PrideFest 2011 Vendors
Check out an up-to-date list of PrideFest 2011 vendors at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gay-Pride-Virginia/128378304264?sk=app_4949752878
Make sure to stop by and see them all!
PrideFest 2011 Stage Lineup
PrideFest 2011 Stage Lineup
12 noon – PridePrayer
12:30 – DJ C-Dubz
1pm – Welcome
1:15 – Mr. VA Pride – Athletic Wear
1:45 – The Ladies of VA Pride
2pm – Mr. VA Pride – Swimwear
2:15 – The Ladies of VA Pride
2:30 – Amy Henderson
3:15 – Wells Fargo
3:30 – Narissa Bond
4:15 – The Ladies of VA Pride
4:30 – DJ C-Dubz
5:15 – Mr. VA Pride & 50/50 Raffle
5:30 – KMI
5:45 – Nationwide Insurance
6pm – Tom Goss
6:45 – The Ladies of VA Pride
7pm – Martha Wash
7:30 – Scholarships & Buster Awards
Mr. VA Pride
Mr. VA Pride went state-wide this year, and we have four regional winners ready to compete for the final title! With hundreds of dollars and a fantastic crown at stake, these guys are ready to represent their communities and their state. Introducing Mr. Richmond Julius Smith, Mr. Fairfax Brian Reach, Mr. Arlington Chip Clapp and Mr. Virginia Beach Matt Belcher! Beauty meets brains as these guys strut their stuff and answer hard hitting questions about community, pride and equality!
Come out and see them throughout the day at PrideFest 2011!
PrideFest 2011
Virginia Pride is EXCITED to announce PrideFest 2011! We are pleased to be returning to Kanawha Plaza this year and have a lot of EXCITING things planned!
A few of the highlights:
- Our Facebook page will include a complete list of registered vendors and will be updated regularly, so register early!
- There are 3 types of tickets this year – Early, Regular and Late. As well as a discount if you provide your own tent.
- PrideFest has been extended to 1pm to 8pm for increased exposure.
A few notes:
- Make sure to include your email address on your new registration as we will email updated information and lists out as it becomes available.
- Registration is ONLY thru EventBrite, mail ins and emails will not be accepted.
This years EventBrite page – http://pridefestva2011.eventbrite.com/
Our Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gay-Pride-Virginia/128378304264
2011 Sponsor Benefits Guide – http://www.vapride.org/SG11.pdf If you would like to go above just a vendor space.
George Michael “Buster” Zurik Community Commitment Award
The George Michael “Buster” Zurik Community Commitment Award was given for the first time in 2007. The award is designed to memorialize the life and commitment of Buster Zurik for enriching the lives of GLBT citizens within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Buster was a strong ally of many non-profit organizations and a strong and responsible business leader. Buster left behind a legacy of community commitment that has inspired VA Pride to recognize members of our Virginia community who, by virtue of their actions, have made an overwhelming difference in the quality of life of a great number of GLBT people within our Commonwealth.
Each year, VA Pride selects three recipients of the award. Here are the very deserving award recipients for 2010 who have displayed tremendous commitment to the LGBT communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia:
Mike n Mark
Mike and Mark are known throughout the Tidewater area for their dedication to bringing the greater community together. Mike and Mark have selflessly organized dinners, fundraisers, Tea Dances, Pier Parties and a host of other events designed to strengthen relationships between the various groups and segments of the LGBT community. VA Pride thanks them for their passion and tireless devotion.
John Dougherty
John has worked tirelessly with ROSMY and with the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls to instill a greater sense of community awareness and involvement. VA Pride is truly thankful for all of John’s efforts and will remain impressed with the commitment and passion he has for the LGBT community.
Cindy Bray
Cindy has worked diligently with the Gay Community Center of Richmond in bringing social and cultural experiences to the LGBT community. She has raised the level of awareness of many LGBT artists and entertainers. Cindy has been a valued asset and advocate to the VA Pride organization and we appreciate her commitment to the LGBT community.
