IT IT WAS A COLORFUL ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND IN ST. ALBANS AS OVER 700 PEOPLE CAME OUT TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE 2nd ANNUAL PRIDE CELEBRATION. PUT ON BY THE ST. ALBANS PRIDE CORPS, LAST YEAR’S DEBUT CAME WITH ITS SHARE OF HURDLES… INCLUDING PROTESTERS. BUT ORGANIZERS SAY THIS TIME EVERYTHING CLICKED THE WEEKEND KICKED OFF FRIDAY NIGHT WITH A DRAG SHOW… THEN A PARADE SATURDAY AT TAYLOR PARK FULL OF ENERGY, MUSIC, VENDORS, AND CELEBRATION. <“We had a lot of things that we were experimenting with. This year we changed up the layout more, The vendors loved it, the patrons loved it. It went really, really well.”> BUTTED <“When we say community, we’re not talking the LGBT community, we’re talking the larger community as a whole. We’re trying to bring everybody together and build those bridges and fill those gaps and connect people.”> PRIDE CORPS HOPES TO KEE
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St. Albans pride festival sees strong turnout in second year
Our goal is to bring everyone together, building bridges, closing gaps, and creating connections,” said Scott Bushey, president of the St. Albans Pride Corps.
Updated: 7:00 PM EDT Jun 8, 2025
A vibrant crowd of more than 700 people gathered in downtown St. Albans over the weekend to celebrate the city’s second annual Pride Festival, organized by the St. Albans Pride Corps.The event, which kicked off Friday with a high-energy drag show, continued into Saturday with a parade through Taylor Park featuring live music, local vendors, and a strong sense of community.Last year’s debut faced pushback from protesters, but this time, organizers say things went smoothly.“We had a lot of things that we were experimenting with. This year we changed up the layout more,” said Scott Bushey, president of St. Albans Pride Corps. “The vendors loved it, the patrons loved it. It went really well.”Beyond the celebration, Bushey said the mission of the event was about more than just LGBTQ+ pride.“When we say community, we also mean the broader community as a whole,” he said. “Our goal is to bring everyone together, build bridges, close gaps, and create meaningful connections.”The Pride Corps says it plans to keep the momentum going throughout the year, with hopes of hosting additional inclusive events across Franklin County.
A vibrant crowd of more than 700 people gathered in downtown St. Albans over the weekend to celebrate the city’s second annual Pride Festival, organized by the St. Albans Pride Corps.
The event, which kicked off Friday with a high-energy drag show, continued into Saturday with a parade through Taylor Park featuring live music, local vendors, and a strong sense of community.
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Last year’s debut faced pushback from protesters, but this time, organizers say things went smoothly.
“We had a lot of things that we were experimenting with. This year we changed up the layout more,” said Scott Bushey, president of St. Albans Pride Corps. “The vendors loved it, the patrons loved it. It went really well.”
Beyond the celebration, Bushey said the mission of the event was about more than just LGBTQ+ pride.
“When we say community, we also mean the broader community as a whole,” he said. “Our goal is to bring everyone together, build bridges, close gaps, and create meaningful connections.”
The Pride Corps says it plans to keep the momentum going throughout the year, with hopes of hosting additional inclusive events across Franklin County.
