The Who What When Where of 2018 RI PrideFest

The 43rd Annual PrideFest will start at noon and continue until 7pm on South Water Street and will feature a mix of live entertainment on the main stage, a business marketplace with more than 200-plus vendors, a kids zone, food trucks, arts, a youth center and a beer, wine and spirits garden. A rally and speaking program will take place at 3pm from the main stage and will feature local community leaders. 

RI Pride is home to the only Illuminated Night Parade in New England, which will kick off at 8pm. It’s a celebration highlight, with a dazzling display of floats, performing artists, marching groups, businesses and spectators that winds through downtown Providence and culminates at the RI Pride Reviewing area under the historic marquee of the Providence Performing Arts Center. Spectators can watch the parade as it travels down Dorrance Street, continues to Washington Street, then Empire Street, and finally wraps up on Weybosset Street.

The main stage will be hosted by local celebrity (and Motif contributor) Lulu Locks; Providence drag performers Kira Stone, Complete Destruction, and Onyx; and local comedian John Kelley. The stage will feature New England-based gay dance party guru DJ Ephraim Adamz. The main stage will feature headlining acts Monet X Change​ from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 10 and Laila McQueen from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 8. ​Local high energy dance rock act Jodi Jolt and The Volt​ will also appear on the main stage, along with countless other acts representing various genres and drag performers.

Timeline:

The Ego Providence-sponsored main stage:

Noon: Jodi Jolt and The Volt

12:50pm: Derek Capobianco

1:25pm: Young Kaii

1:45pm: Imperial Court of Rhode Island

2:10pm: Mary Day Band

3pm: RI PrideFest Rally — National Anthem by Jackie Collins

3:45pm: South End Dynamite

3:55pm: Jackie Collins

4pm: Drag Block featuring Monet X. Change and Laila McQueen

5:15pm: Rhode Island Pride Pageant Winners: Mr. Bisexual Rhode Island 2018, Blake Sherman; Ms. Lesbian Rhode Island 2018, Jasmine Prince; Mx. Trans Rhode Island 2018, Payton-James Osborne; Miss Gay Rhode Island 2018, Yolandi Fizzure; Mr. Gay Rhode Island 2018, Ryan Welch

5:45pm: Existenz

6pm: DJ Ephraim Adamz

6:15pm: Jacob St. Aubin

6:45pm: DJ Ephraim Adamz