Pride Celebrations adds parade

For the first time ever, Southern New Mexico Pride’s (SNMP) annual Pride Celebration will include a parade.

It’s part of nearly two weeks of Pride Celebration events in Las Cruces and Mesilla beginning Wednesday, Sept. 27, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 8.

The parade, which is Saturday, Oct. 7, is being sponsored by FYI+. This year’s theme is “United in Diversity.”

“We have about 10 parade entries currently, and we're hoping to get 20-25,” FYI+ Director of Business and Community Engagement Jeanne Resendez said. “We are still accepting entries, and we're welcoming individuals, groups, agencies, businesses, nonprofits, etc. who want to enter floats, walking groups, dance teams, marching bands, decorated vehicles and more. There is a $25 entry fee, she said. Register at wkf.ms/3Qu1oMc.

“FYI+ is extremely excited to be bringing Las Cruces the first-ever full-on Pride Parade,” Resendez said. “In the past, pioneering groups like PFLAG of Las Cruces and Southern New Mexico Pride have organized marches and wagon parades to celebrate Pride. Through their past efforts to pave the way, FYI+ is taking the leap to take the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride to the next level with the goal of spreading the message of acceptance, diversity, and love.”

“The parade is going to attract a lot of people,” celebration coordinator Robert Willams said.

The Pride Celebration will be “bigger and better than ever” in 2023, Williams said, and likely will attract 1,000-1,200 people to Pride on the Plaza, which follows the parade on Oct. 7.

Here is the schedule of events:

• Wednesday, Sept. 27: Pride Rainbow Drinks, Salud! De Mesilla, 1800 Avenida de Mesilla, 1800 Avenida de Mesilla, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 30: Drag Queen Alfresco Pride Kick-Off, Salud! De Mesilla. Ivonna Bump hosts the drag show. Seating begins at 6 p.m., the show starts at 7 p.m. $10.
• Sunday, Oct. 1: 1) Pride Family Picnic, Preciado Park on Gregg Street on the New Mexico State University campus, sponsored by PFLAG Las Cruces, GLSEN and NMSU LGBTQ+ Programs. 11 a.m.; 2) Pride Movie Night, Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St., PFLAG Las Cruces and Thomas Branigan Memorial Library present the movie “Mama Bears.” Doors open at 5 p.m., movie is at 6 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 2: Pride GAYme Night, RAD Retrocade, 201 N. Main St. 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 3: Singing Out Las Cruces Sing Along, Center for Spiritual Living, 575 N. Main St. Tunes will include “We Are Family,” “Born This Way” and “We Belong.” The event will include musical trivia with prizes awarded. 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 5: Pride Karaoke, Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery, 119 N. Main St. 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 7: 1) 2023 Pride Parade, begins at 4 p.m. at Las Cruces City Hall, 700 N. Main St., and travels around the downtown area; 2) 2023 Pride on the Plaza, with 55 vendors, food trucks, the NMSU Astronomy Department and their telescopes, Virgin Galactic, the New Mexico Department of Health, ACLUNM, NMSU programs, the Las Cruces Police Department and many other arts and crafts vendors and local businesses and nonprofits. 5-10 p.m.

Many of the vendors are regulars at the Farmers and Crafts Market of Las Cruces, Williams said, and are “excited for the Pride event every year.”

• Sunday, Oct. 8: Pride Drag Brunch, the Bean at Josefina’s, 2261 Calle de Guadalupe in Mesilla. The drag show starts at noon.

Visit snmpride.org for more information.