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Tenth Davis Pride kicks off on June 1

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A drag queen interacts with a young festivalgoer at the 2023 Davis Pride Festival. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

By Wendy Weitzel

The rainbow crosswalks are being painted Sunday in downtown Davis, signaling the path to a month full of Davis Pride celebrations ahead in June.

This is the 10th year of Davis Pride activities, organized by the nonprofit Davis Phoenix Coalition. For 2024, highlights include the Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival, an after party, a fun run, skate night, comedy night, and plenty of drag.

This year’s theme is “Davis Pride – Because Yolo County is for Everyone!” It follows the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s recent lawn sign messages “Davis is for Everyone” and “Yolo County is for Everyone,” to counter the far-right actions experienced in the community.

The 10th annual Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival has a new location this year: Civic Center Park, at Sixth and B streets. The community-focused, family-friendly event includes a music festival, resources, vendors, food, drinks and more – from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

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Voice artist and Latin singer Willie Gomez is the co-headliner at the June 1 Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival. (Courtesy photo)

Headlining the musical lineup is Davis native and vocal percussionist Butterscotch, a Season 2 finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” They will perform at 3:15 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., co-headlining the Sutter Health Main Stage will be Willie Gomez, from Season 24 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Gomez is an accomplished Latin music artist and has been a backup dancer for Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, among others.

Other performances include Silicon Valley’s Josh Diamond, the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, Team Davis Singers, and the always popular Drag Revue. There will be activity zones for children, teens and seniors.

After the festival wraps up at 5, revelers are encouraged to continue to the inaugural Davis Pride After Party, which will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on G Street, between Second and Third streets, downtown. That portion of the street is a pedestrian zone. DJ Mellax of Davis Rave Co. will spin dance tunes. Patrons may purchase food and drink from downtown Davis establishments.

The next day is the Run for Equality, starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 2. It includes a 5K and 1K run/walk from Central Park, at Fourth and C streets. The run is the fundraiser that makes the festival possible. Registration is $25 until May 28 and $30 after. Visit https://www.davispride.org/run.

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Skaters compete in a limbo competition at the 2023 Skate with Pride event in Davis’ Central Park. This year’s skate night is Saturday, June 8. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

The following Saturday, June 8, is Skate with Pride. The free night will include a disc jockey, disco lights and food trucks from 7 to 9 p.m. Skating will be under the Davis Farmers Market Pavilion in Central Park, Fourth and C streets, downtown. Participants bring roller or in-line skates and wear colorful attire, skating to lively music. Attendees may participate in a drawing for prizes.

The fun continues Friday, June 21 for Davis Pride Comedy Night, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd. Presented by Laughs on the Lake, tickets are $40 through June 2, $45 through June 20, and $55 on June 21. Visit https://www.davispride.org/comedy to see the lineup and purchase tickets.

On Thursday, June 27, Davis Pride plans a Drag Trivia, from 6 to 9 p.m. at a location to be announced. Trivia is $15 to enter. Visit https://www.davispride.org/trivia for location and registration information.

The Davis Pride committee is happy to help businesses show their colors and promote their pride events for June. Email admin@davisphoenixco.org.

June is International LGBTQ+ Month. Davis Pride events are coordinated by an all-volunteer community formed by the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a nonprofit that works to foster diversity, eliminate intolerance, prevent hate-motivated violence, and support LGBTQ+ youths in Davis and surrounding communities. The coalition was founded in the aftermath of a 2013 anti-gay attack on Davis resident “Mikey” Partida. Proceeds from Davis Pride events fund the coalition’s anti-racism and anti-bullying campaigns, support to LGBTQ+ youths and their families, and outreach with area police departments, churches and schools. To donate, go to https://davisphoenixco.org/donate.

For more information about the event, or becoming a sponsor, exhibitor or volunteer, visit https://www.davispride.org/. To learn details as they unfold, follow Davis Pride on Facebook and Instagram.

