Ohanga Partners with Newport Out for Annual Pride Festival
Buzz / Ohanga Partners with Newport Out
NEWPORT, RI—June 26, 2021—Ohanga supports the LGBTQ+ Community at Newport Pride Festival sponsored by Newport Out.
The people of Newport didn’t let a little rain bring down their Pride Festival and Parade last weekend. The crowd at Newport Pride Weekend fully embraced the not-so-great weather to enjoy the festival with shopping, eating, live events, parades, and celebrating love for all.
The event was cultivated by Newport Out, an LGBTQ+ owned and operated organization that works to provide support and resources for travelers and the local Rhode Island community, according to their website. Newport Out hosts the annual Newport Pride as well as other events throughout the year to “gather and connect with the community.”
This year marks the 5th anniversary of Newport Out hosting pride-themed events, and being unable to host any large gatherings last year due to Covid-19, the organization made sure this weekend would be one to remember.
The Pride Market and Festival was held in Equality Park with vendors and performers from all over the state covering the green to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Ride—a 2-mile bike around town—gave participants the opportunity to show off their pride like a sea of rainbow flags sailing through the center of Newport. The ride started at Equality Park and ended in the same spot so the colorful cyclists could enjoy the festivities with friends and family.
The Pride Market and Festival included musical guest DJ Rob Dixon, complimentary coffee from Springline Coffee, Drag Storytime, drag performances by The Trailer Park Girls, a grand raffle sponsored by Ohanga, and dance performances by Jackie Henderson and the MIST dancers and Katie Moorhead and Island Moving Company.
Along with a table full of merchandise available for purchase, Ohanga had more than a dozen giveaways throughout the day including the event’s grand giveaway: three free months of Artisan Monthly—the affordable lifestyle subscription service that supports local farms and businesses.
In preparation for the Festival, Newport Out sold $5 Pride Pins in honor of the Pride Market and Festival, which could be used for discounts in stores across Newport throughout the month of June. The proceeds from the pins will be used to fund public art displays celebrating LGBTQ+ pride in Newport. Ohanga partnered with Newport Out to sponsor this year’s Pride Festival and was one of the vendors for the 2021 Pride Pins at its Newport storefront as well as one of the main tables at the Pride Market.
Just like how Ohanga promotes and supports small businesses to help them succeed, the company supports all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Ohanga is proud to have been a partner and sponsor of this experience that celebrated the community and promoted love, acceptance, and inclusivity not just in Newport but in all of Rhode Island.
Author: Francesca Giangiulio
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