Lansing Pride offers a free party this weekend

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3 — When attendees arrive Saturday for the first Lansing Pride Festival, they will notice an immediate difference from previous LGBTQ Pride festivals in Lansing: It’s free.

Earlier festivals were hosted by Michigan Pride, and it charged. Lansing Pride has made a point of publicizing that its festival is free.

“We have been very intentional about advertising it is free,” Lansing Pride President Ben Dowd said. “This is one reason people were upset with Michigan Pride — the cost.”

Donations are welcome, but not required.

A story in this week’s City Pulse mistakenly reported that a $5 donation was suggested. It should have said that donations are welcome.

The only cost will be in the beverage tent, where drinks will be $5.

The festival opens at 1 p.m. on Turner Street in Lansing’s Old Town and lasts till 10 p.m. There’s a full schedule of stage events in this week’s City Pulse. There will also be about 100 vendors and three food trucks stretched along Turner from Cesar Chavez Avenue to Grand River Avenue.

Additionally, Lansing Pride will host a White Party Drag Show on Friday night at Sir Pizza in Old Town starting at 7 p.m., with shows at 8 and 10.