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ALTON - Alton Pride will host their fifth annual festival this weekend to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
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From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, the community is invited to Belle Street in Alton for a day of vendors, food trucks, live music, drag performances, karaoke and more. Juliet Steele, the president-elect of Alton Pride, noted that the event promises to be a fun day of acceptance while supporting local LGBTQ+ community members.
“We need a judgment-free space where everybody can just get together and enjoy the wonderful community that we have,” Steele said. “We are ready to put on the biggest five-year bash this weekend.”
The fun starts at 11 a.m. with a puppy parade, featuring dogs up for adoption through Hope Animal Rescues. A vendor fair will be set up along the street, with plenty of artisans, organizations and food trucks represented.
Drag bingo and drag performances are a big part of the day. There will be live music by Mila Duffy, Erin Jo & Friends and RoomMade Band, as well as a DJ and karaoke on the south stage.
Admission to the festival is free, but Alton Pride is raising money with their $5 for Five fundraiser. This money will go back to the organization’s work to support the community through events and scholarships for high school students. Steele noted that Alton Pride gave away four $1,000 scholarships this year, and they hope to do the same in 2027.
“We’re asking people to donate $5 if they can, kind of a grassroots thing, to get the community involved so that all of us can be invested and keep Alton Pride going strong,” she said. “We just want to make this bigger and bigger each year as we possibly can.”
Steele also thanked this year’s sponsors, a few of which have supported the festival since its beginning. She acknowledged that “things are hard for a lot of people” financially, but the community still came together to sponsor the festival.
She believes this points to the importance of the event. As an organization, Alton Pride aims to bring people together, Steele said. She welcomes everyone to the festival on Sept. 12 and hopes to see many people come together for a great day.
“To get to see everybody living their best life with a smile on their face, greeting other people, hugs galore — it is a wonderful, wonderful time of acceptance and love,” she added. “We accept everybody no matter who you are, how you dress, how you look. Come on out, and you’ll have a big smile waiting for you and a lot of fun to have with your fellow community members. It’s all about building a better, stronger community.”
For more information about the fifth annual Alton Pride festival, including a full lineup of events, visit the official Facebook event page. To learn more about Alton Pride, their work, and how to get involved as a volunteer or donor, check out their official website or their official Facebook page.
