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The fifth annual Logan County
PrideFest was held on Saturday, June 7th on the square downtown by
the Logan County Courthouse. The day began with a ribbon cutting
ceremony at 3 pm and continued until 8 pm that evening. Speaking at
the ceremony were Pride Board vice-president Tristin Karrick, Mayor
Tracy Welch, and Pride Board president Kelsie Edwards.
Video - 2025 Logan County
Pridefest Ribbon Cut
Several vendors were set up along
S. Kickapoo St. and Pulaski St., with a DJ playing music in between
the events at the stage on the corner of the two streets. At 3:30
pm, live music was performed by Silas Tockey, who played acoustic
guitar covers of songs such as Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and
4 Non Blonde’s “What’s Up?”, among other popular hits.
Video - Best beard and
mustache contest
At 4:30 pm, a contest was held for who had the best beard, best
fantasy facial hair, and best mustache. Best beard had four
contestants and was won by a man named Toby. The contestants for
best fantasy facial hair were four young girls with fake mustaches
and beards, and was won by a girl named Isabelle with a rainbow
beard. Best mustache had four contestants, one of which was prior
winner Lewis Bergin. The contest was won this year by a man named
Mikey.
Video - Justin Thompson
speaks at Logan County Pridefest
Guest speaker Justin Thompson took the stage at 4:50 pm, saying that
“growing up in a small town such as Lincoln, I would have never
thought I’d see the day when there would be a pride festival held
here.” Thompson spoke about his struggles as an openly gay black man
here in Lincoln, and how his friends and family helped him along his
journey. He continued by saying that “I hope that me being who I
was, and who I am, has opened the door and made a way for another
little boy or girl to open up to their parents and speak comfortably
and freely about their sexuality.”
At 6 pm, a pet costume contest was held, featuring a few dogs and
their owners. LDN’s own Devyn Fry won the contest with her pug,
Bella. Bella was dressed up as a rainbow colored pinata.
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Another guest
speaker, Reverend Adam Quine, took the stage at 6:15 pm.
Reverend Quine is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church here
in Lincoln. Rev. Quine started his talk by saying “I feel
honored and humbled to have this opportunity to share a
reflection that I hope echoes what pride month stands for:
courage, community, and determination.” He continued by talking
about his belief that LGBTQ+ people should be embraced by those
in the church. He remarked that “as a pastor, I’ve witnessed the
damage caused by ignorance, fear, civil injustice, and toxic
religious dogma, and I aim to improve as an ally in the ongoing
struggle of acceptance and justice.” He ended with a prayer
touching on equality and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals.
At 6:30 pm, live music was performed
by Gary Osborne. At 7:30 pm, a raffle was held to see who would get
to throw a pie in the face of Pride Board member Sam Downs. Lewis
Bergin’s name was pulled to throw the pie.
[Bryan Hay | Photos by Bryan Hay &
Sophia Larimore] |
