An attendee at a previous year’s Pride Fest watches a performance. (Photo courtesy of U.P. Rainbow Pride)

MARQUETTE — U.P. Rainbow Pride has announced that Pride Fest 2026 will take place from noon to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, with the theme “Embrace Your Nature.”

Each year, Pride Fest is given a different theme based on the winner of the poster contest. This year’s poster, designed by Miranda Gray, features familiar U.P. critters like the blue-spotted salamander and the rainbow trout.

“This year’s Pride Fest theme, ‘Embrace Your Nature,’ celebrates authenticity, self-expression and the natural beauty and diversity found within both the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the Upper Peninsula,” said a press release from U.P. Rainbow Pride. “The festival invites attendees to come together in a spirit of acceptance, equality and love while embracing who they are.”

U.P. Rainbow Pride board member at large Al Gray says that this year’s theme is about “encouraging authenticity in the face of adversity,” while also celebrating the beloved natural environment of the Upper Peninsula.

As part of their community outreach, U.P. Rainbow Pride even crowd-sourced names for all of the animals featured on the poster, including Sir/Zir Rulean the blue-spotted salamander and Big Bert the frog.

Pride Fest is a free, family-friendly event. This year’s Fest will feature live music from Sycamore Smith, The Hard, Knuptica, The Make Believe Spurs, Addicus, DJ Alex Burgett and Youth Volume, as well as over 100 business vendors, artists and non-profit community organizations, interactive activities for all ages, food vendors and drag performances. The drag performance beginning at 8 p.m. may contain mature content in the form of music which contains swear words.

While Marquette is not the only city in the U.P. that hosts a Pride event, it is the longest-running, and serves as a hub for 2SLGBTQIA+ people living in rural areas across the U.P. and beyond. According to Gray, people travel from as far as Wisconsin and Minnesota specifically for Pride Fest, and many visiting tourists plan their visits to coincide with Pride.

“It’s about community love,” said Gray.

Some people don’t seem to understand that aspect of Pride, and Facebook comment sections have been especially vitriolic in response to posts and promotions about this year’s event.

According to Gray, though, these comment sections are not representative of the U.P. as a whole, and most people are welcoming and supportive.

That community support is especially apparent in the myriad of businesses who have partnered with U.P. Rainbow Pride to sponsor the event; Gray says that this year’s pride has received more business sponsors than any past Pride Fest.

While Gray’s favorite part of pride is the drag performances, they say that it’s also rewarding to see a year’s worth of work come together, and to see other people enjoying that work.

U.P. Rainbow Pride is still accepting business sponsorships for this year’s Pride Fest, as well as volunteers. Interested parties can also support Pride Fest by making online donations or purchasing Pride-themed merchandise. More information is available at uprainbowpride.org. “Now celebrating another year of Pride in the Upper Peninsula, the festival continues to grow as a welcoming and inclusive gathering for LGBTQ+ individuals, families, friends, and allies from across the region,” said U.P. Rainbow Pride.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.