NORFOLK, Va. - Due to concerns over the growing coronavirus pandemic, the Hampton Roads Pride Board of Directors has decided to postpone the 32nd Annual PrideFest and other June events.
Other events that will be postponed due to the global health crisis include the 9th Annual Pride Block Party and 2nd Annual Pride at the Beach, which were scheduled for June 19-21. All other Pride Month and Pride Week celebrations will also be postponed.
“Our Board of Directors agrees that the safest course of action is to postpone all planned Hampton Roads Pride events scheduled for this June. We are working with our partners to determine what options are available to celebrate later this year,” said Cole Werkheiser, President of Hampton Roads Pride. “It is important to recognize and celebrate our Pride,” Werkheiser said, “and we will see that through. Our community is strong, we are resilient and we believe Pride matters!”
The theme of the festival for this year, #PrideMatters, was chosen in February. The board will share more about new plans to celebrate Pride in our area in the coming days and weeks.
PrideFest is one of many local events to be canceled to mitigate the spread of the virus. After Gov. Ralph Northam issued the statewide "stay at home" order last week, Norfolk Festevents, Ltd. canceled the 2020 Norfolk Harborfest and postponed the 2020 Bayou Boogaloo Music & Cajun Food Festival.
Hampton Roads Pride is best known for putting on PrideFest at Town Point Park in Norfolk, which attracted more than 40,000 in 2019.
