Sunshine and Celebration: Worcester Pride Festival Shines Bright

What a change from the year before. Last September a sudden rainstorm and even a nearby tornado forced Worcester Pride to shut down early. This year, the weather seemed to have RSVP’d ‘yes’ – warm, clear skies greeted the crowd of roughly 30,000 hopeful faces on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Festival director Ariana DelloStritto stood amid the bustle, watching more than 200 vendors set up their tables. She’s backed by a lean team of five organizers and about 20 volunteers, all hustling to keep things running without a hitch. “It’s beautiful here,” she said, smiling at the sea of rainbow‑colored shirts and flags.

The event marked the 51st anniversary of Worcester’s Pride, first held in 1975. A brief pause during the COVID‑19 pandemic interrupted the run, but the spirit has only grown louder. DelloStritto noted that the festival raised over $140,000 this year, including more than $60,000 from the Massachusetts250 program celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.

For the first time, a solemn tribute wall stretched along the Common. Photographs of transgender and gender‑expansive community members who have passed away were displayed, each captioned “We Remember” and a note about how many of their stories went unreported. The wall was a quiet reminder that celebration and mourning can sit side by side.

The rainbow flag fluttered everywhere, but underneath the festive vibe ran an undercurrent of political protest. Many attendees pointed to recent federal policies that they feel target LGBTQ+ people. “It’s always on my mind,” said drag performer Tina Tequila, who’s been at Worcester Pride since 2018. “We have to speak up against discrimination just for being ourselves.”

Health‑care access sparked heated conversation, too. Representatives from local groups like AIDS Project Worcester were on hand, and Carla Norris, director of client services, highlighted the struggle transgender folks face finding culturally‑sensitive providers. “We need medical professionals to drop their biases,” she urged.

City officials have promised a $500,000 Trans Resilience Fund since Worcester declared itself a sanctuary city for queer and gender‑diverse residents in 2025, but DelloStritto said the money’s still a mystery. “We keep pressing for answers,” she explained, “because visibility matters.”

Some wondered about the timing, since the festival fell on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Organizers considered moving the date, but logistical hurdles made it impossible, so the celebration went ahead as planned.

The parade that wound its way through the Common was a bit smaller than last year’s, yet the energy never waned. Veteran drag queen Dale LePage, at 65 the oldest drag performer in Worcester, strutted in a dazzling winged costume, proclaiming, “There’s strength in numbers.” Tina Tequila, radiant in a blue spandex bodysuit and a winning sash from the Pride pageant, took the stage to belt out Jessie J’s “Wild,” a song about loving life and being unapologetically yourself.

Amid the music, smiles, and occasional protest chants, the message was clear: Worcester’s LGBTQ+ community is resilient, diverse, and ready to claim its space. As the sun set over the Common, the crowd lingered, knowing that the fight for equality continues, but so does the joy of coming together.