CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC — A poster for the upcoming “Pride in the Park” event set for Saturday at West End Park in Marshalltown and hosted by Marshalltown LGBTQ+.
Yoga, live entertainment, kids’ activities and a vendor market will make up the first Marshalltown Pride in the Park, held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday in West End Park.
Put on by Marshalltown LGBTQ+, founded by Taylor Bear, the event seeks to be a welcoming and inclusive space.
She said the group formed in 2022 as a private online place for people to network.
“There was a big call for events, ways for us to meet in the community,” she said. “Last year, we just had such a great response with happy hour being hosted at Fiddle & Whistle, and then we held a few drag shows that went over really well and were a lot of fun.”
More clubs and events followed, with a call for them to host a pride event in town.
“I work with some great people in the community, and was directed to go speak with Geoff Hubbard at Marshalltown Parks and Rec., and I sat down with Jeff and said, ‘Hey, do you think this is something that we can bring to our community, on a small scale, to see how it goes?’ And he was so guiding, gave me as much knowledge as he’s got.”
West End Park was approved for the locale. Hubbard said Parks and Rec is excited to see any of its parks getting used for all kinds of special events.
“We hope people stop on down and enjoy the vendors and entertainment they have planned on Saturday,” he said.
Bear added that she wants people to patronize businesses in the 13th Street District and enjoy all Marshalltown has to offer.
Last year, the group held a drag show at Riverview Park, but on a smaller scale.
“We had to sell tickets and it was limited capacity, a bit more private,” she added. “This event is free to attend and feels more welcoming. Some prides charge for attendance that put on these elaborate and immaculate prides, but for us, I just knew this was going to be hosted by donations.”
The morning kicks off with Yoga in the Park, led by Heidi Draisey of Spirited Yoga & Wellness. Sign in at 8:15 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. start.
“Yoga in the Park is already in that space in the mornings,” Bear said.
Ecstatic Dance will immediately follow yoga, and will be guided by Tamra Rae of Light Steps, starting at 9:30 a.m.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy entertainment on the main stage, a vendors market, which goes until 6 p.m., and a kids’ zone from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. About 22 vendors and artisans selling their wares and social/political organizations, including the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, will be present. The kids’ zone will include a bounce house, face painting and sensory area.
PRIDEMANIA W/RuggedPro will take place at noon, followed by Remix Dance Academy at 1 p.m., musician Paige Clouse at 2 p.m. and a fashion show at 4 p.m. Drag shows will take place throughout the day and include performances by: Xander Lyon Frost, Hollywood Hope, Andromeda Renee Valentino, Isabella Kills Michaels, Matte Black, Lonika LaReese Knight, Dickey Wrecked Lyon, Werm, Infinity Dragon, Terra Byte Lyon, Giovanni Strong Michaels, Rory Phoenix Monroe and Amanita Girl, hosted by Hollywood Hope and Xander Lyon Frost.
“We’ve really encouraged everything to be family-friendly,” Bear said. “There will be a fashion show. Anyone can sign up for that. I will post that to the Facebook page so everybody can see even more details of the little things that are going on throughout the day.”
Pride After Party, located at Dave & Sally’s + The Cellar Door, will run 8 p.m. to close.
“This will be more of the 21+ crowd. It will be in the space we hold our weekly Happy Hour at The Cellar Door,” Bear said. “We’ll have an Open Stage Drag Show with a lot of the same performers from the main stage during the day. The music will probably be a little less family-friendly and things of that nature, but just a way to really round out the night. Marshalltown does not have a queer bar like some of our larger cities in Iowa do…there is such community built in these spaces, and it’s beautiful to see such generational friendships, there’s familial friendships, there’s just so much community and diversity, and I think that that’s the beauty of this life, so I’m so excited to be able to bring something like this to Marshalltown.”
People are invited to gather on Sunday for breakfast at Doo Dah’s from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For more information about the event, or to become a volunteer or sponsor, send a message to Marshalltown Lgbtq+ on Facebook or text Bear at: 641-840-2423.
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