Latest news with #OldStateSaloon
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Old State Saloon Celebrates 2nd Annual Heterosexual Awesomeness Month with Special Drinks, Events, and Hetero Awesome Fest
EAGLE, Idaho, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Old State Saloon is thrilled to announce its 2nd Annual Heterosexual Awesomeness Month, a month-long celebration of heterosexuality throughout June 2025. Following the resounding success of last year's inaugural event, owner Mark Fitzpatrick is carrying forward the tradition to honor 'God's design for sexuality.' As Fitzpatrick proudly states, 'If it weren't for heteros, none of us would be here, and we're here to celebrate that truth with good drinks, great people, and a whole lot of fun.' Throughout June, Old State Saloon will offer a lineup of special drinks celebrating heterosexuality, including the Brojito, Baby Maker Mimosa, Tetten Russian, and Alpha Mule. The month will feature themed days to keep the party going: Special events include Hetero Merch Parties with exclusive discounts, a June 7th International Procreation Day Celebration, and a June 14th President Trump Huuuge Heterosexual Birthday Party. The saloon will host internet influencers, sports personalities, and media figures throughout the month, with more details to be announced. In a groundbreaking expansion, Old State Saloon is partnering with the nonprofit 501(c)(3) Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc. to present the first-ever Hetero Awesome Fest on June 20-21, 2025, at Cecil D. Andrus Park in downtown Boise, directly across from the Idaho State Capitol building. This two-day festival will feature live music, massive free Kids Zone food trucks, ice-cold beer, bold wines, and speeches from prominent voices defending traditional family values. Booths from family-owned businesses and like-minded supporters will showcase their offerings, creating a vibrant celebration of faith, family, and freedom. The event is described as 'a celebration of family values with guts,' aiming to honor God's design and stand firm against anti-family cultural trends. Hetero Awesome Fest is still seeking sponsors and has vendor booth space availability for businesses eager to align with the event's mission and reach a passionate audience. Interested parties can check out: or contact [email protected] for details on sponsorship packages and vendor opportunities. 'All are welcome to join us at Old State Saloon and Hetero Awesome Fest to celebrate heterosexuality—unless you're acting like an idiot,' Fitzpatrick says with a grin. 'This is about coming together, having a good time, and standing up for what's right.' Old State Saloon and Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc. invite everyone to join the celebration, enjoy the festivities, and support a movement that champions traditional values. Stay tuned for updates on special guests and additional events at and About Old State Saloon Located in Eagle, Idaho, Old State Saloon serves as a community gathering place, recognized for its emphasis on traditional values and vibrant atmosphere. Owned by Mark Fitzpatrick, the saloon hosts events and offerings that highlight themes of faith, family, and freedom. About Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc. Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to uphold and promote traditional family values. Through events like Hetero Awesome Fest, the organization aims to rally supporters and counter cultural narratives that are detrimental to the core of society. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Old State Saloon
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Idaho bar to host 'Hetero Awesome Fest' during Pride Month
The owner of a bar in Idaho has announced his plans for a "Hetero Awesome Fest" this June to counter LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Sign up for the to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment — delivered three times a week straight (well…) to your inbox! The Old State Saloon bar is in Eagle, a suburb of Idaho's capital city, Boise. Its owner, Mark Fitzpatrick, announced a new event called "Hetero Awesome Fest" to take place this June with the goal to "address concerns about cultural trends influenced by liberal progressivism," per NBC News. Last year, the Old State Saloon announced its "inaugural Heterosexual Awesomeness Month," which included "Hetero Male Mondays." These events promised that "any heterosexual male dressed like a heterosexual male will receive a free draft beer." Wednesdays also became "Heterosexual Couples Day," where heterosexual couples received 15 percent off their bill, per a previous NBC News story. Fitzpatrick has told local news stations that Heterosexual Awesomeness Month was a response to Pride Month "getting so extreme." He specifically mentioned "the imagery that you see all month with parades, and getting to the point of nakedness, and things with people walking down the street, I can't get behind that." Fitzpatrick also told NBC that he hasn't ever actually been to Boise during a Pride event. Now, Fitzpatrick's plans have grown. This year's Hetero Awesome Fest has been scheduled for "two action packed days," June 20 and 21, in Cecil D. Andrus Park (named for a Democratic Idaho governor). Overall, the festival will feature music from bands "that share our vision," food and drinks, vendors, and speakers "who are on the front lines defending traditional family values," according to the event's social media pages. "This festival is more than just an event; it's a declaration that faith, family, and freedom are worth protecting," the video says. "The Hetero Awesome Fest and Heterosexual Awesomeness Month aim to celebrate the traditional