Pride touches down in Newport
Pride events are not just big, rainbow-hued parties. They are also a time for celebrating change, working toward a more positive future and breaking down barriers for people in the LGBTQ+ community.
And the second annual Newport Oregon Pride aims to have some fun doing it. Running from Friday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Sept. 24, the celebration includes an ’80s themed night, Drag Bingo, a friends and family picnic and more.
“We have some of the same things as last year that were very successful, like the Super Queer Fun Fair,” Board Secretary Kathy Redwine said. “But this year we have a few new things too like a 5k walk/run and the Drag Bingo. We’ll be having some drag kings and queens from the valley to help run bingo — it will be tons of fun. It will be free to get in and to play it’s a dollar a card. Most of the events are free to attend — we are trying to make it accessible as possible.”
The fun begins at 5 pm on Friday with Pub Night at Bier One Brewing, with beer, food and games. If you choose to follow the ’80s theme, arrive in your favorite neon prints, fringes and big hair.
Saturday will begin with a Pride Proclamation at Newport City Hall at 10:30 am, then go big with the Super Queer Fun Fair at the Newport Recreation Center, with vendors, businesses and resources beginning at 11 am.
“We will be giving away a lot of swag,” Redwine said. “There will be plenty of rainbow flags and other fun stuff.”
Drag Bingo, at the Newport 60+ Activity Center, will run from 3 to 5 pm, offering family-friendly fun with prizes up for grabs.
If you are still standing, end the day with the Fabulous Formal at Primaltones Community Venue.
The prom, with the theme "Purple Reign,” will begin at 7 pm with an all-ages dance and shift towards an adult-only event later in the evening, with live music by Glitterfox, Dj Grythm and late-night performances by Dixie DeLish and more.
Those that didn’t party too hard on Saturday can begin the day on Sunday at noon at the Newport Pride Run, a 5K run or walk hosted by Ardor Adventures that starts and ends at the Yaquina Bay State Park.
Also at the state park beginning at noon is the more mellow Friends and Family Picnic.
Finally, the lively weekend wraps with the Pride Afterparty at Rogue Spirits Sunset Bar, with food, games and, of course, beer. One dollar from every pint sold will be donated to Newport Oregon Pride to support future events.
A newly formed non-profit, Newport Oregon Pride is “working toward a world in which LGBTQIA2S+ people are affirmed, respected and included in the full social and civic life of their local communities, free from fear of any discrimination, rejection and prejudice.”
Redwine, part of the queer community, said that events like these help her hope for a better world for not only her own generation, but for her daughter’s as well.
“We get together and celebrate how far we have come, but also to acknowledge the people we have lost along the way and also how far we still have to go,” she said. “Last year’s events were very successful, especially since it was our first one. We had people come from all walks of life. We definitely saw a ton of people from the queer community, but lots of families and allies too, it was really nice. There were so many more people than we expected.”
As June is LGBT Pride month, the bulk of organized Pride events fall within it.
“We decided to have ours in September because we didn’t want to conflict with bigger Pride events that people might want to attend,” Redwine said. “We also applied for some grants to get the first event going, and having it during the ‘shoulder’ season helped with that.”
The community has also stepped up to add to the weekend’s fun with Bridges of Pride, a slate of supporting events co-hosted by the Newport Recreation Center, the Newport 60+ Activity Center, Newport Public Library and the Newport Performing Arts Center. See below for details.
For a full list of venues and schedules, go to NewportOregonPride.com.
Bridges of Pride
A Super Queer Fun Fair, a Human Library, jazzy bras and drag bingo will all be on offer when BRIDGES of Pride comes to Newport this Saturday, Sept. 23.
This series of fun events is being co-hosted by the Newport Recreation Center, the Newport 60+ Activity Center, Newport Public Library and the Newport Performing Art Center along with Newport Pride.
The Super Queer Fun Fair runs from 11 am to 3 pm at the Newport Recreation Center, featuring activities for people of all ages, music, a photo booth and music from VDJ Osorio. The Newport Recreation Center is located at 225 SE Avery Street. There is no charge to attend.
The recreation center will also be home to The Human Library from noon to 2 pm. This is an opportunity for guests to select a person who has agreed to share their unique, personal perspective and lived experience in a one-to-one, 30-minute dialogue. You select the person you would like to learn more about, make your reservation and open your mind. Questions will be provided to help you along, and the human books have prepared some talking points to share with you.
And be sure to stop by the BraVa! table at the recreation center between 11 am to 3 pm to decorate a bra in support of local breast cancer patients. Decorated bras will be displayed at the Newport Visual Arts Center throughout October and auctioned in early November to raise funds for Lincoln County breast cancer patients through CoastBusters. Supplies and bras to decorate will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
After the Super Queer Fun Fair concludes at 3 pm, walk across the street to the Newport 60+ Activity Center for Drag Bingo hosted by Mulan Rouge. This bingo with a twist is a fun, family-friendly event open to all. Bingo cards are a dollar each and fabulous prizes will be awarded to the lucky winners.
For full details, go to NewportOregonPride.com.