Fourth Longmeadow Pride features familiar sights, new faces

A father and child pass under the rainbow balloon arch.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

LONGMEADOW — The fourth annual Longmeadow Pride festival took place on the Town Green on Sept. 15. The crowds came out to the event, organized by the Longmeadow Pride Alliance, heard music, sampled food truck fare, played games and learned about community resources and municipal projects.

Some aspects of the festival returned from years past, such as a rainbow balloon arch and lawn signs featuring various flags and the gender identities and communities they represent. Local food and drink businesses, such as Batch Ice Cream, Pour Things Coffee and Fletchers also returned for 2024. The were joined by vendors, such as TJs Pop Kettle Corn and Cinco de Mayo with Mexican cuisine.

The entertainment lineup featured new and familiar performers, including DJ Brian Nicks, Lady Gaga tribute artist Lady Nikki, Taylor Ives and Rickie Miller from Guilty Feet and Zane Provost. State Rep. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow) and state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) spoke at the event, as did Selectmen Dan Zwirko and Vineeth Hemavathi, School Committee member Zach Verriden and School Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea. O’Shea talked about the inclusive atmosphere that the schools work to create for the staff and for students, 20% of whom identify as LGBTQ+, he said.