This Saturday marks the 30th year of the Michigan Pride Festival in Lansing. The festival will take place in Old Town and downtown Lansing.
This year in addition to focusing on acceptance and love—Pride will also focus on outreach to younger generations.
The Saturday parade starts at 12 p.m. at North Grand Avenue and East Shiawassee Street. Sections of Shiawassee Sreet, Grand Avenue, Ionia Street, Ottawa Street, Washington Square, Michigan Avenue and Capitol Avenue will be closed. The road closures will be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dana Nessel, Michigan’s first openly gay elected statewide official will be the parade’s grand marshal.
Several other dignitaries are scheduled to speak including Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, members of the Michigan Pride Board and two transgender teenagers.
Event organizers have been in close communication with the Lansing Police following a conflict that involved neo-Nazi protestors at Motor City Pride in Detroit last weekend.
Organizers of the event expect more than 5,000 participants who will attend the parade, rally, and festival. If turnout meets organizers expectations it will be a record for Lansing Pride. Leigha Faith, Michigan Pride’s co-chair, said last year organizers estimated around 4,500.
Musical acts, family-friendly activities like games and scavenger hunts will be available. The Lansing Lugnuts’ mascot, Big Lug, will serve as the grand marshal of children’s Pride festivities. The children’s parade will begin at 2 p.m.