A large crowd turned out for West Hartford’s seventh annual Pride Festival on June 27, 2026, an event that brought the community together in the name of love and acceptance. 

By Roz Green

On Saturday, June 27, West Hartford celebrated Pride Month by hosting its annual Pride Festival.

The event was filled with people, vendors, bands, and drag performances. Music and the sounds of celebration echoed through the Town Hall parking lot, and according to organizers this year’s festival was bigger than ever.

Thousands of residents and people from all over the state came to celebrate and enjoy everything the town had to offer. Many attendees were decked out in rainbow attire and pride flags were seen in almost every person’s hand. 

The festival began with exciting and lively drag performances including queens such as Natalia Fierce, Xiomarie LaBeija, Lady Tatiana, and Rupaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars winner Alyssa Edwards, who made the crowd go wild when she stepped on the stage. Everyone was gathered around the stage screaming, applauding, and singing along.

Edwards finished her first performance of the afternoon with a statement of gratitude for a town like West Hartford, which allows its residents to feel safe to be who they want to be. She also shared her gratitude for all the parents and families in the crowd. “I just wanna say I applaud you, and thank you, thank you for leading the youth of today that will be the future of tomorrow,” Edwards said.

Although the day was mostly filled with pride, love, and joy, a small group of anti-LGBTQ+ protestors made their way around the festival. Shortly after they arrived, festival attendees responded with singing, dancing, and waving around rainbow hand fans, countering the message of the protestors while still keeping the pride spirit alive, and peacefully drowning out the hate. 

New England Pride 365 also gave an empowering performance singing an array of songs aimed at celebrating LGBTQ+ rights. New England Pride attended the West Hartford Pride Flag Raising on June 1 as well, bookending pride just as powerfully as they started it. Their vocals left the crowd speechless as they sang emotional and uplifting songs, one being Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

As the group finished their performance, audience members responded with a big round of applause and cheers that could be heard throughout the entire festival. 

Even though it was an especially hot and sunny day in West Hartford, a large crowd came out to share their support for the LGBTQ+ community, spreading joy and love throughout the entire day. The crowd’s energy was infectious, making it impossible not to smile as music and laughter filled the air. 

Earlier in the day, a kick-off was held on the steps of Town Hall, with officials and advocates sharing messages of unity and urging advocacy.

This year’s West Hartford Pride Festival brought thousands of people together in support of queerness, unity, and acceptance, and as the festival came to a close and the sun began to set, the town was left radiating with love, like a blanket of rainbow draped across the community. 

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