JACKSONVILLE — Thousands are expected to take part in the River City Pride celebration happening Saturday in Jacksonville.
This year’s theme is “Stronger Together.”
The Pride event features a marketplace at Riverside Park that is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
River City Pride says their mission is, “to produce an annual event that fosters a sense of community, encouraging LGBTQIA+ citizens to live openly, promotes fellowship with our allies, opposes discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and provide financial and community support to LGBTQIA+ oriented non-profit organizations in the local area.”
The highlight is the 1.5-mile parade from Willowbranch Park to Riverside Park. The parade is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and organizers say it runs through the most prominent LGBTQIA+ neighborhoods in the city.
According to the River City Pride website, the first Pride celebration in Jacksonville happened back in 1978, nine years after the Stonewall Riots and led to a national push for gay rights.
You can find more information about the 2021 Pride Celebration in Jacksonville here: www.rivercitypride.org.