Redding Pride Through The Years

2020 Pride was re-tooled to be a virtual event in the midst of COVID-19 Pandemic. Virtual events helped to bring the community together, though apart.

2019 marked the 10th anniversary of the Redding Pride Festival. Our LGBTQ+ community's roots are deep in far rural NorCal. Through the years, we have weathered each storm of resistance, intolerance and hate only to come out stronger and more vibrant. Redding Pride is a living model of community growth and support, an affirmation of our individual identities and an inspiration for people of all ages.

This year featured our biggest Light It Up With Pride Rainbow Bridge Lighting celebration ever, with two hours packed with performances by NorCal Drag Alliance and some fancy line dancing by the Wolf Pack of Lesbian Friends. Over 1000 people, young and old, attended. 

2019 Pride was generously sponsored by Leave it to Nature (our first Unicorn Sponsor ever!), United Way of Northern California, Hill County Health and Wellness, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity ACLU, Planned Parenthood of Northern California, Women's Health Specialists, Legal Services of Northern California, NorCal Drag Alliance, Club 501, Youth and Family Programs, Dignity Health, Jacobs Engineering, Advanced Counseling, One Safe Place, The Brasserie, Caring Choices, Center for Spiritual Living, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Empire Recovery Center, KKRN Radio and the Shasta-Tehama-Trinity HIV Food Bank.

In the wake of the Carr Fire, we needed hope and 'Strength In Community' for our LGBTQ+ community, loved ones, and allies. The 2018 Redding PRIDE was celebrated boldly, despite the challenges we faced.

This year's Pride featured an excited week of events, including a screening of the film 'Love Simon' at the Cascade Theatre, Drag Queen & King Story hour and a Safe Zone Ally Training.  The festival and march that took place in front of Redding City Hall, featuring 60 exhibitors and vendors and a full line up of entertainment including the NorCal Drag Alliance, Premonition band, Black Widow Bellydance, DJ Jynx, and Cold Sweat. Our usual kick off to Redding Pride Week, 'The Light It Up With Pride Rainbow Bridge Lighting' was postponed due to unhealthy air quality, but the show went on in October!

2018 Pride was generously sponsored by Club 501, Hill Country Clinic, Legal Services of Northern California, Planned Parenthood of Northern California, Miracle Mile Records, NorCal Drag Alliance, Metro PCS, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church, KKRN Radio, Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity HIV Food Bank, Healthy Shasta, Youth and Family Programs, One Safe Place, Women's Health Specialists, the Shasta, Tehama, Trinity ACLU and Top Notch Candy Boxx.

2017 Pride was our biggest celebration yet. A week of events that many said gave them hope that they could live authentically and find acceptance, even in our conservative rural area. This year's Pride turned into a week of events and coincided with the opening of the NorCal OUTreach Center - Redding's first LGBTQ+ Center.  

This was the first year we had the opportunity to light Redding's iconic Sundial Bridge in rainbow, and have a kick off celebration featuring DJ Jynx, singers and drag performers. It also featured the inaugural Redding LGBTQ+ Film Festival, made possible by grants from Cal Humanities and The McConnell Foundation. The finale of Pride week was the festival and march that took place in front of Redding City Hall, featuring 70 exhibitors and vendors and a full line up of entertainment including the Premonition band, Formation Dance Company, Delaney Renee, Benette Wallace, and Adam Ferris. Overall, the week's events attracted 2000+ LGBTQ+ people and Allies.

2017 Pride was generously sponsored by the event 530 Collective, Market Street Uniforms, Club 501, Hill Country Clinic, Legal Services of Northern California, Planned Parenthood of Northern California, The California Teachers Association, Oliveview Farms, Metro PCS, Flow Community Acupuncture, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church, People of Progress, KKRN Radio, Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect, and the Shasta-Tehama-Trinity HIV Food Bank.

We wouldn't allow the weather to wash away our spirit in 2016. Originally intended to take place in Library Park, 2016 Pride' s 40 exhibitors and 600 attendees made a last minute move inside The Atrium. Headline entertainment included legendary local drag performer Mercedes Benz-Over St. James, Formation Dance Company, John Hoover & Co. and the Old Kennett String Band. 

The event  was generously sponsored by the California Endowment,  Market Street Uniforms, Club 501, Hill Country Clinic, Legal Services of Northern California, Planned Parenthood of Northern California, Metro PCS, Shasta Community Acupuncture, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church, People of Progress, KKRN Radio, Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect, and the Shasta-Tehama-Trinity HIV Food Bank.

2015 Pride was a quaint, family friendly BBQ in Anderson River Park. About 75 attended and enjoyed the food and picnic games.

This year we honored PRIDE during our weekly LGBTQ+ support group, that got its start in 2009.

Pride 2013 was held in front of the Historic Cascade Theater. Transgender musician, Ryan Cassatta, and the Eureka Chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were the highlight for the 600 who came to enjoy the day.

2013 Pride was generously sponsored by Market Street Uniforms, Redding Rancheria, Shasta County PFLAG, Pacific West Graphics and the Holiday Inn.

The 2012 Pride was held in Library Park and was the first festival to feature an afternoon of live entertainment, exhibitors, and food vendors. About 250 came out to celebrate.

Pride 2012 was generously sponsored by Market Street Uniforms, Club 501, Palo Cedro Printing, and Shasta County PFLAG.

2011 Pride featured a march around the Redding Downtown Promenade and an ice cream social at the legendary Leatherby's Ice Creamery.

Redding Pride 2010 took place at the Center for Spiritual Living and was playfully themed LGBT is NOT and SANDWICH.

Redding's inaugural Pride Festival was held in the parking lot of Planned Parenthood. Ten local organizations and about 70 people attended.