A parade and festival on Saturday will highlight State College Pride’s ever-growing annual celebration of community and inclusion.
Hosted by Centre LGBT+, the sixth annual event will kick off at 10 a.m. with the parade starting near State College Area High School on Westerly Parkway for vehicles and South Allen Street and East Foster Avenue for marchers, then making its way through downtown on South Allen Street, West College Avenue and South Burrowes Street.
Downingtown Mayor Erica Deuso, the only openly transgender mayor currently serving in the United States, is the grand marshal for this year’s State College Pride.
“Mayor Deuso is a public servant who brings new levels of visibility to the experiences and challenges faced by transgender people in Pennsylvania, while also underscoring an important truth: trans people, and all LGBT+ people, are regular people who enrich their communities through their presence, visibility and service,” Cat Cook, executive director of Centre LGBT+, said. “Transgender people continue to face serious challenges in many parts of the country, which makes it especially meaningful to celebrate leaders who serve their communities openly and proudly.”
The festival kicks off at noon at Sidney Friedman Park on South Fraser Street, where Deuso will be among the guest speakers, joining Corinne Goodwin, founder and executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, and State College Mayor Ezra Nanes.
Entertainment at the festival follows and continues until 4 p.m. The lineup will include
• Porch Party performing a mix of hits from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s
• Local singer-songwriter Thomasin Grace performing originals and song from “Wicked”
• Local musician and Centre LGBT+ youth program coordinator Margot Bevington playing an original song that is a call to action and honors Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
• Tempest Productions performing a short from its gender-bending take on Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”
• Drag performances by Shamus Daniels, MuMu Chanel Van Pelt and Diego Man-Dana
• Music from local favorites Eric Ian Farmer & Friends
• Pride Fashion Walk
A Family Zone will offer face painting from Faces by Leah, a puppet lab with Adam Swartz Puppets, Nittany Balloons, music, games and prizes.
Food trucks scheduled to be on hand are Classic Cones, Rebelz, Brazilian Munchies, Doan’s Bones Barbecue, Twisted Tater Chicks, Kona Ice, Inside Out Cookie and Chef Lex & Co. Lemonade.
State College Pride has grown each year since it was first held in 2020 and now draws more than 7,000 visitors.
“Centre LGBT+ is incredibly excited for State College Pride 2026 and we aim to foster a sense of advocacy, belonging, love and solidarity by bringing Centre County and surrounding areas together in celebration of all backgrounds, orientations and identities,” Cook said.
