Fresh from last year’s 20th anniversary celebration, a new crop of SC Pride Movement leaders are gearing up to make this year’s SC Pride Parade and Festival one of the best yet. With events stretching over two weeks, you’re guaranteed to find something interesting, fun, affordable and entertaining.
Parade
SC Pride’s 21st annual Parade, sponsored by WXRY, kicks off on the Laurel St. side of Finlay Park and winds its way through downtown Columbia until meeting back up at the park for the kickoff of this year’s festival. Assemble at 11 a.m. Parade begins at noon.
Festival
Immediately following the parade, this year’s SC Pride Festival takes place 12-6 p.m. on Sept. 4 in Finlay Park. Special entertainment includes Taylor Dayne, Danielle Howle, Pandora Boxx and more. Food, drink, non-profit and business vendors will be scattered about the park, with the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Business Guild’s 2010 Expo
highlighting gay-owned and gay-friendly
businesses all day.
Other special events
SC Pride Movement’s slate of special events has expanded this year. Catch the SC Pride Pageant on Aug. 21, bowling on Aug. 29, a pre-Pride lecture on Andy Warhol on Aug. 31, its first-ever Pride Tailgate Party at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 2 and many more. See the full calendar of events below.
Calendar of events
SATURDAY // 8/21
2010 SC Pride Pageant, 8 p.m., Workshop Theatre (1136 Bull St.), $30/VIP seating, $25/general admission. Admission fee includes open bar provided by Firefly Vodka and Barefoot Wine and food provided by Blue Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge and Gotham Bagel. Male and female impersonation contest featuring former Pride Kings and Queens, including Xavier and Venus, 2009 SC Pride King and Queen. For more information on the Pageant, visit scpride.org.
For more information on Workshop Theatre, visit workshoptheatre.com.
SUNDAY // 8/29
Pride Opening Ceremony, 2 p.m., Harriet Hancock Community Center (1108 Woodrow St.), Free. Kick off SC Pride 2010 with an opening celebration at the Hancock Community Center.
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic, 2-4 p.m., Harriet Hancock Community Center (1108 Woodrow St.), Free. This picnic will be in honor of all the volunteers who work so hard to make Pride a great event. Come to the center with your favorite side dish and share in the festivities. This event is open to all. Food will be provided.
MONDAY // 8/30
Bowling with SC Pride, 7:30 p.m., AMF Bowling Lanes at Parkland Plaza (900 Axtell Dr., Cayce), $15 for shoe rental and two games. Enjoy games of bowling with friends, Pride style! For more information on AMF Bowling Lanes, visit amf.com/corporate/index.htm.
TUESDAY // 8/31
Pre-Pride Lecture: Warhol’s 13 Most Beautiful, 6 p.m., Columbia Museum of Art (Main and Hampton St.), $8 for Columbia Museum of Art members, Nickelodeon Theatre members, or SC Pride Movement members, $10 for non-members. University of South Carolina professor Dr. Brad Collins lectures on the films of Andy Warhol, followed by a screening of “13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests” and an opportunity to create your own Warhol-esque screen test! This event is co-sponsored by the Columbia Museum of Art and Nickelodeon Theatre. Cash bar is provided by The Whig and food is provided by Blue Tapas Bar and Cocktail Lounge. For more information on the Columbia Museum of Art, visit columbiamuseum.org. For more information on the Nickelodeon Theatre, visit nickelodeon.org.
WEDNESDAY // 9/1
SC Black Pride Welcome Reception, 7-9 p.m., Conrad’s Restaurant (2865 Devine St.), Free. Enjoy food and a cash bar and celebrate diversity with SC Black Pride and SC Pride. For more information on South Carolina Black Pride, visit southcarolinablackpride.com.
THURSDAY // 9/2
Pride Tailgate Party, noon, Williams-Brice Stadium (George Rogers Blvd. and Bluff Rd.), Free. Join other sports fan as we celebrate the beginning of the USC Football season by having our first ever tailgate party at the stadium. Look for the rainbow flag once you arrive. Bring your own beverages.
