'Motor City Pride' Takes Over Hart Plaza
DETROIT (WWJ) - This weekend Hart Plaza will serve as the hub for celebrating the strength, vitality and unity of Metro Detroit's LGBT community.
Denise Brogan-Kator, Executive Director of Equality Michigan, said moving the festival from Ferndale to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit helps to open the event to more people.
"You know, the more the merrier. It's a great opportunity to be outdoors and its a great opportunity to be with a lot of fun people and enjoy all that Detroit has to offer," Brogan-Kator said.
Brogan-Kator said the highlight of "Motor City Pride" is scheduled for Sunday with a big parade down Woodward Avenue. She said it's especially significant this year with the venue change, as the first pride march in Michigan was held in downtown Detroit 25 years ago.
"It's a very exciting time for us. We anticipate larger crowds. We have more people, more vendors, more entertainers, a wider variety in the selection of entertainment than we've ever had in the past," Brogan-Kator said.
The festival kicks off noon Saturday with a family picnic, followed by the grand opening of the event at 3 pm. Also Saturday, an afterparty at Detroit's FLAT 151 until 2 am.
Sunday gets off to a grand start with the Pride Parade at 11 am, and ends on a high note aboard the Detroit Princess Riverboat.
Musical entertainment is not in short supply for Motor City Pride, with acts like Dave Aude, Cazwell, Chris Willis, Kerli, Kimberly Cole and Alexis Jordan lined up. For a full entertainment schedule, click here.
There's also a family area, open all weekend, that includes face painting, puppet shows, arts and crafts and a visit by Dr. Dinosaur. For a schedule of activities, click here.
Motor City Pride is a free public event, although a $5 donation is suggested. You can enter the festival at Jefferson Avenue or along the Detroit River walkway.
To download the 2011 Motor City Pride Guide, click here. For more information, visit www.motorcitypride.org.
