Happy Pride Month! What if you had the chance to relive the fun of your grade school field day in a welcoming environment as an adult? This playfulness, connectedness, and inclusivity were the goals of Pride in the Park: Philly’s LGBTQ+ Field Day. On June 15, Fairmount Park Conservancy hosted our first-ever Pride in the Park public field day in partnership with 12 local LGBTQ+ athletic and social groups:
- Cheer Philadelphia
- City of Brotherly Love Softball League (CBLSL)
- Fairmount Park Women’s + Softball League (FPW+SL)
- Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League
- OutLoud Sports
- OUT On The Trails
- Philadelphia Falcons Soccer Club
- Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club
- Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association (PLTA)
- Philadelphia Adult League Softball (PALS)
- Sip City Mixer
- Stonewall Sports Philadelphia
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Welsh Fountain area in West Fairmount Park transformed into a vibrant hub of fun and friendly competition, thanks to all the participants and the incredible support from our community and sponsors.
More than 500 people registered for Saturday’s field day, divided evenly into a pink team and green team for friendly competition. The opening ceremony kicked off with a performance by Cheer Philadelphia, followed by the main games and other fun field day activities. From giant Jenga to kickball, relay races to a dunk tank, and the exhilarating double bouncy slip-and-slide, there was something for everyone!
The food trucks on site offered an array of choices, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, ensuring everyone could savor the day’s festivities to the fullest.
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A huge thank you to Attic Brewing Company, Merck’s Rainbow Alliance, PepsiCo, Radiance Medical Group, and Taqueria Cresta.
The success of Pride in the Park is a testament to the importance of coming together to celebrate our identities and support one another. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, participated, sponsored, and supported this event. Your presence and enthusiasm made this day unforgettable. For the record, the pink team prevailed, but everyone walked away feeling like a winner.
You may have also seen that Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs lit up Boathouse Row the first weekend of June to celebrate the start of Pride Month.
As we reflect on this year’s Pride Month, we look forward to more ways to bring our community together. Stay tuned for future activities and opportunities to engage with the Conservancy and our wonderful partners!
Photography by Albert Yee.
