Hartford Pride festival celebrates LGBTQ people with week of activities

HARTFORD — Hartford Pride will return to in-person events this year, with a week of activities aimed at celebrating and supporting LGBTQ people. Mayor Luke Bronin and former Mayor Pedro Segarra gathered at Bushnell Park Wednesday to announce the event, which will close out the Summer in the City events.

“Our Pride festival here in Hartford, the largest Pride festival in the state of Connecticut, will be the final event of Summer in the City,” Bronin. As the final installment of the festival season, he says the event will be “a great, beautiful return of the Pride festival after a hard year away last year.”

The weeklong festival is set to kick off on Sept. 6, with the raising of the pride flag at Hartford City Hall, with multiple family-friendly activities to follow in the days after. In-person events will host several Hartford-based vendors, nonprofits and local restaurants at and surrounding Bushnell Park.

“We always look at [the event] as celebrating the LGBTQ+ community — and that is our main purpose — but we’re also celebrating Hartford and bringing more economic opportunity to the businesses in Hartford,” Jalmar De Dios of Hartford Pride said. “Part of our motivation is to uplift Hartford for the great city that it is, but also making sure we help the local small businesses.”

That being said, De Dios explained that due to the fluctuating coronavirus rate, attendees can expect to see more digital components incorporated this year. “In the past, we used to have a bar crawl and a poetry reading but everything was indoors. We’re trying to limit the amount of indoor activities that we’re going to be having,” he said.

In doing so, virtual events, like last year’s digital roundtable experience Queer Talk, will be returning. De Dios says the topics will continue to focus on plights within the LGBTQ+ community, similar to last year’s discussion on treatment of Black transgender women, and helpful tips and resources for those in need.

Guests will also have the opportunity to receive HIV testing from Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective, and coronavirus vaccines from a variety of providers.

On the final day of celebration, Hartford Pride will hold a concert event at the Bushnell’s Performance Pavilion on Sept. 11. The event will include headlining performances by international artist Vincent, best known for being a finalist on the competitive singing show the Four, and Steve Grand, singer of hit song “All-american Boy.” Additional performances will include local talent diva Samantha Chanel and other drag kings and queens.

“Hartford Pride is always poised to deliver a great show. And this year will be no exception. While we are taking every precaution to keep everyone safe, we are also looking forward to welcoming everyone back to enjoy this great event,” Charlie Ortiz, president of Claro Inc., said.

For more information on Summer in the City events leading up to Hartford Pride festival, visit www.hartfordpride.com/en/.