family unit and address concerns about cultural trends influenced by liberal progressivism," Fitzpatrick, who has owned the bar for two years, wrote in an email. "Our event is not about targeting any group but about raising awareness of practices we find troubling, such as the encouragement of 'gender transitions' among children or their exposure to inappropriate content." Fitzpatrick has also announced that he launched a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, called Heterosexual Awesomeness, "to celebrate traditional family values and combat the woke mind virus." "What if we celebrated God's design for sexuality? What would that look like? And within a few minutes, I had thought, 'Man, heterosexuality is awesome,'" Fitzpatrick says in a video posted to Instagram. The bar's official Instagram page also features videos talking about "detransitioners," as well as many clips of people promoting debunked conspiracy theories, including "Pizzagate," discourse about the 9/11 attacks, and even content arguing that the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel were "False Flag" events. This story is still developing…
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Hetero Awesome Fest' to be held near Idaho Capitol during Pride
The owner of a bar and restaurant in Idaho says he plans to host a 'Hetero Awesome Fest' near the state Capitol in June to coincide with Pride Month for the LGBTQ Mark Fitzpatrick, the owner of the Old State Saloon outside of Boise, said the two-day festival in Cecil D. Andrus Park was inspired by events held last year in response to Pride celebrations. The festival will be held June 20 and 21 across the street from the Capitol. It was first reported by NBC News on Tuesday. 'Heterosexual Awesomness Festival is coming to Boise. This isn't just another festival. It's a movement, a celebration of faith, family and freedom, right in the heart of Idaho,' a narrator says over a video on the event's Instagram page. Fitzpatrick told NBC last year after his 'Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,' that there was no hate involved in the planning of his events. In a recent video shared online, he said he didn't 'set out to be negative' about other people, he was wanting to 'celebrate what God's design was.' He told NBC that the festival was not about 'targeting any group' but instead about raising awareness for 'practices we find troubling, such as the encouragement of 'gender transitions' among children or their exposure of inappropriate content.' While Fitzpatrick has said the festival isn't about hate for the LGBTQ community, his restaurant and bar account said the LGBTQ agenda is 'wicked, perverse, and victimizes children.' Fiztpatrick said in a video online that he was inspired to create the June events when he and his family were discussing how to spend his daughter's birthday last year. He said they could not go to downtown Boise, where Pride events were held. 'I was thinking to myself, 'What could we do to celebrate in June that would be different than what's going on downtown? Can we be different than what Pride has been celebrating every June? What if we celebrated God's design for sexuality? What would that look like?' And within a few seconds, I thought, 'Man, heterosexuality is awesome.'' Pride Month organizers in Boise have not held events in June since 2020. Events are now held in September after organizers opted for better weather and due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions at the time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
‘Hetero Awesome Fest' to be held near Idaho Capitol during Pride
The owner of a bar and restaurant in Idaho says he plans to host a 'Hetero Awesome Fest' near the state Capitol in June to coincide with Pride Month for the LGBTQ Mark Fitzpatrick, the owner of the Old State Saloon outside of Boise, said the two-day festival in Cecil D. Andrus Park was inspired by events held last year in response to Pride celebrations. The festival will be held June 20 and 21 across the street from the Capitol. It was first reported by NBC News on Tuesday. 'Heterosexual Awesomness Festival is coming to Boise. This isn't just another festival. It's a movement, a celebration of faith, family and freedom, right in the heart of Idaho,' a narrator says over a video on the event's Instagram page. Fitzpatrick told NBC last year after his 'Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,' that there was no hate involved in the planning of his events. In a recent video shared online, he said he didn't 'set out to be negative' about other people, he was wanting to 'celebrate what God's design was.' He told NBC that the festival was not about 'targeting any group' but instead about raising awareness for 'practices we find troubling, such as the encouragement of 'gender transitions' among children or their exposure of inappropriate content.' While Fitzpatrick has said the festival isn't about hate for the LGBTQ community, his restaurant and bar account said the LGBTQ agenda is 'wicked, perverse, and victimizes children.' Fiztpatrick said in a video online that he was inspired to create the June events when he and his family were discussing how to spend his daughter's birthday last year. He said they could not go to downtown Boise, where Pride events were held. 'I was thinking to myself, 'What could we do to celebrate in June that would be different than what's going on downtown? Can we be different than what Pride has been celebrating every June? What if we celebrated God's design for sexuality? What would that look like?' And within a few seconds, I thought, 'Man, heterosexuality is awesome.'' Pride Month organizers in Boise have not held events in June since 2020. Events are now held in September after organizers opted for better weather and due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions at the time.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Hetero Awesome Fest' planned for Idaho capitol during LGBTQ Pride Month
