ALTON - Over 80 vendors and hundreds of community members turned out for Alton Pride’s third annual festival.

From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, community members could celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with live music, vendors, food trucks and more in downtown Alton. Anne McCoy, one of the board members with Alton Pride, noted that the festival has expanded since its first year in 2022.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

“It’s grown a lot. We expect that it's going to just keep getting bigger,” McCoy said. “It's always about connecting communities. We're just trying to bring everybody together and let everybody know they're welcome.”

Attendees enjoyed performances by Porch Cafe, Mz Goldie, Izzy Salhani and several drag queens. McCoy said the festival began with a “very welcoming and affirming” speech by Alton Mayor David Goins.

Article continues after sponsor message

The Pride Festival is the biggest event that Alton Pride sponsors, but they have several other events and promotions throughout the year. McCoy said the organization is seeking volunteers and donations to make their work possible.

“We're always looking for people to help out and join our board, so anybody that is interested in helping us out, we have events throughout the year. This is our biggest by far, but we do have other events that we could always use help with,” McCoy said. “The more volunteers, the better.”

For more information about Alton Pride, visit their website at AltonPride.com or their official Facebook page.

More like this:

Nov 24, 2024 - 3rd Chute Bar and Grill Loves to See New and Familiar Faces

3 days ago - Water Festival On Wheels Visits North Elementary School

Yesterday - Community Invited to Hayner's Local Author Book Fair at Alton Square Mall

Yesterday - Alton Pride’s 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive Nets 2,817 Non-Perishable Food Items For Local Families in Need

Oct 28, 2024 - Alton's First Craft Beverage Festival to Highlight Local Food and Drink Culture