Duluth-Superior Pride Celebrates 39th Year
This article was originally published in the October print edition of The Bark, distributed at the University of Minnesota Duluth campus.
Isa waves to the crowd on Bayfront’s main stage. Photo by Caleb Olson
Every year, Duluth-Superior Pride brings thousands of people to Duluth, Minnesota to celebrate LGBTQIA+ rights and freedom.
This year, Pride took place between Aug. 28 - 30, with a wide range of events taking place all throughout Duluth’s metropolitan area. Businesses all over the city take part in making spaces and events for queer people and allies to enjoy. Bent Paddle, The Duluth Depot, Zeitgesist Duluth, Dovetail and many more businesses hosted events for people to get connected.
Bayfront Festival Park held Pride Festival on Aug. 30 which held over 120 booths, food trucks, beer tents and live entertainment from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Superior holds Pride parade. Photo by Caleb Olson
One of the performers at the festival was The Original Eve (Chayse Traverse Ehresmann), a Minnesota based Drag artist who lit up the festival grounds with backbends, twirls and stunts that were met with thunderous cheers from the festival crowd.
“The best way to describe the pride weekend would be vibrant, energetic and warm. The crowd was huge! I have been performing at Bayfront for a few years and every year the crowd is bigger, brighter and everyone is easy to talk to!” Ehresmann explained.
Events went on into the night in Superior, Wisconsin, with Superior Flame Nightclub and The Main Club hosting Block Parties and Duluth Flame Nightclub hosting Saturday Drag show.
Aug. 31 brought celebrations into Superior, Wisconsin as The Duluth-Superior Pride Parade took place on Tower Avenue.
Eve struts across the front of Bayfront’s stage while audiences members cheer in the grass. Photo by Caleb Olson
In attendance was Rachel Birkhol, a Duluth resident who attends the parade every year.
“It’s a fun community event, to go out and support everybody that’s here. We have a significant crew of rainbow people that we love and we just want them to feel welcome.” Birkhol said.
Duluth-Superior Pride brings people of all groups together to celebrate, advocate and learn from one another. Ehresmann wanted people to leave with this message.
“I want people to understand that pride is a celebration as much as it is a safety net for all. I want everyone to enjoy themselves but that means everyone. It’s not just a party but it's a time for someone who is silent to spectate and learn, it’s a chance for people to see a glimpse into a multifaceted world and that there are so many options and walks of life,” Ehresmann said.
Pride celebrations are a chance for people to get out of their comfort zone and be vocal about what they believe in. For the performer, it is about creating a space of belonging and carving out a space for those who go unseen.
“I’m learning everyday, my drag is an extension of me,” Ehresmann concluded.