The 2022 Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest, scheduled to run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2, will include programming all across Champaign, Urbana, and Campustown.
This Pride Fest is sponsored by Uniting Pride, which was discovered in 2009 as an organization intended to promote the equality, wellness, and advocacy of LGBTQ+ communities existing throughout Champaign County.
A major motivation behind this year’s Pride Fest is that 2021 was the worst year on record with the most anti-LGBTQ+ legislation ever passed in this country, according to Uniting Pride.
The Grand Marshals in this year’s Pride Fest are educators. Any teachers, librarians, or social workers who have welcomed those in the community are being offered a position of honor in this year’s Pride Fest.
From a Block Party with the University’s Counseling Center to a screening of a queer documentary, a diversity of events are being offered at this year’s Pride Fest. There are virtual options as well as in person options.
Aside from concerts and food, all events are free of charge. However, donations to Uniting Pride and other companies and organizations are also requested at each event.
All of these events will gear up to the annual pride parade, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 1. It will begin at 11 a.m. in Campustown with participants marching towards downtown Urbana.
This year, a new addition to the parade will be the judging and awards for best float, best marching group, and overall best in show. Winners will be announced from the fair stage at 12:30 p.m.
The final events of the 2022 CU Pride Fest will be a community crawl, where participants can purchase a pack of vouchers in order to attain materials from local businesses, and a performance at Virginia Theatre by Melissa Etheridge, a famous singer with many awards and hit records to her name.