See What Pride in the Heartland Looks Like

Staff at Springfield, Ill.'s Phoenix Center, a local LGBT organization, asked a question in the fall of 2010. Why don’t we have a Pride festival? A group of interested folks got together and decided to make it happen. In May 2011, Springfield PrideFest became a reality. The street fair, held the third Saturday in May, is the product of many hours of hard work and meetings and is one of the best summer parties in central Illinois.

This year over 10,000 people attended the sixth annual Springfield PrideFest. Kudos on the organization, cleanliness, security, attention to detail, Kids’ Area, Teen Lounge, entertainment, and vendor variety. Next year’s date is May 20 — same place, same time. 

A big thank-you to #Boom Magazine for many of these photos.