It's the biggest Iowa City Pride Week ever. Here's what to do.

Zach Berg | Press Citizen

This is going to be the biggest Iowa City Pride Week ever.

That's what Nathan Kelley, president of Iowa City Pride, says. He has the numbers to prove it, too.

There are more floats and groups marching in this year's Pride Parade than ever before: 52.

Now that Iowa City Pride is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the organization is also raising more money than ever. Most years, IC Pride would raise around $8,000 to $10,000. This year, it's raised $36,000 — and over $60,000 if you count in-kind donations like North Dodge Hy-Vee donating food for the Pride Picnic at 5 p.m. Friday at City Park.

"Becoming a 501(c)3 has changed the whole look of Pride, for the better," Kelley said. "Everything is bigger this year: We have more entertainment and bigger names coming. It's not just the parade."

Iowa City Pride Week unfurls over six days,Tuesday through Sunday, across town with events meant to celebrate and champion the LGBTQ community in Iowa City and beyond.

Each year, Pride centers on traditional events that draw big crowds. The Friday picnic, the Saturday's Pride Parade and the festival in downtown afterward.

This year is special, Kelley said, because local and national LGBTQ communities are gearing up to celebrate major anniversaries.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. On June 28, 1969, police officers in Greenwich Village of New York City raided a well known gay bar known as the Stonewall. According to NPR, raids and beatings were a common tactic used by New York City police on gay people, drag queens and transgender people. On June 28, those people rioted, which spurred marches across the city and soon the country, marking the beginning of the gay rights movement in America.

"That was the moment when gay people stood up across the country and said 'Look at me, I'm not going to hide anymore in the shadows,'" Kelley said,

It didn't take long for the LGBTQ community in Iowa City to react. By the summer of 1970, a Gay Liberation Front group formed. According to an Oct. 16, 1970, story in the Iowa City Press-Citizen, the group had a float in the University of Iowa homecoming parade. The Iowa City Pride organization marks this as the beginning of the group. That means in 2020, Iowa City Pride will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Over the years, Iowa City Pride has slowly grown into an annual festival and parade close to the date of the Stonewall Riots. With the group becoming a nonprofit organization last year, Kelley sees no reason why it can't become "as big as any Pride in Iowa. If we keep growing this way, I think we can do that, I think we can be a leader in Iowa."

With the growth in funds and change to nonprofit status comes some other changes. Kelley said the group has become more of a service than just a party. Now, Iowa City Pride is hosting monthly or bi-monthly events. Members have hosted a resource expo for the LGBTQ community and a book drive that provided books about gender identity to each elementary school in Iowa City.

Even with the changes, Iowa City Pride Week will still be a party, an almost weeklong celebration spread over multiple days and many different venues.

Wednesday

Drop the Mic for Pride will bring a spoken word and poetry spin on Iowa City Pride. At 7 p.m. at Studio 13, the free event is an open mic event for artists to share their thoughts and feelings on Pride. The event is hosted by The Hook, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit that regularly hosts literary events throughout the area.

Thursday

From 5 to 8 p.m., the Johnson County Senior Center, will host the LGBTQ+ Pride Potluck and Team Trivia. RSVP for the all-ages event online or by calling 319-356-5229.

At 9:30 p.m. at Studio 13, the I.C. Kings present the Iowa City drag king troupe's annual Pride show. The event for those 18 and older. Entrance fee is $5.

Friday

The Pride Picnic is one of the longest-running events at Iowa City Pride. Held from 5 to 8 p.m. at Upper City Park, the picnic features free food, mostly provided by North Dodge Hy-vee. There will be games, a table featuring Raygun merchandise and a sign-making station for the next day's Pride Parade. The event is free and open to all ages.

Those looking for some late night Pride fun can go to the Pride Pub Quiz from 8 to 10 p.m. at Deadwood Tavern for some LGBTQ-themed trivia. The event is free, but the drinks are not.

Saturday

The biggest day for Pride Week, Saturday, has more to offer than almost all the other days combined.

From 9 to 11 a.m. at The Englert Theatre, the Queer Coffee Shop will open with free coffee provided by Java House.

Then it's time for the main event. From noon to 1 p.m., the Pride Parade weaves its way through downtown Iowa City. The parade grand marshal will be UI Wesley Foundation's director the Rev. Anna Blaedel with the parade's announcer stationed at the intersection of Iowa Avenue and South Linn Street.

From 1 to 6 p.m., PrideFest will engulf the Linn and East Washington streets. The stage, hosted just south of Studio 13 on Linn, will host a multitude of musical talents. Iowa City's Liz Moen performs at 1 p.m. and Cedar Rapids native and former "American Idol" contestant Alisabeth Von Presley performs at 6:30 p.m. Dance and performance groups like I.C. Kings, 3:30 p.m., and Heartland Bombshells, 4 p.m., will also perform on the stage. At 8 p.m., four stars of popular reality show "RuPaul's Drag Race" will take the stage.

Sunday

The last day of Pride Week is also the quietest. The Drag Brunch is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sanctuary Pub. The food and drinks aren't free, but drag stars will perform during the brunch, and 10 percent of proceeds from the brunch will go back to Pride, so eat up.

For a complete rundown of events during Iowa City Pride Week, visit iowacitypride.org.

Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg.