Southern Oregon Pride Parade Returns to Ashland This October
News related to:Southern Oregon Pride · 2 min read
Southern Oregon Pride, the region's only annual LGBTQIA+ celebration, is set to return to Ashland on October 17, marking the centerpiece of a weeklong festival that begins on October 11. This year’s event, which runs from October 11 to 18, will feature a variety of activities aimed at celebrating and promoting visibility and community among LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The celebration kicks off on National Coming Out Day, October 11, with a NOH8 Campaign photo shoot at the Columbia Hotel in Ashland. This event, open to individuals, couples, families, and organizations, will capture images for the national NOH8 campaign, which advocates for equality. The week continues with the Queeruphoria dance party, headlined by Debby Holiday, a singer-songwriter with 17 Billboard Top 20 Dance Chart hits. The party will take place on Friday, October 16, and will feature performances by Miss Jaxon, Lylac, and Devyn Michelle Lavicious, with music by DJ Tuffshed.
The highlight of the festival is the SOPride Parade and Festival, which will take place on Saturday, October 17, in downtown Ashland. Leading the parade as grand marshal is Gina Duquenne, the founder of Southern Oregon Pride, who has been instrumental in organizing the event for the past 16 years. The parade will begin at noon, followed by a festival at the bandshell from 1 to 5 PM. The festival will feature local vendors, artists, food trucks, nonprofits, and community resources, with performances emceed by Miss Jaxon and music by DJ Trevor Gold and Infinite Sun.
The festival concludes on Sunday, October 18, with the Rise & Shine Drag Brunch at Paschal Winery. This event will feature performances by Miss Jaxon, Lylac, Alias, Venus, and Devyn Michelle Lavicious. For those interested in attending, Queeruphoria tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite, and Drag Brunch tickets are available on Facebook.
Southern Oregon Pride is a nonprofit organization that builds a welcoming community for LGBTQIA+ people and allies across Southern Oregon through Pride celebrations, community events, education, and advocacy. The organization is currently seeking sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and donors to help make this vibrant celebration of pride, visibility, and community possible.