For a relatively small city (population about 30,000), idyllic and collegiate Northampton enjoys one of the larger and more enthusiastic Gay Pride events in the country. The Northampton LGBT Pride March & Rally takes place in early May (Saturday, May 3, in 2008) and draws the many lesbians and gays living in Northampton and neighboring towns in Massachusetts' verdant Pioneer Valley, as well as plenty of folks from elsewhere in the state as well as neighboring New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Here's a look at some of the key activities that make up Northampton Gay Pride in 2008:
Northampton Gay Pride takes place on Saturday, May 3, with a Pride Parade running from Lampron Park along Bridge Street, which becomes Main Street, and ending at the site of the Pride Rally behind the gay-popular Thornes Marketplace shopping mall on Main Street. The Pride Rally grounds are at Hampton Ave. and Armory St., right next to the parking garage behind Thornes, and a short walk from downtown Northampton's many charming shops and restaurants
The rally will feature a variety of entertainers and speakers this year and also has a "Kids Zone" to keep youngsters engaged (and this is one part of the world with a sizable community of LGBT families). Among the headliners, the popular lesbian columnists from CURVE magazine, "Lipstick & Dipstick" (aka Gina Daggett and About.com's own esteemed Guide to Lesbian Life Kathy Belge will be on hand, as will the OffBeat Women's Drumming Ensemble, Mayor Clare Higgins, The Wicked Queeah Band, Air America's Rachel Maddow, Laura Wood with musical guests Mayra Casales and Wendy Sobel, the Jesse Molina Band, up-and-coming lesbian songstress Kirsten Price, and dance-club fave Brian Kent.
Of course, additionally, plenty of gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops will be extra busy during the weekend, and catering heavily to LGBT visitors. Check local gay papers, such as Northampton Pride sponsors The Rainbow Times and The New England Blade (formerly Innewsweekly), for details. And also be sure to drop by Northampton's excellent retail resource for LGBT books, music, and gifts, Pride & Joy (20 Crafts Ave., 413-585-0683), which is sort of the de facto Northampton lesbian and gay community center.
