Weekend-long Columbus festival celebrates all families

by Anthony Glassman

Columbus--Celebrating families, an estimated 200,000 people participated in Columbus Pride from June 18 to 20, enjoying a weekend festival despite occasional bouts of rain.

Held for the second year in Goodale Park, the even mobilized an army of volunteers to bring hours of entertainment to the thronged masses.

The parade, which stepped off from Front Street between Broad and State at noon, opened itself to any families that wished to participate, with place of pride immediately behind grand marshals Tom Grote, Rick Neal and their daughter Amoret.

It took over an hour to get the full parade onto the road, from the time the first marchers went to the last of the floats and participants.

Around 40 acts kept the entertainment going throughout the weekend, ranging from drag acts, the Flaggots Ohio flag corps, Capital Pride Band and both of Columbus� choruses to belly dancers and rock bands including New Jersey�s Josh Zuckerman, Cleveland�s Diana Chittester and Columbus� own Fabulous Johnson Brothers and the World Famous Weed Eaters, among many others.

With the focus on the LGBT families, the children�s area expanded this year, with a myriad number of activities for kids and seniors.

�We want to make sure people feel comfortable bringing their children down to Pride,� Stonewall Columbus executive director Karla Rothan told WCMH Channel 4.

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