Despite the rainy skies, large crowds gathered in Essex Junction on Saturday to celebrate the third annual Essex Pride Festival. With colorful umbrellas overhead and music in the air, the community showed up to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, resilience, and visibility.The festival featured live drag performances, food trucks, nonprofit booths, and local vendors, offering something for all ages. Organizers emphasized that the event is more than a celebration; it’s a place to build connections and foster inclusion.Bethany Clark, a lifelong Essex Junction resident and member of the Essex Junction Democratic Committee, called the event deeply personal. “I didn’t really figure out my identity and how I was until my twenties,” Clark said. “To have that access to resources, to others who have gone through this and come out the other side, I think it can make all the difference in the world.”Local businesses also played a big role in the day’s success, with GlobalFoundries as a recurring sponsor of the event. “This is our third year sponsoring the Essex Pride Festival, and we love being out here every year,” said Kevin Cofelice, a manager at GlobalFoundries. “It’s just amazing that kids and young people can come out and see people like them, feel embraced by the community, and bring their authentic selves.”Organizers say Pride in Essex isn’t just about one day of fun; it’s about building a stronger, more inclusive future. The annual event continues to grow in attendance and impact, reinforcing the importance of creating visible, welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Despite the rainy skies, large crowds gathered in Essex Junction on Saturday to celebrate the third annual Essex Pride Festival. With colorful umbrellas overhead and music in the air, the community showed up to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, resilience, and visibility.
The festival featured live drag performances, food trucks, nonprofit booths, and local vendors, offering something for all ages.
Advertisement
Organizers emphasized that the event is more than a celebration; it’s a place to build connections and foster inclusion.
Bethany Clark, a lifelong Essex Junction resident and member of the Essex Junction Democratic Committee, called the event deeply personal.
“I didn’t really figure out my identity and how I was until my twenties,” Clark said. “To have that access to resources, to others who have gone through this and come out the other side, I think it can make all the difference in the world.”
Local businesses also played a big role in the day’s success, with GlobalFoundries as a recurring sponsor of the event.
“This is our third year sponsoring the Essex Pride Festival, and we love being out here every year,” said Kevin Cofelice, a manager at GlobalFoundries. “It’s just amazing that kids and young people can come out and see people like them, feel embraced by the community, and bring their authentic selves.”
Organizers say Pride in Essex isn’t just about one day of fun; it’s about building a stronger, more inclusive future.
The annual event continues to grow in attendance and impact, reinforcing the importance of creating visible, welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals.
