S.D. Pride Festival set for July 21 and 22

Fourth annual festival will also offer free HIV testing

By Journal staff | Wednesday, July 11, 2007

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RAPID CITY -- The South Dakota Pride Festival will be July 21 and 22 at Whispering Pines Campground off U.S. Highway 385 north of Pactola Reservoir.

This year marks the fourth annual South Dakota Pride Festival. Organizers say the event is aimed at bringing together members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, along with their friends, families and supporters, to celebrate pride, freedom and respect for LGBT people everywhere. It's open to the public.

Set-up will start about 4 p.m. Friday, July 20, and people are welcome to camp that night. Festivities officially begin Saturday morning about 10 a.m.

This year's headliner is Linda Boyle, a singer and songwriter from Chicago who plays diverse styles including  folk, pop and ethnic music. She will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday.

There will be dancing in the meadow starting at 8 p.m. Friday. Games and contests are also planned.

According to a news release from organizers, Equality South Dakota will operate several carnival-style booths to raise money for ongoing efforts to advocate, support and protect the rights of LGBT people in South Dakota. Other organizations and vendors will have informational booths and merchandise to sell.

The Center West in Rapid City and The Center East in Sioux Falls, in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Health, will also offer free HIV testing.

"Sunday will be set aside as a spiritual celebration, a telling of our stories by those participating in the festival and an opportunity to connect with the various organizations helping with the festival," according to the news release.

Camping is available. For more information, go to http://pridefestsd2007.blogspot.com

The Center West, at 3601 Canyon Lake Drive Suite 4, is sponsoring this year's PrideFest. For more information, call 348-3244.

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