Members of the Confluence LGBT Chorus perform on stage at the Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on Sept. 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Riverfront Park was full of rainbows Saturday for Pride in the Park, Salem’s largest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
Hundreds of vendors offered everything from colorful magnetic horns to block prints. Dozens of community organizations were on hand to paint faces and hand out flags and candy.
Drag performers and singers kept the crowd at the Gerry Frank Amphitheater entertained, with an American Sign Language interpreter making the performances accessible.
The event attracted several protestors heckling attendees, initially prompted a large Salem police response.
Miss Salem Gay Pride 46 Jenn T. Caliente, Mx. Salem Gay Pride Aliison Underlynd MacPherson, and Ms. Salem Gay Pride 46 Willow Shrimp Ray MacPherson at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Elinor Finley makes a major decision on a sticker during the Salem Pride in the Park event held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A performer from Lylac and Friends on stage at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Lylac entertains the crowd at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
A performer from Lylac and Friends on stage at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Lylac performs on stage at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A performer from Lylac and Friends on stage at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Friends convene at Salem Pride in the Park in front of a group of protestors. The event was held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Simon Gillette was on the move after getting his face painted by Aimee Fritsch at the St. Paul’s Pride Ministry booth at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Jessi Mendoza from Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette adds bubbles to the Pride in the Park atmosphere at Riverfront Park September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A performer from Lylac and Friends waits to take the stage at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A performer from Lylac and Friends acknowledges interpreter Rian Gayle’s sign language skill at Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ell Clubb and Elliott Kester show off their complimentary 105.5 The Moon T-shirts they received from the station’s booth at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Bob Munroe, treasurer of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Willamette Empire, surveys his domain at Salem Pride in the Park event held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Salem Pride in the Park was full of people and booths at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Richard Johnson II and Talus Pierce hold a piece of art that Talus created in their booth at the Salem Pride in the Park event held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Cherry City Roller Derby booth staff was happy to answer any questions at the Pride in the Park event held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Confluence LGBT Chorus performs at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Members of the Confluence LGBT Chorus perform on stage at the Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Larry Huang enjoys a bubble wand at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Fans enjoy the Lylac and Friends show at Salem Pride in the Park held at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Allison speaks to an interested Salem Pride in the Park event attendee about firearms training classes at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Death is also a part of life- and Andrew Watson and Davis Lamuerta were at Salem Pride in the Park to speak with attendees about any final arrangement questions they might have at Riverfront Park on September 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected].
A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE.
Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