A Thank You from Amy Lockett
Wow… what a day! Incredible turnout with amazing people and such a great energy all around. Thank you for making Virginia Pridefest 2010 so special this year!!
Pridefest is such an important community event here in our commonwealth and I would like to thank our fearless event leader, Justin Shaia, for managing a lot of moving parts to make Pridefest happen. I’d also like to thank Audrey Allen, Michael Maszaros, Scott Vock, Scott Sibley, David Ryder and all of our incredible volunteers! Thank you to our premiere sponsor, Nationwide, with a special shout out to Aseel Shtayyeh and C. F. Younger who have been truly wonderful partners in bringing Pridefest to you this year! I’d also like to thank our many other sponsors, our business partners, our vendors, our performers and entertainers, the City of Richmond, all of our allies and of course, I’d like to thank YOU for making it a very special Pridefest.
I think Pridefest has different meanings to different people. For me, Pridefest is a way to bring the greater community together and remind us that it’s okay “to be”. I often watch the news or listen to a speech and I realize that I’m being talked about… that you’re being talked about… that our right to be who we are is being discussed. And I think, “How very surreal”. People are deciding, and often debating, whether or not we get “to be”. CNN will say “Next week we’ll be debating whether you get to serve in our military. Stay tuned, because at 4pm, you get to listen to people talk about why your love is valued less than others.”
Well, it’s not okay. But what happens is that it becomes okay to listeners, to viewers, to families, to children. It happens so often that we all become immune to the fact that it’s the discussion and the debating of these things that is truly offensive. It causes a ripple effect through our community that is very damaging to our individual and collective sense of self.
And it’s not like we are asking for the moon here, is it?
• We’d like to be educated along side our peers in a non-hostile school environment.
• We’d like to be able to bring our whole selves to work.
• We’d like to be honest in who we are without the risk our losing our children.
• We’d like to be in the armed forces. We would like to serve our country with our peers. A better way to say this for some would be “We would like to continue to serve our country with our peers”.
• We’d like to be respected with regard to love and marriage.
These are just a few… and they’re so basic. And when the basics are up for grabs, LGBT individuals can begin to feel “less than”. It’s easy to become isolated. When you can’t be your whole self and pursue your dreams freely, every day can be a challenge.
If Pridefest does anything, it reminds us to celebrate everyone’s unique contribution to society. It provides for us a safe place to celebrate our differences. Pridefest offers us a glimpse into what “can be”. My hope is that the feeling of freedom to be who we are that we have at Pridefest will extend outside of this one day into more days, weeks, months, and years. It reminds us of what we are fighting for everyday… that comfortable, safe environment that we all deserve to exist in. So get to know one another. This is your community. These are your friends. And remember, you have every right to be who you are:
To be fabulous.
To be healthy.
To be outspoken.
To be generous.
To be spiritual.
To be protected.
To be happy.
To be proud.
To be YOU.
Thank you so much for being at Pridefest 2010. And thank you for being YOU everyday. Together we can make a difference!
Amy Lockett
Win a trip to Miami at PrideFest
Q94 will be giving away a trip for two to Miami Beach to see Lady GaGa’s NEW ALBUM RELEASE tour early next year. Include airfare for two, great beach hotel and premium concert tickets.
Register at PrideFest and see who wins!
PrideFest 2010 Featured Performers
Virginia Pride is please to announce the PrideFest 2010 performance lineup!
Featuring AMAZING performances by:
Lady Bunny
MORGUEASM
Alex Funk
Amy Henderson
narissa bond
Karl Marks
Augustin Correro – Mr. VA Pride
Xavier Drake – King of Kings
Tiffany Devereaux and cast
Richmond Men’s and Women’s Chorus
and more!
Keep tuned www.vapride.org for more details!
