Salem’s Pride celebration returns Saturday, bringing queer joy downtown
Marching through downtown Salem as part of the city’s annual Pride Month celebration is about more than just having a good time at one of the city’s most vibrant events.
It’s also about resiliency, said Zachery Cordoso, the president of Salem Capital Pride, which organizes the annual event.
Despite rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the U.S., Salem Capital Pride will hold true to its commitment to Salem’s queer community by putting on Saturday’s event.
“We are obviously taking those things into consideration and making sure that we are going to take care of each other,” Cardoso. “It is important to hold events like Pride and make sure that they happen, and make sure that people have joy in their lives because we are not going to let anyone rob that from us.”
This year’s Pride Parade and Block Party will bring queer celebration and joy to downtown Salem on Saturday, June 7, with a seven-block parade and parties on two city blocks packed with free events and entertainment, multiple after parties, food options and a longer parade route compared to last year’s, Cardoso said.
Street closures
Streets in Salem will be closed along the parade route from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Full or partial street closures will be in effect along Northeast Court Street between Northeast Capitol Street and Northeast High Street and along High Street for one block between Northeast Court Street and State Street, and State Street between High and Northeast Front streets.
During the block party, two blocks of State Street will be closed, between Front and Liberty.
Salem’s first Pride event was in 1978 and included a march in front of the Capitol building. There were only nine participants due to fear of backlash, research from the Willamette Heritage Center says.
The first Pride parade in Salem was held about 20 years later, in 1996, and drew about 200 people.
The parade on Saturday will be the second parade hosted by Salem Capital Pride in the two decades since its founding, though it has hosted a number of other events for Salem’s queer community.
This year’s parade will feature floats, including floats that will allow those with limited mobility to participate. The parade route can be found online and will run west down Northeast Court Street, turn down Northeast High Street and end at State Street where the block party will be held.
The meeting spot for the parade is by the Capitol building on Northeast Waverly Street. To get a place in the parade, participants should meet between 11:15 a.m. to noon. Anyone is welcome to participate.
The parade will then start at noon and will cover about seven city blocks, lasting less than an hour.
A block party running from noon to 5 p.m. will follow on State Street between Commercial and Front streets.
There will be several free events for all ages including a Lego mosaic, button making, and free 10-minute massages among many others. Attendees can also help develop a communal pride flag.
This year will also feature a dunk tank fundraiser and a chance to dunk members of the community, drag queens, and possibly a Salem city councilor. All proceeds from the fundraiser will support Capital Pride.
There will also be several after parties and events this year. A full list of after parties include:
- RiRi’s After Show for people 21+ at Southside Speakeasy, 3529 Fairview Industrial Dr. S.E. The party starts at 8:30 p.m. and will include a drag performance by Salem’s RiRi Calienté, dancing, and drink specials. There is an $8 cover.
- The youth after party goes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will take place at Youth Era, 246 State St. and will include games, snacks, Dance Dance Revolution and an open mic.
- There will be a $5 movie night at 6 p.m. with a screening of “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” at the Grand Theater, 187 High Street S.E.
- A comedy open mic night for people 21+ will be held at The Best Goose, 440 State St. from 10 p.m. to midnight.
“Part of our mission is that Pride is for everyone, and we are excited to offer a whole bunch of stuff,” Cardoso said. “I really want to encourage people to be a part of the parade…Come make the parade as big as possible. We want a big turnout.”
There will be drag performances throughout the day, including by drag performers Frisky the Transgender Reindeer, and Salem indie singer Hannah Wood will also perform. See a full list of performers here.
Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.
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Joe Siess is a reporter for Salem Reporter. Joe joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and primarily covers city and county government but loves surprises. Joe previously reported for the Redmond Spokesman, the Bulletin in Bend, Klamath Falls Herald and News and the Malheur Enterprise. He was born in Independence, MO, where the Oregon Trail officially starts, and grew up in the Kansas City area.
