With reporting by Soumya Gupta, CHS intern

Last year, Pride returned to its rightful space on Capitol Hill with a restoration of June celebrations on Broadway and in Cal Anderson Park after two years of pandemic delays and cancellations.

This weekend, Capitol Hill Pride jumped forward, catching up with past turnout — and then some — for the celebration of love and freedom on Capitol Hill with PrideFest filling Broadway and the park with vendor tents, tables, and activities organized by members of the community and local businesses honoring acceptance and inclusivity.

Bars and restaurants shared the streets with District 3 candidates and temporary tattoo vendors. Between the Broadway crowds and the weekend parties across the Hill and Pike/Pine, some businesses did a pandemic year’s worth of business on the weekend. But the receipts were surpassed by the vibes.

Capitol Hill’s Pride is back, baby.

Jasmine, a resident of Capitol Hill, has attended the Saturday street festival for the last ten years and was pleased to see more faces at Saturday’s festival.

“It’s refreshing to see more people here, especially after the long struggles with trans bills,” the veteran attendee said. “There seems to be a lot more support coming in.”

The festival included performances that spread powerful messages and encouraged onlookers to celebrate love. Dancers from Pop Rox Dance Studio, a LGBTQIA+ owned local business, took the stage to display their effortless moves and flair, which met with loud cheer and excitement.

PrideFest was also a warm — 72 F and sunny — and liberating experience for many first timers. “This is our very first PrideFest on a Saturday”, said Sam and Stevhen, who were sitting in the audience for one of the drag shows. “There’s just a sense of abandonment for social norms.”

A scene from the 2023 PrideFest street festival on Broadway

Amelia, who came with her family, was also attending the festival for the first time and said acceptance was a happy element of the day. “Coming here made me feel pretty,” she said, while relishing on ice cream with her children. “

PrideFest is the organizer of the annual Broadway street festival and the official Seattle Pride party held at Seattle Center after the parade on Sunday.

Haley, who worked at the stall from the European Wax Center, represented one of the many vendors participating on Broadway this year.

“It’s my first time organizing the festival, it feels surreal to see the energy that people have,” she said. “I came here for love.”

Candidate for the District 3 seat on the Seattle City Council also didn’t miss the opportunity to be part of the celebration. Joy Hollingsworth, Ry Armstrong, Andrew Ashiofu, and Alex Cooley’s campaigns were part of the festival while most of the D3 field also marched in Sunday’s Pride parade.

https://twitter.com/AndrewAshiofuD3/status/1673141443517636609

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈🌈 #VoteJoy #ChooseJoy #JoyforSeattle #connectingcommunities pic.twitter.com/JvAm8Q2AJV

— Joy Hollingsworth (@JoyForSeattle) June 25, 2023

Such a blast marching with @ATU587Seattle and the Pride Bus. I #ridewithpride! 🏳️‍🌈🚎💅 pic.twitter.com/WNbZ1xGP4h

— Alex Hudson (@AlexforSeattle) June 25, 2023

Well you can keep your mattresses! I’m watching @ryontheryse sing their heart out! pic.twitter.com/e8ra5RryTc

— Efrain Hudnell for Seattle City Council District 3 (@electefrain) June 25, 2023

Meanwhile, Broadway’s place in Seattle’s celebration was also renewed Saturday even as the street has changed with the addition of major resources like Capitol Hill Station and new housing.

“It’s different that Broadway is changing, many of my friends have had to move as well”, said Jasmine. “Joe Bar closed down, which was one of the most loved cafes in the city.”

Pride relationship with Broadway is also changing. CHS reported here on the decision by the Seattle Dyke March to move off the main street and into Volunteer Park in large part to reduce Seattle Police Department involvement with the annual rally and celebration for lesbian love and rights. Friday night, Trans Pride Seattle also filled Volunteer Park for its 10th year anniversary rally.

But, if Saturday was any indication, enthusiasm for Pride’s annual street festival is at an all-time high and Broadway will remain a centerpiece for the neighborhood’s public celebration of the important, lucrative, fun, and inspiring weekend.

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