Lehigh Valley Pride 2025 Survey Feedback

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your experiences and ideas in our 2025 Lehigh Valley Pride Survey. Your feedback helps shape a stronger, more inclusive, and more joyful Pride celebration for our community. We appreciate your voice, your honesty, and your partnership in making Pride better every year.

Feedback: Have an introvert/safe space/sensory free place to be quiet and recharge the social battery

Response: Thank you so much for this feedback. We completely agree that having a quiet, sensory-friendly space is essential. We’re glad to share that this was our third year providing a designated sensory room inside the ArtsQuest building on the 2nd floor, in the Blast Furnace Room.

The space serves as our Pre-Pride Interfaith gathering at noon and then transitions into a sensory-friendly environment for the rest of the day. It includes water, snacks, bean bag chairs, and fidgets, and is both soundproof and air-conditioned to support comfort and regulation. Our team also monitors the space to ensure it remains calm, stocked, and welcoming for anyone who needs a break or a moment to recharge.

Feedback: Does Lehigh Valley Pride have to be in August? It's always excruciatingly hot and most of the festival is in a parking  lot.  I know you don't control the weather but maybe change the date. It’s HOT, HOT, HOT! 🔥

Response: Thank you so much for this thoughtful feedback — you’re absolutely right that the August heat can be a challenge, especially with so much of the festival taking place outdoors. We hear this concern every year, and it’s something we’re actively thinking about as we plan ahead.

For 2026, our date is already set for August 30th due to an existing contract, so please save the date! Looking beyond that, we are open to exploring alternative months like May or September. That said, June is not a feasible option for us: as a small staff of 10, we support numerous Pride events across Pennsylvania through our Smoke Free Pride initiative, and hosting our own festival in June would stretch our team too thin.

When considering any potential date change, we also need to ensure we can secure a venue that provides what our community deserves — accessible indoor restrooms (not porta-potties), staffed bars, multiple stages, and enough space to safely host the more than 7,000 people who attend.

Feedback: Do you have access to a few large industrial fans and some kind of water-misting device? If so, some type of cooling station could be set up at strategic points along the way, perhaps? Could make it more accessible for folks who are sensitive to that August heat.

Response: Thank you for this super cool idea — literally! 🪭✨ We couldn’t agree more that staying refreshed is key when August turns up the heat. Which is why we did have three misting fan stations this past year, but community feedback has shown us that it was not enough, so we are looking to level up in 2026! Here’s what we’re working on behind the scenes:

💦 Misting Cooling Station: We’re actively looking for a sponsor to help us bring a full cooling station to Pride next year.
🌀 More Misting Fans: We’re pricing out additional industrial fans and misting units so everyone can enjoy a little extra breeze.
💧 Water, Water, Water: We’re connecting with vendors who may be willing to hand out free water throughout the day — in addition to our BSC hydration tables.

And because we know not everyone wants to sizzle in a parking lot (valid!), we’re also planning to bring even more programming into the wonderfully air-conditioned ArtsQuest building. Think: snag some swag, sip a cold beverage, play bingo, or shake your booty in the cool indoors. 🌈🎉

Thanks again for helping us dream up ways to keep Pride joyful and comfortable!

Feedback: I think you should ask for a donation at entrance in order to pay for headlining acts like drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race.

Response: Thank you so much for this suggestion! We’ve definitely heard the community’s excitement for more drag, and we’re already planning to bring additional drag performances to both our mainstage and festival grounds for Pride 2026.

Regarding headliners from RuPaul’s Drag Race, our team has been intentional about centering and compensating local drag artists. Supporting local performers not only aligns with our mission to uplift our community—it also helps strengthen the vibrant drag scene right here in the Lehigh Valley.

That said, we love discovering new talent! If there’s a local drag artist you’d be excited to see at LV Pride 2026, please send us their name—or even better, their contact information—so we can reach out. Your input truly helps us shape a Pride festival that reflects our whole community. 🌈

Feedback: Offer lower booth prices to individual crafters and retail booths, so LGBTQ+ crafters can attend and make $$. It would be great to have more vendors of merchandise instead of businesses trying to gain 'customers'.