Davis Pride events

  • June 1: The 10th annual Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Civic Center Park, Sixth and B streets. The Davis Pride After Party is 6 to 10 p.m. on G Street, between Second and Third streets.
  • June 2: The annual Run for Equality, 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, June 2 from Central Park.
  • June 8: The free Skate with Pride, 7 to 9 p.m. in Central Park.
  • June 21: Davis Pride Comedy Night, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd.
  • June 27: Drag Trivia, 6 to 9 p.m., location to be announced.

Davis Pride Fest schedule
Saturday, June 1 in Civic Center Park, behind Davis City Hall.

  • 11 a.m.: Noise Violation (marching band)
  • 11:30 a.m.: Welcome ceremony
  • Noon: Matthew Balling and Friends (rap group)
  • 12:30 p.m.: Josh Diamonds (dance/pop singer)
  • 1:15 p.m.: Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus
  • 1:50 p.m.: Team Davis Singers
  • 2:30 p.m.: Willie Gomez (voice artist, Latin singer)
  • 3:15 p.m.: Butterscotch (vocal percussionist)
  • 4:15 p.m.: Drag revue

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Comments

5 responses to “Tenth Davis Pride kicks off on June 1”

  1. Ron O

    It follows the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s recent lawn sign messages “Davis is for Everyone” and “Yolo County is for Everyone,” to counter the far-right actions experienced in the community.
    Far-right? I don’t think so. But even if it was, does “far right” make one evil? And does anyone hold consistent views across the political spectrum in the first place?
    But glad to see you commenting on here. I didn’t realize you were the author of “Davis Comings and Goings”, until I looked at the link where your articles now appear. In fact, I didn’t even notice that you had “disappeared” from the Enterprise, since I stopped reading the articles when they clamped-down on unpaid readers. Yeap, I’m a freeloader, in regard to news on the Internet.
    I “used to be” a freeloader when TV was free, as well. And it still sort of is, on YouTube. Part of that has to do with my interests, and not just a result of being a cheapskate.
    Unfortunately, local journalism is apparently no longer profitable. This is not the “fault” of the Enterprise.

    Reply
  2. Alan C. Miller

    This year’s theme is “Davis Pride – Because Yolo County is for Everyone!” It follows the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s recent lawn sign messages “Davis is for Everyone” and “Yolo County is for Everyone,” to counter the far-right actions experienced in the community.
    There’s a bit a logic fallacy in this theme/message. If Yolo is for everyone, how can this theme/message counter the far-right, if those in the far-right are part of everyone?
    It’s like a heard a sermon where they said God was everything, and then said God fought evil. So I asked if God was everything and also fought evil, wouldn’t God be fighting himself? I was burned at the stake minutes later.
    By the way, I am a person of higher moral character than RO. Evidence: I am a paid subscriber of Comings and Goings

    Reply
  3. Keith

    If being against biological males competing in women’s sports and feeling that parents have the right to know what their children identify as in school and whether their children have access to binding bras, hormone blockers and other such devices is considered far right then I proudly am a member of that club.

    Reply
  4. Ron O

    It’s like a heard a sermon where they said God was everything, and then said God fought evil. So I asked if God was everything and also fought evil, wouldn’t God be fighting himself? I was burned at the stake minutes later.
    I think that Peter Griffin said it best:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQWyobt-aJ0
    By the way, I am a person of higher moral character than RO. Evidence: I am a paid subscriber of Comings and Goings
    No argument there – even without that “evidence”.

    Reply
  5. Stephan Telm

    To the folks who are misrepresenting the truth:
    Yes, Davis is also for those on the far right of the political spectrum. However, this does not mean that you are allowed to bully and harass people who are not like you, or to suppress information that we exist. It’s pretty simple:
    1. Don’t harass people who are already marginalized (whether that is for sexual orientation, gender expression, skin color or any other reason).
    2. Don’t try to remove books from the library, just because they contain material you’d rather not read. Some of us do want to read it.
    3. Don’t equate immigrants and LGBTQIA+ people with criminality.
    4. Don’t keep people from voting.

    Reply

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