'Rainbow City Pride' is all-day Pride event in Niagara Falls

Submitted by Niagara Pride

Pride month in WNY isn’t complete until you join Niagara Pride and Old Falls Street for “Rainbow City Pride” 2023 on June 24. This event has something for everyone, and organizers encourage all of WNY to come check it out.

What better way to celebrate Pride than in the presence of the majestic Niagara Falls and come see why this treasure gave Niagara Falls the nickname of “Rainbow City!”

Schedule of Events for ‘Rainbow City Pride’

•11 a.m. to noon – Pride interfaith service: Niagara Pride will host a Pride-focused interfaith service as part of “Rainbow City Pride.” Clergy and spiritual leaders from various denominations will be on hand to deliver the service and will be available to answer questions about their places of worships and the work they are doing to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community. The interfaith service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 140 Rainbow Blvd. (https://fb.me/e/MhKDCBVF)

•noon to 5 p.m. – “Rainbow City Pride” street festival on Old Falls Street: Pride comes back to Niagara Falls once again with an exciting lineup of performers, which include Jayme Coxx, DivasWho, and the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus. Organizers are thrilled that the Justice League of WNY will be on hand for photo-ops with your favorite superheroes.

Featured guest speakers include Kitty Lambert-Rudd, Ari Moore and Jordan James.

√ Lambert-Rudd is an LGBTQ+ rights activist and president of OUTspoken for Equality, an LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit in the Western New York area, and as such was instrumental in convincing the New York State Legislature to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2011, Lambert and Cheryle Rudd became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in New York; their ceremony was in Niagara Falls State Park.

√ Moore is Buffalo’s first prominently out Black trans woman artist and has established herself as a leader and matriarch of the local movement for decades. After studying at the University at Buffalo and Daemen College, Moore has served an art instructor at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Langston Hughes Institute Center. She was one of the first artists to show at Buffalo's Juneteenth Festival. Moore owned and operated the Inner City Art Studio before joining the Buffalo Police Department, where she served as an officer for 25 years before retiring.

√ James is an inspiring LGBTQ+ advocate, known for founding "Blood is Blood" and serving as a resilient role model. Through his unwavering dedication, he successfully challenged discriminatory blood donation policies, saving over 1,000 lives and bringing an end to a 30-year-plus discriminatory policy. As an openly gay TV host and producer, he shattered barriers and demonstrated the power of determination and perseverance in achieving one's dreams.

The following vendors will be on hand as well: 2Gray Cats; Aquarium of Niagara; GLYS; Dig Your Engrave; Destination Niagara; DivasWho; embraceWNY; JB’s Bake Shop; Fresh Off the Brush Studios; The Burning Candle Gift Emporium; Pastel Pride Witch; Buffalo Body Sex; and Niagara County Department of Health – sexual wellness clinic.

And if that's not enough … unicorn-drawn carriage rides! The best part: It’s all free of charge!

Times for events happening at the festival:

√ noon-12:30 p.m.: Drag queen performances by DivasWho

√ 12:30-1 p.m.: Ronald Piaseczny and Mayor Robert Restaino will deliver opening remarks

√ 1-1:30 p.m.: The Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus will perform

√ 1:30-2 p.m.: Drag queen performances by DivasWho

√ 2-2:15 p.m.: Kitty Lambert will speak

√ 2:15-2:30 p.m.: Jordan James will speak

√ 2:30-2:45 p.m.: Ari Moore will speak

√ 2:45-3 p.m.: DJ Remmz

√ 3-3:30 p.m.: Drag queen performances by DivasWho

√ 3:30-4:15 p.m.: DJ Remmz

√ 4:15-4:45 p.m.: Drag queen performances by DivasWho

√ 4:45-5 p.m.: Closing remarks from Piaseczny / DJ Remmz

•5 p.m. to midnight – “Rainbow City Pride” after-party: The fun doesn't stop once the “Rainbow City Pride” street festival is over! Join Niagara Pride at the Rainbow City after-party immediately following the festival either at The Gold Bar (435 3rd St.) or at The Archives Pub (439 3rd St.)! The after-party is also a fundraiser for Niagara Pride. (https://fb.me/e/1bLjZMg7H)

•9 p.m. – Niagara Falls illumination: Once the sun sets, the falls will come to life as they are illuminated in the transgender colors and then the Pride rainbow that evening. In honor of Pride Month, Niagara Falls State Park is also illuminating the falls in Pride colors all week, starting June 23, and culminating June 30, when the falls will be illuminated every top of the hour for 15 minutes in the Pride colors. For more information on the times the Pride colors will be on the falls during that week, go to www.niagaraparks.com/events/event/falls-illumination.

•10 p.m. – Fireworks over the falls: No Pride is complete without a breathtaking fireworks display, and “Rainbow City Pride” is no exception! As part of the Niagara Falls summer fireworks series, there will be a spectacular fireworks show with stunning views of the falls. For more information, go to www.niagarafallstourism.com/fireworks.

Niagara Pride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Niagara County and WNY. For more information about Niagara Pride and its services/events, check out its website at www.niagarapride.org, email at [email protected], or check it out on Facebook.