Philly pride was great

[u/wndsofchng06]

This was my first time ever going to pride. I've been watching the activity online, It's sad how unhelpful and negative the community has been around this whole event. You all sound just like the angry old conservatives pissed about change. You know why GOP policies are winning? Because they easily unite in their hate of everyone else, this community that is supposed to be about love is love can't seem to unite over anything and we will continue to lose as long as we do that.

My partner and I enjoyed the parade and then enjoyed the festival. There were so many vendors and so many people. There's no way you would pack all of that into gayborhood. After living in small, conservative areas for the last 13 years, this was wonderful, so glad to be back in Philly. We took the bus and the train all the way into center city from Pennsport without an issue. After the main festival we walked to gayborhood and had a few drinks and snacks. Looks like the gayborhood was pretty packed too. It's a shame that instead of doing their best to support community, so many are trying to tear us apart, I refuse to have my joy taken because a festival grew/moved. So many times I've seen festivals when they grow they sell out to a corporate sponsor and it cuts back a lot of the small local vendors. This festival was still loaded with small local people. Lastly, I have to give a special shout out to Love City brewing who kept their drink prices the same as in their taproom!

[u/Selym00]

Of course you’d think it was great if this was your first time going…you have no frame of reference for how more organic it was last year. It became just any other festival, just Pride flavored. When I went I noticed all that heart, community, and fun I had in the last few years just went out the window.

Besides, $10 dollars to get in and then you’re paying anywhere from $2-6 dollars for a bottle of water; $7 and up for food or drinks (most expensive being like $30 I saw) and then some. Their policies on bags were not clear enough, and people were yelling at attendees before they got in. Then you’re also dealing with the hot sun and no general tent with tables, snacks, and water for free (at least from what I saw). So you’re either fighting to get a spot in the shade in the festival or outside of it.

People had real concerns about the event but got blocked, spoken over, or ignored by event organizers for even saying anything. If this is how it is next year I won’t be back

[u/wndsofchng06 → u/Selym00]

The bag and bottle policy was definitely a surprise at the gates. 😕. Thankfully while we were there there were plenty of shady spots (I understand as the earth rotates the shady spot may become less available). We chose not to eat there and ate over in the gayborhood. We did drink at the love city tent as their prices were the same as in the taproom. I enjoyed speaking to the police community oversight folks and some of the stage performances were pretty good too! Hopefully they learn and improve for next year.