Thank You, St. Joe!

Pridefest 2025 Was Our Boldest Celebration Yet

This year, St. Joe Pridefest took a powerful step forward—expanding into Civic Center Park and welcoming hundreds to a weekend of queer joy, community connection, and unapologetic celebration. The move to a larger venue just blocks from our previous home gave us room to grow, and grow we did.

Friday night opened with energy and elegance.

Live Entertainment from Kansas City brought the stage to life with performances by Tajma Stetson, Daisy Bucket, Heather Fellas, Rozz Smith, Regina Del Carmen, and Infinity The Drag Queen. The evening culminated in a dazzling drag show hosted by Vivian Versace and Loreal, featuring Freddy Mac Uchawi and our newly crowned Miss, Mr., and Mx St. Joe Pride.

Saturday was a full-day celebration of visibility and vitality.

The parade and opening ceremony, led by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, set the tone for an afternoon of music, movement, and magic. Black Bleeds Through returned to the stage with their signature sound, followed by local entertainment and a second round of drag brilliance hosted by Clint Toris Bliss and Reina Rose. Performers Sheila Tacku Ex, Cherry Darling, Diva Devine, Himbo Shaggins, and Imani Altair brought charisma and heart to the crowd.

As the sun set, the festival kept glowing.

Blacksnake Belly Dance Circle and Tim Leland offered rhythm and reflection, leading into a fiery finale from The Arsonists and Pyro Flow. The night closed with a final drag showcase hosted by Bianca Bliss and Kyla Breeze, featuring Zanny Ex Uchawi, Southern Hell, Reina Rose, and Eli Adin Shawn.

Community Powered, Community Proud

We’re deeply grateful to every sponsor, vendor, volunteer, performer, and attendee who showed up with heart, creativity, and purpose. From the first booth setup to the final spotlight, your presence helped transform Civic Center Park into a vibrant hub of connection, celebration, and support—a space where everyone could feel seen, safe, and celebrated.

Featured partners included:

CLARIOS – supporting Pride in our local community

The Arsonists – bringing the sound and fire to our main stage

Black Bleeds Through –  returning to the stage with raw energy and powerful sound

First Christian Church of Saint Joseph – a proud faith-based ally

Northwest Health Services – providing free HIV testing and wellness outreach

St. Joe Therapist – long time supporter, offering affirming mental health resources

Rainbow Coalition: Queer & Allies – building bridges across identities

Eskildsen Creative Works – showcasing 3D printing and creative tech

Peaceful Point – inviting calm and reflection into the festival space

Diva-licious – celebrating self-expression

Cat Designs Jewelry & More, Rainbow Lane Crochet, and King B Pickles – adding sparkle, color, and flavor to our vendor village

Bluffwoods Renaissance Festival – blending history and queerness with flair

Radio Joe and Jon McClain Music, LLC – amplifying local voices and sounds

These partners didn’t just set up booths—they helped build a space where everyone could feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

Pridefest 2025 was more than a party. It was a promise—that queer people in Saint Joseph will continue to thrive, organize, and uplift one another. Thank you for being part of this movement. We’ll see you next year.