Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre is thrilled to announce its fourth annual pride celebration, HPAC’s Rainbow Fest: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride in the Catskills. This free outdoor family-friendly block party will take place on Saturday, July 22, from 2pm to 7pm, right in front of the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre.
Rainbow Fest celebrates love, self-expression, and the magic of summer in the Catskills. The event will feature entertainment for all ages, showcasing the talents of diverse performers, dancers, roller skaters, hula hoopers, and stilt walkers. Attendees will be treated to a fabulous family-friendly drag show and a beauty bar. HPAC’s Tango Café will be offering food and drink specials. The festivities will also include a DJ, carnival games, and a catwalk fashion show where participants can compete for exciting prizes. The winner of the fashion show will lead the Hurleyville Pride Procession along Main Street.
Leading up to the event, HPAC will also host a special screening of the groundbreaking 1970 film “Boys in the Band,” a milestone in the history of queer cinema. The screening will be held on Thursday, July 20, at 6pm, followed by a talkback and audience discussion. Tickets for the screening will be available on HPAC’s website.
Rainbow Fest and related programs hold even greater significance in the context of ongoing discrimination faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. Events such as these play a crucial role in fostering an inclusive and accepting community that upholds the dignity and human rights of all.
Janet Carrus, President of HPAC, expressed her excitement, stating, “We are proud to host Rainbow Fest to promote an inclusive and accepting community. HPAC strives to create a space where everyone feels valued and celebrated for who they are.”
Ellyane Hutchinson, HPAC’s Co-Executive Director, added: “Our team has been working tirelessly to make Rainbow Fest a clear expression of our mission. We believe that events like this play a vital role in shaping a just society.”
Generous sponsorship for HPAC’s Rainbow Fest comes from WJFF, Bold Gold Media Group, The Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association, Jeff Bank, Hurleyville General Store, High Standard Suites, Fortress Bikes, The Hurley, and 17 West Brewery. The event is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
For more information about Rainbow Fest, please visit: https://hurleyvilleartscentre.org/hurleyville-pride-2023/.