Pride Festival — SoFLX Pride

In 1969 the Stonewall riots happened because LGBTQ+ folks, particularly transgender women of color, fought against hate and police brutality that pervades multiple systems and policies in our communities. Pride honors the queer people who paved the way for us to celebrate.

Southern Finger Lakes Pride Festival is many things. It is a celebration of all identities. Of all genders. Of all sexualities. Of rights for all. It is a time to learn. It is a time to educate ourselves on those who stood before us. Those who had their lives taken. It is for those who continue to fear for their lives. Fear for their safety and have lost loved ones.

Southern Finger Lakes Pride is dedicated to supporting the well-being of our Southern Finger Lakes LGBTQ+ youth and their loved ones by connecting them with affirming resources, advancing community acceptance through education, and providing opportunities for inclusive celebration.

Beginning in 2019 as a grassroots effort, Southern Finger Lakes Pride has impacted the community of the Southern Finger Lakes through:

• Starting youth programming throughout Schuyler, Chemung, and Steuben Counties with our young adult Bloom group and with a second pride group partnering with SUNY Corning Community College.

• Business partnerships throughout all the Southern Finger Lakesholding events and collaborating with wineries and breweries on Seneca Lake, businesses on Market Street, Community Partners in Elmira and Watkins Glen, and more.

• Large festival celebrations in support of the LGBTQ+ community and their families. The overwhelming success of our annual events have reached more than 56,000 people virtually and 3,500 in-person, a number we hope to grow as we look for greater support from the business and non-profit community.

The success and sustainability of Southern Finger Lakes Pride Festival is dependent on the overwhelming community support from organizations and individuals like you! As Southern Finger Lakes Pride continues to evolve, we are seeking sponsorship to support our growth. Our work will enhance regional quality-of-life efforts and help to make our community more diverse and equitable. In turn, this makes our region a more welcoming place to live, work, and play. Your support will help make our efforts throughout the year a success and we hope you will celebrate with us at our signature event!

This year’s project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program (SCR), a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Missing Festial Magic?

Check out this year’s photos! A huge thank you to Sage, Max, Marah, and Ryan!

See Photos Here

The Schedule

📅 Friday, June 13

🕖 7PM – 10PM
🎉 SoFLX Pride DANCE PARTY!
📍 Union Hall, 100 Nassar Civic Center Plaza, Corning, NY
💵 $5 at the door — Snackies and sodas available for purchase!

📅 Saturday, June 14 – SoFLX Pride Street Festival

🕚 11AM – 5PM
📍 Centerway Square, Corning, NY
Festival Highlights:
Free! Family friendly with Vendors, Artisans, Music, Drag Performances, Cake Auction, Variety Show, Dance Parties & More!

Festival Activities

🕚 11AM – 4PM
🛍️ Vendors on Market St
📍 Market Street, Corning, NY
Shop over 50 vendors & artisans and check out local businesses!

👕Swap not Shop! Bring adult’s & children’s clothing, accessories, and shoes to share with the community. Find gender-affirming pieces without breaking the bank and give your pre-loved items a new home! Please only bring items in good condition that others will love.!

1PM – 5PM
PrideAbility RESPITE SPACE at SoFLX Pride Festival
📍 Center For Disability Rights, 23 W Market St #103
Sponsored by PrideAbility FLX & The Arc Chemung-Schuyler
✨ A variety of sensory spaces for regulation and rest:

Craft & conversation zone
Silent, quiet space
Low-sound reading/resting area
⏳ Guests are asked to limit visits to ~20 minutes so others may also access this space.

Time TBD
🎬 Free Movie at The Palace Theatre
📍 The Palace Theatre, Corning, NY
Stay tuned for film details!
🛶 11 Lakes Market Activity
Details coming soon!

Mainstage Performances – Centerway Square Stage

11:00 AM 🎶 DJ RVMBA — Let the joy begin!

11:15 AM 🌟 Festival WELCOME — Hostess Vanessa leDiva + remarks from SoFLX Pride ED Hannah Jones

11:30 AM 📖 Drag Storytime with Miss Vanessa — Stories, music, and singalongs!

12:00 PM 🔥 Community Healing Ceremony — Led by Indigenous 2-Spirit Healer, Rimakej

12:15 PM 🎵 Acoustic Music — Adrian McGrady (flute) & Jesse Bloodgood (vocals)

1:00 PM 🕺 Community Square Dance — With caller Janice DonDero — All welcome!

1:45 PM 🎭 Community Camp Variety Show — Drag, dance, poetry, and more!

2:30 PM 💃 Waacking Demo & Mini Werkshop — Learn a few moves from choreographer Mark Schmidt

3:00 PM 👠 Catwalk Strut & Cake Auction — Show up & BID on some sugary masterpieces!

4:00 PM 👑 SoFLX Pride Drag Show — Celebrate our local queens & kings!

4:45 PM 🎧 DJ RVMBA Closes It Out — One last joyful dance together!

Are you ready for another magical line up!?

MC: Miss Vanessa Le Diva

TIP HER

Drag Queen: Sunny Weathers

Drag Queen: Trisha Lamorre

TIP HER

Drag Queen: Mocha La Queen

TIP HER

Drag Quwing: Ace Symmetrical

TIP THEM

Drag King: Ryder Knightly

TIP HIM

Mark Schmidt

Flutist: Adrian McGrady

TIP HIM

Singer: Jesse Bloodgood

TIP HIM

DJ RVMBA

TIP HER

Because Pride should be accessible to everyone.

RESPITE SPACE AT SoFLX PRIDE FESTIVAL Open from 1 - 5 pm.

Sponsored by Prideability FLX and The Arc Chemung-Schuyler

LOCATION: Center For Disability Rights, 23 W Market St #103

If you experience sensory overload, and need a place to regulate or rest in order to continue celebrating who you are and your community at SOFLX Pride Festival, please join us at the PrideAbility Respite Station!

We will have a variety of sensory spaces:

A space where you’re welcome to do crafts and have quiet conversations
A quiet space where you’ll be asked not to speak, and you can decide about the sound
A low sound space where you’re welcome to read and rest

We asked that people aim to stay about 20 minutes so that there can be space for others, depending on what your recovery and regulation looks like.

We all deserve to celebrate ourselves and our community in a way that fits our needs!

Give $5 to Pride.

We cannot do this work without the support of our community. We work hard to make our events and services FREE because everyone should have access to queer spaces!

For our 6th anniversary, we are asking folks to donate $5!

Show us your donation and get a glitter sticker or pin at our booth!

Donate