The owner of an Idaho bar and restaurant plans to host a two-day 'Hetero Awesome Fest' outside of the state Capitol in Boise in June to coincide with LGBTQ Pride Month. Mark Fitzpatrick, the owner of the Old State Saloon in Eagle, a suburb of Boise, said the event was inspired by the restaurant's inaugural 'Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,' held last June in response to Pride celebrations. Hetero Awesome Fest will be held June 20 and 21 in Cecil D. Andrus Park, directly across the street from the Capitol, and will feature live music, speakers 'who are on the front lines defending traditional family values' and local food and drink vendors, according to a social media video promoting the event. 'This festival is more than just an event,' a voiceover on the video said. 'It's a declaration that faith, family and freedom are worth protecting.' The event is seeking bands, volunteers, vendors and sponsors 'who share our visions.' "The Hetero Awesome Fest and Heterosexual Awesomeness Month aim to celebrate the traditional family unit and address concerns about cultural trends influenced by liberal progressivism," Fitzpatrick, who has owned the bar for two years, told NBC News in an email. "Our event is not about targeting any group but about raising awareness of practices we find troubling, such as the encouragement of 'gender transitions' among children or their exposure to inappropriate content." He added, "We believe the traditional family is vital to society and deserves recognition and protection." Fitzpatrick, 47, said he has six children, including one adopted child, with his wife of 22 years. Fitzpatrick has said on social media that Pride Month exists 'so LGBTQ can march down the street doing disgusting and criminal activities while demanding to be celebrated,' and that the community 'encourages children to cut off their sex organs.' He said in a video shared last week on the bar's Instagram account that he had reached out to a number of corporations who have donated to LGBTQ Pride celebrations over the years to ask if they would support the event, and they told him they typically only donate to registered nonprofits. As a result, he said, he created the nonprofit Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc., which will host the festival, though he hasn't heard back from any major donors yet. Fitzpatrick received international attention and backlash last year in response to 'Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,' which he said at the time involved 'no hate at all, it's a love thing.' 'I'm always going to side with what God says,' Fitzpatrick told KTVB-TV, an NBC affiliate in Boise, last year. 'If the Bible says that it's a sin to act out in homosexuality, then I'm going to agree with what the Bible says. That doesn't mean I don't love homosexuals, and that doesn't mean I don't love people. But just because you love somebody, doesn't mean you're going to jump behind them and support them in every single decision they make in life. It's not a requirement.' Fitzpatrick said on social media that he was inspired to create Heterosexual Awesomeness Month last year when he and his family were discussing how they would celebrate his daughter's birthday in June. 'Can't go downtown to Boise during that time because of Pride Fest and everything that happens with it,' he said. 'I got off track from the birthday, and I was thinking to myself, 'What could we do to celebrate in June that would be different than what's going on downtown? Can we be different than what Pride has been celebrating every June? What if we celebrated God's design for sexuality? What would that look like?' And within a few seconds, I thought, 'Man, heterosexuality is awesome.'' Fitzpatrick said last year that he had never been to Boise Pride. The festival hasn't been held in June since 2020, when organizers rescheduled it for September due to the pandemic and decided to permanently adopt the change due to better weather, among other factors. Regardless, Fitzpatrick said he had decided that the Old State Saloon would celebrate heterosexuality throughout June with a variety of specials. On Mondays, straight men can get a free beer during 'Beers for Breeders.' On Tuesdays, straight women can buy drinks all day at happy hour pricing, and on Wednesdays, straight couples can receive a discount on their bill. After last year's Heterosexual Awesomeness Month went viral, Fitzpatrick said he received death threats, but that the positivity was 'overwhelmingly more powerful.' Boise Pride told KGW-TV, an NBC affiliate based in Portland, Oregon, that it has no official statement regarding this year's Hetero Awesome Fest, but wished the organizers 'the best of luck with their new festival.' 'Straight pride' supporters organized events in Boston and Modesto, California, in 2019, and last year several businesses in Santa Rosa, California, were vandalized with anti-LGBTQ flyers that provided a link to a rap song about 'straight pride.' LGBTQ Pride events, which trace their roots to 1970, have faced intense backlash in recent years. GLAAD, an LGBTQ media advocacy organization, recorded 110 anti-LGBTQ incidents during June 2024, though the nonprofit noted that number was down 25% when compared to Pride 2023. Organizers of some of the country's largest Pride parades have also reported that some of their biggest sponsors have pulled back this year amid the Trump administration's policies targeting DEI initiatives. This article was originally published on
