On June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Since that time, cities across the country have banded together to celebrate LBGTQ+ with festivals and parades. Lebanon, Ohio, will join this tradition and host its first festival on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

Lebanon Pride Festival! will be a one-day, safe, positive, family-friendly, community-oriented event at Bicentennial Park at Mulberry Plaza in downtown Lebanon, Ohio. “The purpose of the celebration is to bring visibility and recognition to the city’s LGBTQ+ citizens,” shares James Reynolds, Board Chair of Lebanon Pride. “This event is a celebration of people and community. We want everyone to feel welcome in Lebanon regardless of their sexuality, race, or gender.”

The Lebanon Pride committee is currently working on plans for the inaugural event for the summer of 2024. Currently, they are seeking sponsors, volunteers, and vendors. If you or your organization is interested in helping with the event, don't hesitate to get in touch with Lebanon Pride at lebanonprideinc@gmail.com

“The festival will host many food and drink vendors, entertainment, and education along with wellness/health information,” reports Leslie Nahigian, Co-Chair of Lebanon Pride. “We look forward to working with our LBGTQ+ community, allies, and partners to bring this event to Lebanon.