ROCK ISLAND, ILL. — Day One of the Quad Cities’ largest Pride festival starts this evening at 4 p.m., kicking off a weekend of Pride celebration in the seven-city bi-state metropolis that includes the 11 a.m. QC Unity Pride Parade Saturday along with Day Two of the Quad Cities Pride Festival starting at 1 p.m.
The weekend festival that starts today will include more than 80 groups and businesses in a vendor fair, about 20 more than the number present at least year’s Quad Cities Pride Festival, says Dan Gleason, president of the Quad Cities Pride Alliance that organizes the festival.
L to R: drag vocalist Ada Vox from America’s Got Talent, Elliott with Two T’s from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Quad Cities area drag performer Bentley Balenciaga.
Entertainment includes tonight’s Ada Vox, a former American Idol competitor who melds drag with live vocals, and Elliott with Two T’s, a former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant who will headline Saturday night’s show. Acts new to the festival include Acro Yoga QC and Belly Divas Dance.
Acoustic musician Jordan Danielsen, burlesque troupe Mary Quite Contrary’s and Invisible Cartoons are annual Quad Cities Pride names that will perform again this year.
Scores of local drag kings and queens will be on stage over the two-day event, in at least four different segments. In addition, the festival features The Textures and the Funktastic 5, and Illuminaughties Burlesque.
Dan Gleason, president of the Quad Cities Pride Alliance that organizes the festival
Gleason credits Chad Rose (aka Bentley Balenciaga) with assembling the line-up. Bentley will also emcee the be among the local drag performers to be featured.
The record number of entries in the vendor fair also features more shopping opportunities than in previous years, Gleason says. Overall, Pride organizers expect another ground-breaking crowd for the festival’s third year at waterfront Schwiebert Park.
The fun tomorrow starts before the festival in Davenport, when the QC Unity Pride Parade steps off at 11 a.m. near the intersection of 2nd and Iowa streets in Davenport. The parade will head down 2nd Street, cross the Centennial Bridge and follow a square through downtown Rock Island before ending at the park at noon.
Invisible Cartoons will perform once more at the Quad Cities Pride Festival Saturday in Schwiebert Park, Rock Island. (photo by The Real Mainstream)
Later this month, the Quad Cities can also enjoy:
• a Pride Hike with the Clock Inc. LGBT+ Community Center Sunday
• an art auction with Clock Inc. Thursday
• a crafts night with Free Mom Hugs and Clock Inc. June 12
• Taylor Swift Trivia Night to benefit Clock Inc. June 13
• Pride Night at the Quad City River Bandits June 13
• the Pride Party at Bass Street Landing June 15
• Pride Bingo to benefit Clock Inc., with Cher impersonator Candi Stratton, June 24
• and a Pride Family Picnic June 30.
Check out The Real Mainstream’s LGBTQ+ Pride calendars to find details on these and dozens more Pride events across Illinois and Iowa.
Admission to this weekend’s Pride Festival is $10 each day. You can find even more information about the festival, including a rundown of timing for all entertainment, at the QCPA Facebook page.
(photos courtesy Quad Cities Pride Alliance unless otherwise noted)
