Gettysburg LGBT+ Pride Weekend Announced

The 2nd Annual Gettysburg Pride Events are scheduled May 31-June 3, 2018 in downtown Gettysburg for LGBT+ Community and friends. In summer of 2017, when a few friends were sitting around wondering why Gettysburg didn't have a Gay Pride Event yet, they decided to organize a bar crawl. With just a two-week notice, they thought maybe a dozen people would show up. On June 22, 2017, over 80 people filled the bar at Gettysburg Hotel's One Lincoln. Pride flags, glow in the dark necklaces, and LOTS of smiles with friends old and new filled four different local bars as we walked around historic Lincoln Square with PRIDE. Similar to other LGBT Pride Fests like those in Baltimore, Lancaster, and Harrisburg, this year, Gettysburg Pride 2018 will have a full weekend of events of all kinds including: bar crawl, education/outreach and free rapid HIV testing and counseling from Family First Health's Caring Together Program, restaurant, winery, shopping tours, piano bar cabaret and more May 31-June 3, 2018. Many businesses in town will be sponsoring Gettysburg Pride so be sure to look for the Pride flags and visit them to say thanks for their support!

2018 Pride Committee Members: Chad-Alan Carr, Karl Held, Jennie Knox, Ken Knox, and Corey Williams have created a brochure/map with lots of local business support, as well as friends and neighbors from the community donating to cover expenses for the pride fest. Any leftover proceeds will be donated to Family First Health's Caring Together Program for people living with HIV in Adams and York Counties.

"We are humbled by the show of support", says Carr. "Our Mayor wrote a welcome statement for our event brochure and so many places will have pride flags out this weekend. We just want people to come have a safe, fun time and know that they are welcome here. We all love Gettysburg and it has a lot to offer everyone. We find it to be pretty open and welcoming to the LGBT community, and we look forward to supporting all those that support us."

The schedule of Gettysburg Pride 2018 includes a welcome reception at 10pm Thursday, May 31st at Gettysburg Hotel Atrium/One Lincoln. Welcome bags courtesy of Destination Gettysburg, The Outlet Shoppes of Gettysburg, and Gettysburg Pride include great shopping coupons, brochure, map and more and are while supplies last. Then the bar crawl steps off onto Lincoln Square after 10:30pm with stops planned in no particular order for: One Lincoln, The Pub, The Flying Bull, The Parrot, The Gary Owens, The Blue & Grey, and Mama's Basement Lounge.

Friday, June 1st will include a Pride Mixer 5-7pm with free food while it lasts and cash bar at the Gettysburg Hotel. Family First Health will be there for free rapid HIV testing, information, and counseling in private room. Following the mixer will be the Opening Night Reception for ticket holders to the musical Into The Woods at Gettysburg Community Theatre.

Saturday, June 2nd will include a Pride Mixer 5-7pm with free food while it lasts and wine tastings at Knob Hall downtown with appetizers compliments of Food 101. Then after dinner at 10pm Ricky Ritzel, an award-winning Cabaret Pianist from NYC will entertain guests at The Parrot with a NYC style piano bar where guests can sing along or just enjoy the singers of the Gettysburg Pride Cabaret.

All day Friday and Saturday, many businesses and friends downtown will be flying the Pride flag and some may have special offers for folks that show their pride so visitors and residents are encouraged to show support to the 2018 Gettysburg Pride Sponsors including: Savor Gettysburg Food Tours, Gettysburg Community Theatre, A&A Village Treasures, Food 101, Ride Share Driver Ken Knox, The Parrot, Family First Health Gettysburg, Gettysburg Hotel/One Lincoln, The Christmas Haus Gettysburg/New Oxford, The Majestic Theater, Lark, Sunrise Soap Company, Gallery 30, The Ragged Edge, Hauser Estate Winery, ArtWorks, Open Minds, Knob Hall, The Garyowen Irish Pub, Adams County Democratic Committee, Matt Nelson, The Brafferton Inn, Fresh Boutique, Prosperity Mobile Marketing, The Outlet Shoppes of Gettysburg, and The Spirited Ladies.

Sunday, June 3rd, the Gettysburg Pride Committee encourages you to enjoy Brunch downtown.

Gettysburg Pride full schedule and more about tickets and non-ticketed events can be found online at www.GettysburgPride.org as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The committee encourages everyone to have a safe, fun time, drink responsibly, have a designated driver or call Uber/Lyft, and post photos of Pride throughout the weekend with tag #gettysburgpride ! Suggestions for next year are welcome too GettysburgLGBTpride@gmail.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.