FRIDAY // 9/3
Pink Party’s D.A.D.T. – The Do Ask. Do Tell Party, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., Tapp’s Building (1644 Main St.), $10 cover plus a donation to your candidate of choice. Come out, meet, and support local LGBT friendly political candidates running for office in November. The event includes a cash bar, food, music, and other entertainment. Business or theme attire is requested. To find out more about the Pink Party, visit votepink.org.
Pre-Pride Party, doors open at 5 p.m., PT’s 1109 (1109 Assembly St.), cover charge TBA. Celebrate pride early at 1109. The event includes dancers and a special performance by Pandora Boxx from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
SATURDAY // 9/4
WXRY Parade Down Main Street, noon, Finlay Park. Assemble at 11 a.m. on the Laurel St. side of Finlay Park for the 21st Annual Pride Parade. Can’t make it? Listen to live commentary on WXRY99.3FM or online at wxryfm.org.
Pride Celebration, 12-6 p.m., Finlay Park, Free. Come out and celebrate your pride! The celebration will feature Taylor Dayne, as well as special appearances by Danielle Howle, Pandora Boxx, and other great entertainers and guests. Enjoy vendors, food, and lots of fun! To purchase tickets to the VIP Tent, visit shop.scpride.org. Advance tickets are $25; tickets purchased the day of Pride are $30.
2010 SC Gay and Lesbian Business Guild Expo, 12-6 p.m., Finlay Park, Free. See what gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses have to offer you at the annual Business Guild Expo, which takes place this year at the Pride Celebration.
For more information on the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Business Guild, visit scglbg.org.
SC Pride Block Party featuring Chris Cox, 8 p.m., PT’s 1109 parking lot (1109 Assembly St.), $20 with valid ID (21 years and older), $30 for Under 21. Purchase tickets in advance at pts1109.com or at PT’s 1109. The official Pride after party will be held outside in the parking lot of PT’s 1109 with all amenities including cash bar and restroom accessibility. DJ Chris Cox will start spinning at 8 p.m.
SUNDAY // 9/5
Rainbow Candlelight Worship Service, 11 a.m., Garden of Grace United Church of Christ (1020 Atlas Rd.). Garden of Grace celebrates pride week with a worship service. For more information, call 803-695-9664 or visit gogucc.com.
Pride Sunday Worship Services, 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., Reformation Lutheran Church (1101 Union St.). A diverse and welcoming congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Winner of the 2009 SC PRIDE community service award for promoting human rights. For further information on Reformation Lutheran Church, visit reformationlutherancolumbiasc.com or call 803-252-1507.
Pride Picnic, 12:30 p.m., Earlewood Park, Free. Join us for our annual potluck picnic! No media, no speeches. Just bring food and drink to share!
Sunday Tea Dance, 2-8 p.m., PT’s 1109 parking lot (1109 Assembly St.), $10 with valid ID (21 years or older), $15 for Under 21. Purchase tickets in advance at pts1109.com or at PT’s 1109. Come out and hear the winner of 2010 Gay Days DJ Contest! DJ Fierce Tease spinning outside. There will be a drag show following the dance at 9 p.m. with the Party Time Gals, including Dorea Saunders, Samantha Hunter, Crystal Meth, Paris Le’ Faris and Carla Cox.
After-Pride events
SC Pride Movement will host two opportunities for community members to voice feedback and get involved in the work of the organization following their SC Pride Parade and Festival. SC Pride hosts its “SC Pride 2010: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” at 2 p.m., Oct. 10, at the Harriett Hancock Community Center, 1108 Woodrow St. You’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback, comments, critiques or praises on this year’s Pride events. Recommendations and suggestions for next year’s events are welcome.
On Oct. 17, 2 p.m., the board of SC Pride Movement will meet at the Harriett Hancock Center. Those interested in becoming more involved with the group are encouraged to attend. For more information about either meeting, visit scpride.org.
— Compiled by qnotes staff. Calendar listings courtesy SC Pride Movement.