Sandusky Pride to take over downtown

SANDUSKY — This year's Sandusky Pride Festival is the biggest yet, celebrating the fifth anniversary of a Pride celebration in the city. Sandusky Pride will span from Friday to Sunday at Schade-Mylander Plaza with the main stage at the foot of Columbus Avenue. More than 60 vendors will be set up down Water Street and various carnival rides will be on Jackson Street Pier. The free community event celebrates love, life, equality and acceptance that focuses on bringing the community together for a better tomorrow for all types of families, people and youth. Everyone, of all ages, is welcome. This year marks the return of the Pride Parade on Saturday, and Sunday will feature a new concert series. "Sandusky Pride is not like any other Pride celebration," said Robin Lloyd, a local businesswoman and event organizer. "We do our own thing here. It's a one-of-a-kind event here. We're Sandusky Pride, and it's our own." Lloyd said this year has been so successful due to the support of local businesses and corporations. The outpour of support has been humbling, she said. "Pride is about human equality, a celebration of everyone. We want to embrace unity, equality, peace and community," she said. "It's about being yourself and celebrating life and one another as individuals." Bigger and better "We've got this year jam-packed with events," Lloyd said. "The carnival rides will be operating the full time of the festival, each day." Robin and her wife, Nikki, both organize Sandusky Pride. "Putting this together this year has been a challenge, but it's all worth it," Lloyd said. "Pride is really about the community and giving people a place to be themselves and letting them know it's okay to be themselves." Pride begins at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon and spans until midnight. Saturday's festivities will begin at noon and go until midnight. Pride will open at noon on Sunday and finish the weekend at 8 p.m. Friday highlights Friday will kick off the Sandusky Pride celebrations, with a drag event known as the Battle Royale Competition. Drag performances will grace the stage throughout the evening, along with live music performances by Nathn Priest and DJ Mooshoo. "DJ Mooshoo is only 14 years old," Lloyd said. "We'll also be having a fire show by Pickup Styx that night." Cast members from "Rent," presented by Stone Productions from the Collingwood Arts Center in Toledo, will also perform a handful of numbers from the show. Saturday highlights The Sandusky Pride Parade will begin at noon on Saturday, starting at Warren and Washington streets, traveling west on Washington, heading north on Jackson Street, turning east on Market Street and finishing at Columbus Avenue and Market Street. "The stage will have a rotation of all-star drag performers and local bands playing throughout the day," Lloyd said. "We're going to have Lauren Foster, an LGBTQ+ icon and supermodel. She's going to speak and wants to do a meet and greet." Foster is a transgender model and actress and has advocated for LGBTQ medical services, that all patients are treated equally, regardless of gender identity and sexuality. Along with drag performers and local musicians, DJ Chosen and ShaVazz The Weirdo will also be performing. A Pride festival favorite, the downtown block party with DJ SamiJo, returns for a fifth year at 10 p.m. along with a fire and light show. Sunday highlights Sandusky Pride will go on to Sunday, an additional day compared to previous years. The festival will open at noon and will feature a concert series with national acts, starting at 3 p.m. Diana Chittester, an Ohio native, will grace the stage first. Chittester has previously performed at Sandusky Pride. Sophie B. Hawkins will take the stage at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, celebrating the 30th anniversary of her debut album. Finally, Paula Cole, legendary Grammy Award winner and seven-time nominee, will perform at 6 p.m. and finish up the weekend's festivities. Sandusky Pride's daily lineup Friday, June 25 2 p.m. — Festival opens 2:15 p.m. — Sandusky Pride performers, featuring Levi Austin, Trystan Rodrigues and more 4 p.m. — Nathn Priest 5 p.m. — DJ Mooshoo 6 p.m. — Battle Royale Competition 8 p.m. — "Rent" presented by Stone Productions from the Collingwood Arts Center and Sandusky Pride performers featuring Precious Vayne, Amber Stone, ChiChi Dela Cruz and more. 10 p.m. — Fire show by Pick Up Stix Midnight — Festival closes Saturday, June 26 Noon — Festival opens; Sandusky Pride Parade, beginning at Warren and Washington streets 1:45 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by Amber Stone, Adonis Vayne and Precious Vayne 2 p.m. — Amelia Airharts 2:45 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by Ethyl and Myrtle Barbiecrotch, Ericka Sanchez 3 p.m. — Half Knocked Out 3:45 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by London Asia and Scarlet Valentine 4 p.m. — Seeing Scarlet 4:45 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by Adonis Vayne and Ericka Sanchez 5 p.m. — Flores 5:45 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by Tina Jade and Jasmyn Webb Labasha 6 p.m. — Ancient Elephant 6:45 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by London Asia and Deja D. Dellataro 7 p.m. — Monkey Love 7:45 p.m. — In Memory of Harvey Hayes, with a special vocal performance by Marlie Rose 7:55 p.m. — Sandusky Pride Honors Award 8 p.m. — All-Star Drag performances by Amber Stone and Precious Vayne 8:10 p.m. — Lauren Foster, supermodel and Pride icon 8:20 p.m. — Royal Champion performance, winner of the Sandusky Pride Battle Royal 8:30 p.m. — DJ Chosen 8:45 p.m. — ShaVazz The Weirdo 9:30 p.m. — All-Star Drag performance by Chi Chi Dela Cruz 10 p.m. — Downtown Block Party with DJ SamiJo featuring Pick Up Stix, fire and light performance Midnight — Festival closes Sunday, June 26 Noon — Festival opens 3 p.m. — Sandusky Pride Sunday Concert Series, Diana Chittester 4 p.m. — Sandusky Pride Sunday Concert Series, Sophie B. Hawkins 6 p.m. — Sandusky Pride Sunday Concert Series, Paula Cole 8 p.m. — Festival closes