Pride Month has come and gone, but that didn’t slow down Kitsap Pride or their 2024 Pride Festival, held at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds’ Gordon Fields facility July 20.
Pride Festival is just one of many events held by Kitsap Pride over the summer, but at nearly 6,000 attendees, it is the largest. Kitsap Pride and the Pride Festival trace their roots back 28 years, to events held at Scenic Beach Park, and subsequently moved to Southworth and then Evergreen Park. Although not a founder, Bremerton City Councilmember Michael Goodnow says that he’s “as close as it gets” to being one, and remains a critical part of the Kitsap Pride’s organization.
The festival opened its doors at 2 p.m. officially, but by 1:30 p.m. everything was already set up, and attendees were milling about the 100 booths erected by vendors and sponsors. Goodnow said that the event had turned away vendors interested in participating, simply due to lack of space. Vendor booths shared real estate with the rest of the activities at the festival, which included a sizable stage with lawn seating, a food court of sorts, a bar/beer garden, and dedicated areas for both teens and kids activities.
Vendors included those one might expect at any large, community gathering, like Renewal by Anderson, Kenlee Jerky, or Ballast Books. However, another portion of the vendors were those more attuned to the clientele drawn to this particular event, like Pride Flags and Costumes, Chalice Hart (a Wiccan organization), or Castle Megastore. Jim Dumont of Smooth Sailor Designs on Fox Island, which specializes in tie-dye clothing, said that this was his first Kitsap Pride event, but that he thought that his business was a good match for Pride attendees.
Not only did vendors vary in their reasons for participating, but attendees did too. Rebecca Greenberg, dressed as just one of her alter egos “Matzah” seemed less interested in the event as a social or political gathering, and more interested in it as a venue for her own performance and “self-expression.”
Paul and Lisa Birkenfeld accompanied their daughter, her boyfriend, and their niece to the event. As employees of the Central Kitsap School District, they explained that they felt a need to show support for the many students in the district with an affinity for the event.
For more information about Kitsap Pride, visit kitsappride.org
Bremerton City Councilmember Michael Goodnow, left, Kitsap County Commissioner Katie Walters, and Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce president David Emmons kick off the Kitsap Pride Festival.
Paul and Lisa Birkenfeld of the Central Kitsap School District attended the Kitsap Pride Festival.
“Matzah” provides an informal performance at the Kitsap Pride Festival.
