Latest news with #StonewallColumbusPrideMarchandFestival
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How law enforcement plans to keep Pride Festival safe
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival returns this weekend, welcoming thousands of people downtown to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. With police anticipating big crowds, Columbus Police Commander Scott Evers said safety is top of mind. 'We started planning for this event pretty much the day after, you know, it ended last year,' Evers said. 'From that, you know, we just kind of figure out what we can improve from last year.' How Granville, Grove City and Gahanna are celebrating Pride 2025 Evers said when it comes to planning, the main focus is allocating resources. He said the department works with federal and state partners and gathers feedback from other cities. 'Some of the things we change is just a lot of it's just logistics,' Evers said. 'You know, how we can situate personnel so they can, you know, be better able to respond to different areas.' Officers will be out patrolling the area on foot, horseback, bikes and cruisers. Attendees can also expect to see cameras throughout the Pride festival and parade route. 'If you see something, say something,' Evers said. 'Cameras obviously make it easier for people to see more things. It's a force multiplier.' Pride on High viewing area to benefit Columbus LGBTQ+ groups Pride Month comes amid rising political protests and tensions, and police are prepared for protests planned at the statehouse. 'We have dialogue officers that are here,' Evers said. 'They have existing relationships with all kinds of groups, as many groups as we can, and we focus on it is truly a relationship with a lot of groups, right? If people are protesting, I mean, it's their First Amendment right, and we are here to accommodate and welcome anybody that comes.' This year, with warmer temperatures forecast for the weekend, police said there will be more water available and they'll be communicating with event organizers should they have to make changes due to weather. 'We continuously evaluate every event, like I said, that happens here, nationally, internationally and we adjust plans,' Evers said. 'We adjust plans, or we don't adjust plans, just depending on it.' List: 2025 Pride Month events, festivals in central Ohio According to Columbus police, they have not received any credible threats to the Pride fest or protests this weekend. The Pride Festival will run from 4-10 p.m. on June 13 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 14 in Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St. The march will leave from the corner of Broad and High streets at 10:30 a.m. June 14. Participants will proceed north on High Street to the Buttles Avenue intersection. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
12 things to do this weekend in central Ohio on June 13-15, 2025
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This weekend is full of festivals, sports and more in the Columbus area. From the annual Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival, to 614 Day and the Marion Strawberry Festival. Here are things to see and do this weekend in central Ohio. Downtown Columbus, June 13-14 The Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival returns this weekend, welcoming thousands Downtown to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. This weekend's festival begins at 4 p.m. on Friday at Goodale Park and runs until 10 p.m. The celebration continues at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with Stonewall's Pride march at Broad and High streets. 3359 Part St. in Grove City, June 13-14 Enjoy tastings from wineries and view several pieces of artwork in Grove City. The festival is celebrating its 15th year and draws 30,000 wine and art enthusiasts from all over the state and beyond. Gahanna's Creekside District, June 13-15 The three-day festival is expected to bring in thousands of attendees of all ages and showcase 30 national, regional and local blues and jazz performers. Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, June 13-15 More than 2,400 athletes and 650 coaches from 87 local, community-based Special Olympics organizations will participate this weekend. Opening ceremonies will begin inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, with events happening throughout several venues at The Ohio State University. Greater Columbus Convention Center, June 13-15 Enjoy a weekend celebrating all things animated, featuring beloved characters, creators, and industry luminaries. Columbus Commons, June 14 at 8 p.m. Experience the music of 'A Boy Band Symphony' this weekend. The show celebrates the timeless hits of the iconic boy bands featuring Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees, Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town and Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC. Tickets are on sale now. Hillcrest Baptist Church, June 14 at noon Join families with missing loved ones for the 2nd annual walk. Participants will unite with friends, advocates and the public to raise awareness for Ohio's missing loved ones. Village Green Park, June 14-15 Bringing in more than 20,000 visitors annually, the Worthington Arts Festival has been ranked as one of the top 200 arts festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine. View a variety of fine arts, crafts and much more. Stonewall Columbus Pride guide: What to know for this weekend's celebration Derby Hill in Big Run Park, June 14 at 10 a.m. 35 entries will compete in three divisions, with the champions representing the Columbus area in the All-American Championships on July 19th in Akron. This year's field features one World Champion, five All-Americans, 20 rookies, and competitors from all over central Ohio. Racing starts at 10 a.m. Marion County Fairgrounds, June 14-15 The annual festival celebrating all things strawberries is returning to Marion this weekend. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy fresh strawberries, arts and crafts, live entertainment and much more. Admission is $6 (cash only) and kids 2 and under are free. Franklinton Land-Grant and surrounding streets, June 14 from noon to 9 p.m. The 10th anniversary celebrating all things Columbus is back on June 14 for 614 Day. Enjoy a variety of events and fun at Land-Grant Brewing and other streets in the area. Field, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. The Columbus Crew face the Vancouver Whitecaps in a home matchup at Field. Central Ohio boasts numerous farmers markets throughout the area offering locally grown produce, art, clothing, and more. Click here to find when and where local markets are selling near you below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stonewall Columbus Pride guide: What to know for this weekend's celebration
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival returns this weekend, welcoming thousands Downtown to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The 44th Pride in Columbus, the march and festival remembers the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a series of conflicts between police and LGBTQ+ protesters that stretched over six days. The celebration also serves as Stonewall Columbus' largest fundraiser, benefiting community programs and annual operations. Out in Ohio: Stonewall Columbus gets ready for Pride 2025 The city's first Pride march happened in 1981 with just 200 people. Today, Stonewall Columbus Pride welcomes more than 700,000 visitors. Watch the latest episode of Out in Ohio in the video player above. This weekend's festival begins at 4 p.m. on Friday at Goodale Park and runs until 10 p.m. with food, more than 200 vendors, nonprofit organizations, community resources, and live entertainment across two stages with a DJ and dance pad. Friday's entertainers include host Amber Knicole joined by a lineup of 'allies and accomplices who have shown unwavering support and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.' The celebration continues at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with Stonewall's Pride march at Broad and High streets, moving north on High Street to Buttles Avenue and landing at Goodale Park. Guests can reserve a premium viewing space with 'Pride on High' at Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Parlay Sporting Club and Kitchen, or El Vaquero. Marysville, Westerville LGBTQ+ groups rally Pride funds as businesses pull support Pride on High tickets benefit four local charities and programs supporting the LGBTQ+ community: Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Mozaic by Equitas Health, Stonewall Columbus and Equality Ohio. The festival resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Entertainers include Bronze Avery, a Los Angeles-based pop singer-songwriter and producer, and Figgy Baby, an internationally touring, non-binary Mexican rapper. The festival will also feature a dedicated 'Wellness Area' with the Columbus Department of Public Health, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Equitas Health. Guests will find rapid HIV testing and other resources. In preparation for the march and festival, there are a number of street closures to be mindful of. There will be residents-only access beginning mid-afternoon on Friday for the following: Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street Russell Street between High Street and Park Street Milay Alley between High Street and Park Street Poplar Ave between High Street and Park Street Out in Ohio: How Granville, Grove City and Gahanna are celebrating Pride 2025 For the Saturday march, the following will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., or until cleanup has been completed: High Street between Buttles Avenue and Rich Street Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street High Street between Main Street and Broad Street Rich Street between Third Street and Front Street Town Street between High Street and Front Street State Street between Third Street and Front Street Part of Stonewall's Pride celebration includes designating this year's Leader of Pride, recognizing an individual or group who use their voice to speak out in support of members of the LGBTQ+ community in central Ohio and beyond. This year's recipient is Slammers, a storied lesbian bar at 202 E. Long St. Ohio lawmakers call for 2026 ballot measure to overturn same-sex marriage ban NBC4 will be streaming the parade from Pride on High, and anchor Colleen Marshall will be hosting the march along with Amber Nicole and Virginia West. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
