Thousands celebrate 2018 Pridefest in downtown Springfield

Wyatt D. Wheeler | News-Leader

Nathan Papes/News-Leader

Even with the hot summer sun looking down at the downtown square, a record number of participants showed up to walk in the Greater Ozarks Pridefest Parade.

"Act Up! Act Out! Fight _____!" read the lead banner and the shirts of the many volunteers and participants throughout the square.

Amy Slavin, a co-chair for the event, said the theme for the year was inspired by one of the largest LGBT movements in history by activist group Act Up — which raised awareness for AIDS in the 1980s.

More about Greater Ozarks Pridefest 2018: Pridefest a call 'to fight against bigotry and for love'

The "Fight _____!" was left blank in order for more issues to be fought for.

"While AIDS is still a devastating issue in our community, there are so many other things we want to fight for," Slavin said. "We want to fight for transgender rights, we want to fight for love, we want to fight for the right to hold our partner's hand in public. So we decided to leave it blank to be more inclusive and pay honor to our history."

Nathan Papes/News-Leader

The record for the number of floats was broken, according to Slavin. She said around 4,000 people showed up to the event in 2017. Slavin was hoping for and expecting around 5,000 people to attend the event on Saturday.

Different vendors and sponsors took up the majority of the colorful square as friends walked around with each other.

A News-Leader reporter and photographer did not see any protesters during the parade that kicked off the day's events. The night headlined former NBC's "The Voice" competitor Chris Weaver.

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In her third year of organizing the event and having been planning the event since September, Slavin said the most satisfying moment for her, in the end, will be enjoying the music with the Springfield community.

She was also looking forward to everyone being able to sit in the shade on the hot summer day.

"When it all comes together with the parade and at the end of the night when I'm able to look out and see everybody sitting and enjoying being together in the community and listening to the music and having a really good time, that's my favorite part," Slavin said.