Pride Millvale is returning for its sixth year on June 20.
Completely run by volunteers, the inclusive event brings the Millvale community together with lots of family-friendly activities.
The Pride event takes over the borough, with a street closure at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Sheridan Street, where street vendors and a stage will be located.
Hayley Sugg, a Millvale resident, has been helping to organize Pride Millvale since the event started in 2021. This year, her main responsibilities involve working with sponsors and providing accessibility for the event.
Keeping with the family-friendly theme, Sugg said they try to make sure almost everything is free and offer events that focus on the community.
There will be facepainting, a craft station, drag queens, live music and a kid at heart dance party, which proved popular when it debuted last year.
While that dance party was butterfly-themed, this year’s will be bubble-themed.
The main stage will feature hosts Effie Vescent and Oddriana, as well as musical performances by Riften Rain, Xhristopher, Faerie Fire and DJ MARZ. For a full lineup of performers, visit pridemillvale.org.
Sugg said as many as 25 people are behind the planning for the Pride event.
“There’s always less planning volunteers just because that does take a little bit more legwork than just dedicating a day to it, which we very much appreciate our day-of volunteers,” Sugg said. “Everyone who helps plan pretty much helps on the day of, but we do have a lot more people who come out of the community in the surrounding area for the actual day of Pride.”
The planning process for the June event begins in November or December to settle the date. More official meetings begin biweekly in February until April, when the planners begin to meet every week.
Because of the way the planning works, Sugg said it’s not unusual for people to ebb and flow as volunteers become more and less available throughout the year.
This year, Pride Millvale has more than 40 sponsors, according to its website.
“I think we’re really appreciative that the Millvale community continues to sponsor us year after year, because this year’s economy is really hard and they’re small businesses that have still reached out, still giving us what they can,” Sugg said.
Sugg recommends attendees to dress for the weather, stay hydrated and find the best way to get to the event.
“If you can, it’s always best to take public transport, carpool or do a rideshare situation because street parking is already really limited in Millvale,” Sugg said.
Link Copp-Millward began working directly with Pride Millvale as a volunteer about a month ago. As a board member of Queer Resource Center Millvale, they said there is crossover between those working with the Pride event and those on the board.
Copp-Millward, who resides in Squirrel Hill, grew up in Millvale and didn’t have a lot of opportunity to see events like Pride in his community.
“I’ve only recently came out in the last year-ish. And I always think to myself, if we had things like this when I was a kid, it probably would not have taken to my 40s to figure some of these things out,” they said.
Copp-Millward came out as trans-femme nonbinary in the past year or so and is now helping with social media for Pride Millvale. They are really looking forward to giving everyone a safe space.
“I’m looking forward to seeing everybody having fun and being able to be themselves without guilt, without fear.”
Events at Pride Millvale take place in various locations around the neighborhood, beginning at noon and ending at 6 p.m. June 20. Volunteers are still welcome. To help, visit pridemillvale.org/volunteer.