Phoenix Pride announces new dates for parade and festival

PHOENIX — Phoenix Pride announced Friday that the annual festival and parade has been moved to the fall, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event that celebrates people from all walks of life will be held at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix Nov. 6-7 and run from noon – 9 p.m. both days.

Meanwhile, the parade will kick off Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. at Third Street and Thomas Road, running northbound up Third Street to Indian School Road.

“While we are all looking forward to reuniting as a community, Phoenix Pride always puts the health and safety of our community first, and while the decision was not easy, we know that shifting our dates to November is the right thing to do for the organization and for all who attend the Phoenix Pride festival and parade to celebrate with us,” Phoenix Pride Executive Director Mike Fornelli said in a press release.

Originally scheduled for April, the organization says its main headliners for the Circle K Main Stage, including Neon Trees, Melanie Fiona, Jenn Cuneta, Jody Watley, and Deborah Cox, have been confirmed for the new dates.

Performer Alexis Mateo will replace April Carrion and Lineysha Sparx in the RuPaul Drag Race Puerto Rican Invasion Show.

“We are eager to bring our family and friends back together, and with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and improving forecasts for infection rates heading into the fall, we are confident that we will be able to gather in November to celebrate the incredible milestone of our 40th year of serving the Greater Phoenix community,” Fornelli said.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Those who have already purchased tickets will receive an email from the ticketing company with additional information on the rescheduled dates, the group said.

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