With the goal of advocating for the inclusion and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, the 10th Annual San Mateo County Pride Celebration returns and will be held in person on Saturday, June 11 at Central Park, located at 5th Avenue and El Camino Real.
The free event, which will be held from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, will be an alcohol-free event, as it is intended to have a family-friendly atmosphere. It will feature live entertainment, a DJ, food trucks, resource booths and vendors, as well as a youth area and more.
The 2022 theme "Still Here, Still Proud!" recognizes the tenth anniversary of the event, as well as the return to a face-to-face celebration.
The San Mateo Pride Initiative, a project of the San Mateo County Health Department's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services division, joins with community partners, including the Pride Center, the County LGBTQ Commission and many others, to create a welcoming environment for the LGBTQ+ community, communities living and working in the area.
"Eleven years ago, the San Mateo County Pride Initiative marched in the San Francisco Pride Parade, which provided the inspiration to create the local commemoration," said Dana Johnson, Pride Initiative co-chair and county LGBTQ commissioner.
After two years of virtual events due to the pandemic, the county is excited to be able to celebrate in person, "which is critical for the emotional support of the community and to remind them that we are still here, together," said Scott Gruendl, co-chair of the Pride Initiative and deputy director of Recovery and Behavioral Health Services.
This year's event will be smaller than previous in-person celebrations, spread out and all outdoors.
Face masks will be available to address any additional COVID concerns, and a vaccination booth and/or boosters are planned.
"We have identified fun and entertaining activities that can be enjoyed safely," Johnson said.
For updated information on the event, to become a sponsor or to apply for a booth, interested parties can visit the following website www.smcpridecelebration.com.
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