diamonds in a special reunion performance, the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, Team Davis Singers, and the always popular Drag Revue. Other artists will be announced soon. There will be activity zones for children, teens and seniors.
After the festival wraps up at 5, revelers are encouraged to continue to the inaugural Davis Pride After Party, which will be from 6 to 11 p.m. on G Street, between Second and Third streets, downtown. That portion of the street is a pedestrian zone. DJ Mellax of Davis Rave Co. will spin dance tunes. Patrons may purchase food and drink from downtown Davis establishments.
The following day is the Run for Equality, starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 2. It includes a 5K and 1K run/walk from Central Park, at Fourth and C streets. The run is the fundraiser that makes the festival possible. Registration is $25 until May 28 and $30 after. Visit https://www.davispride.org/run.
The following Saturday, June 8, is Skate with Pride. The free night will include a disc jockey, disco lights and food trucks from 7 to 9 p.m. Skating will be under the Davis Farmers Market Pavilion in Central Park, Fourth and C streets, downtown. Participants bring roller or in-line skates and wear colorful attire, skating to lively music.
The fun continues Friday, June 21 for Davis Pride Comedy Night, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd. Presented by Laughs on the Lake, tickets are $40 through April 30, $45 May 1 through June 20, and $55 on June 21. Visit https://www.davispride.org/comedy to see the lineup and purchase tickets.
On Thursday, June 27, Sudwerk Brewing Co. will be the venue for Drink with Pride and Drag Trivia, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the brewery’s beer hall at 2001 Second St. Trivia is $15 to enter.
To set the tone for Pride month, volunteers will paint rainbow crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park between 6 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 26.
The Davis Pride committee is happy to help businesses show their colors and promote their pride events for June. Email admin@davisphoenixco.org.
June is International LGBTQ+ Month. Davis Pride events are coordinated by an all-volunteer community formed by the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a nonprofit that works to foster diversity, eliminate intolerance, prevent hate-motivated violence, and support LGBTQ+ youths in Davis and surrounding communities. The coalition was founded in the aftermath of a 2013 anti-gay attack on Davis resident “Mikey” Partida. Proceeds from Davis Pride events fund the coalition’s anti-racism and anti-bullying campaigns, support to LGBTQ+ youths and their families, and outreach with area police departments, churches and schools. To donate, go to https://davisphoenixco.org/donate.
For more information about the event, or becoming a sponsor, exhibitor or volunteer, visit https://www.davispride.org/. To learn details as they unfold, follow Davis Pride on Facebook and Instagram.