Despite existing in a world that is only like America, with a history that may or may not include a riot at a place that may or may not be like the Stonewall Inn, Darrow still recognized June as Pride Month. This year, the official parade opened on a drizzly day that persisted well into the afternoon. Neither timing nor weather could dampen the majority of the city's enthusiasm for the event, however. If there were no blue skies to be had, then Darrow's citizens would bring the rainbows, with every bit of the same energy as in years past, probably even more.

In the hours that stretched between the first and last parade, the park is full of entertainments of all kinds, presided over by this year's new Master of Ceremonies, drag performer Izzie Pacquin. Drag artists vogued and lip synced on a stage or read storybooks to enraptured children in a shady grove.

Between events, attendees browsed multiple booths that cater to a wide spectrum of interests, from sexual health to makeup tutorials to merchants with 'artisan glass' pieces that are meant to serve a wide variety of wholly adult interests. This year, many of the bigger businesses seemed to have embraced an unfortunate degree of "less is more" for their Pride collections. While smaller, more independent vendors had gaudy feather boas, glittery graphic tees, and ostentatious jewelry, sponsored booths are more sparse. Booths like Törgt's, however, featured a rainbow of khaki, beige, and gray, with the occasional sage green. The rainbow was in subtle (barely-noticeable) pinstripes on one shirt, while a pair of shorts featured an inch-wide lesbian flag, next to a graphic of a carabiner. One of the most divisive items was an unadorned snapback, embroidered with "it's giving shade" in a tastefully unambitious gray font. Somehow, they sold out immediately.

As has been the tradition for years now, Pride was celebrated from morning until late at night, with a daylight parade officially kicking off the celebrations and a second parade after sunset that allows the city's undead and darkness-bound residents to participate. In Petros Park, Mayor Todd Chad caps off the night with his yearly performance of The Rainbow (It's In Your Blood) at the end of the parade route to an adoring audience of half-dozens while fireworks light up the night sky. Those, at least, came in every color.

[[Happy Pride everyone! This year's theme is...Disappointing Corporate Minimalism, BABIE! As always, Pride will last all day and most of the night Saturday, into the wee hours of Sunday morning.]]