Also check out www.vapride.org/events for all the AWESOME upcoming events!
Vendor space is still available at http://vapride2010.eventbrite.com
PrideBus 2010
Free Rides All Day & All Night
The big green bus goes gay. To The Bottom & Back (2BNB) is providing free shuttle transportation at PrideFest on Saturday, September 25. The party continues into the night with two buses running around Richmond to these five bars and clubs.
Click here to download a printable map.
“GayRVA” The Bus
During PrideFest, two teams compete to take their bus over the rainbow. The decorated buses will show their Pride across Richmond as they make their way to our five nightclubs. Visit the GayRVA booth at PrideFest to sign-up. Teams are first come, first serve.
The Schedule | Saturday, September 25
PrideFest Route
PrideBus Club Route
10 PM – 2 AM (see map above)
Bus Tracking
On the day of the event, track the buses on your smartphone by clicking here:
About 2BNB
To The Bottom And Back (2BNB) normally operates buses on a continuous loop throughout the major arteries in the city from 6pm to 3am, Thursday-Saturday. 2BNB bridges the gap between the Fan district and the East End/Downtown, an area approximately 5 miles long, and aims to fill the void that existing public transportation creates. They will stop anywhere along the route for a pick up or drop off.
- Reduce the quantity of drinking and driving incidents and create safer streets for pedestrians and motorists alike and create awareness through education to the dangers of drinking and driving.
- Provide free transportation relief of the poor, the distressed or underprivileged in conjunction with other charitable organizations.
- Through transportation, encourage a more eco-friendly way to move about Richmond and other cities.
- Provide a transportation catalyst for the people to enjoy the sights, culture and entertainment Richmond, or other cities, has to offer.
Donate
Shuttle transportation on the PrideBus is provided completely free of charge through generous support of 2BNB, club owners, and GayRVA to reduce drunk driving the night of PrideFest. 2bNB accepts tips on the bus to support its mission. You can also pledge by clicking here.
1 PM – To/From PrideFest To/From Shockoe & Carytown4 PM – To/From PrideFest To/From Shockoe & Carytown6 PM – “GayRVA” The Bus Event @ PrideFest8 PM – From PrideFest To Shockoe & Carytown
Volunteers Needed for PrideFest!
September 25th will be here before you know it and and many changes are coming to Pride this year! We are very excited to bring to life a family friendly event that will further celebrate the diversity this festival is designed to showcase.
In an effort to make sure all these changes are managed as smooth as possible, VA Pride is seeking dedicated volunteers for the event as well as the days and weeks leading up to the festival. If you have ever wanted to be part of VAPride, this is your opportunity!
There will be many exciting new opportunities with this new festival plan. There will also be some sections which we have used in the past with great success. Although early morning and evening shifts will require the most hands, the entire day will be dedicated to enjoyment of not only those visiting the event, but for our wonderful volunteers as well.
How do YOU want to be a part of VA. Pride 2010?
Shifts are as follows.
8:00am – 1:30 (breakfast begins at 8am and lunch tickets will be provided when available)
DECORATIONS, SET-UP, VENDOR RELATIONS, ENTERTAINER WELCOME, VIP SUPPORT, SIGNAGE, etc.
1:00pm – 6:15 (Lunch tickets will be provided)
FESTIVAL SUPPORT, ENTERTAINER ASSISTANCE, BREAK FILL IN, ERRANDS, SPOT CLEANING, etc.
5:45pm - finished cleaning the plaza (dinner special to be announced)
FESTIVAL SUPPORT, ENTERTAINER ASSISTANCE, BREAK FILL IN, CLEANING AT END OF FESTIVAL, etc.
Remember, we aren’t just VA PRIDE, we are YOUR VA Pride! With your support, VAPride will be a great success!
I look forward to hearing from each of you very soon!
Sincerely,
Scott Sibley
volunteer@vapride.org
Volunteer Coordinator
VA Pride
