May 22, 2020 News Release
Media Inquiries: Mary Prevost– 612.202.3047 (cell)
Golden Valley Pride Festival moves to virtual celebration throughout entire month of June
Plans online activities to encourage community celebration in honor of Pride Month
Golden Valley, MN (May 22, 2020) – After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, the Golden Valley Pride Festival planning committee has decided to cancel the 2020 Golden Valley Pride Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 5th Annual Golden Valley Pride Festival was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2020 and then postponed to August 29. There are no plans to reschedule the event in 2020. The next Golden Valley Pride Festival is expected sometime in June 2021.
The annual family-friendly festival began in 2016 and attracts 5,000 attendees each year, 10 food trucks and more than 90 community groups and exhibitors. It was the first suburban Pride festival in Minnesota.
The Golden Valley Pride Festival is transforming into a virtual celebration to celebrate Pride Month in June and the community is invited to join in on the fun. The Golden Valley Pride Festival website (goldenvalleypride.com) and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) will offer activities to help community members and families celebrate our diverse community, including printable coloring pages, drag queen story hour, photo submissions and a special look at our sponsors who have been committed to the Golden Valley Pride Festival.
“The Golden Valley Pride Festival was born five years ago out of a love for our city and an interest in celebrating the growing diversity we see in our community. That love and support continues to grow and is more important this year than ever before,” said Fernando Urbina, 2019 Golden Valley Pride Festival Team Chair. “Celebration comes in many forms. Let’s spend the month of June virtually showing how inclusive our community really is.”
More gay couples, married or unmarried, reside in Golden Valley than any other city in Minnesota. This according to census data from the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. In the 2010 census, 22 out of every 1,000 Golden Valley households, or 2.2 percent, self-identified as gay. This number could even be 15 percent higher because some households chose not to identify themselves.
Although the event has strong support from the city staff and council, the Golden Valley Pride Festival is privately funded and organized. A volunteer planning committee of 15 Golden Valley residents has been planning the event since November and more than 50 volunteers were expected to help on the day of the event. Multiple community businesses and individuals have also contributed.
To keep up-to-date about the event and its sponsors, visit GoldenValleyPride.com or connect with the group on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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March 30, 2020
In light of recent developments regarding COVID-19 it was critical we plan ahead and make decisions now regarding the 2020 Golden Valley Pride Festival. It is with the health and safety of all involved in mind that we have decided to postpone this year’s celebration from the original date of June 13, 2020. The Golden Valley Pride Festival will now be held on August 29, 2020.
We know how important Pride is to all of you. Rest assured it is to us as well! The sense of community, togetherness, and support is so important—especially at a time like this. It reflects who we are as a community and it is why this festival is so meaningful. We will still celebrate our diversity and pride but will do so in a way that is safe and supportive for all participants.
We will continue to monitor this constantly changing environment and provide further updates as needed. Thank you for your support!
— The Golden Valley Pride Festival Planning Committee