Response: Thank you so much for this thoughtful feedback. We deeply value creating a festival where LGBTQ+ crafters, makers, and small businesses can thrive, and we hear the importance of keeping vendor opportunities accessible.

For the past several years, we’ve offered scholarships to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC crafters and retail vendors, and we prioritize these vendors for placement whenever possible. In 2026, we’re expanding this commitment by offering discount codes specifically for LGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC-owned businesses and individual crafters. These codes can be requested by emailing [email protected], and registration for vendor spaces will open in January 2026.

We also want to share why you see a mix of merchandise vendors and organizations at Pride. Part of our mission is to highlight businesses, employers, care providers, and nonprofits that actively support and advocate for our community. Many of these partners show up not only to share services but to signal clearly that they are safe, affirming, and committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion year-round. We approach Pride with a whole-person lens—celebrating queer joy and uplifting the resources, workplaces, and services that help our community thrive.

Thank you again for helping us shape a Pride festival that reflects and supports our entire community.

Feedback:  We had to wait a long time to get into the festival and things were disorganized/confusing regarding parking and the entrances and why wrist bands when it was a free event?

Response: Thank you so much for sharing this feedback — we know that long wait times and confusing entrances can take away from the fun, and we’re really sorry that this was your experience. We plan Pride with the ArtsQuest team a year in advance, and while we work hard to streamline parking and entry, we know there’s still room to improve.

Here’s what you can expect for 2026:

• Entrances: The three entrances used in 2025 will remain the same.
  
  
• Faster entry: Each entrance will have two lines, including bag checks for security, to help reduce wait times.
  
  
• No more wristbands: We tried them for attendance tracking, but we heard the feedback — they won’t be returning.
  
  
• Advance tickets: We’ll be shifting to advance ticketing, which means quick barcode scans at the gate. More details are coming soon!
  
  
• Pricing: Ages 0–12 are free, and ages 13+ will be $5.
  
  
• Community option: Bring a toiletry donation for New Bethany and you’ll receive free admission.
  

And most importantly: if ticket cost is ever a barrier, please reach out. We’re more than happy to provide a discount code so that everyone in our community can join us at Pride.

Thank you again for helping us make Pride better every year!

Feedback: We wish we had more time at the Festival so Pride can start earlier or later end.

Response: Many people shared this feedback with us, and we truly appreciate how much enthusiasm there is for a longer Pride Festival. We hear you! In response, we are starting a bit earlier this year.

Here’s what to expect for Pride on August 30, 2026:

• Pre-Pride Interfaith Gathering: 12:00 PM, inside ArtsQuest in the Blast Furnace Room
  
  
• Festival: 1:00 PM–7:00 PM
  

We also want to share a bit about what goes into making Pride possible. Our team of ten local staff members, nearly 100 volunteers, and ArtsQuest staff begin setting up as early as 7:00 AM. This includes unloading equipment (yes, from a U-Haul!), and preparing many different spaces—such as the sober vibes area, sensory space, spirituality space, youth space, indoor stage and bingo area, as well as all outdoor tables and seating.

In addition, vendors need time to unload and set up before street closures, and food vendors outside of ArtsQuest must have their tents or trucks in place and food prepared before attendees arrive. There are many moving parts, and this setup time is essential to creating a safe, welcoming, and well-organized event.

We hope this provides helpful context, and we’re grateful for your understanding as we continue working to ensure Lehigh Valley Pride offers something meaningful for everyone.

Feedback: The food should be closer to the entertainment, and cheaper. Also, the drink prices are too much. Can there be less expensive options? 

Response: We hear you — festival food, drinks, and logistics are always a hot topic, and we truly appreciate you sharing this feedback with us. We know that being able to grab affordable food and drinks without missing the entertainment can make a big difference in how accessible and enjoyable Pride feels for everyone. 💖

Because the Lehigh Valley Pride Festival takes place on the ArtsQuest campus, we do have to work within the footprint of the property. That means some walking is part of the experience, especially if you’re heading to the food trucks located in the Festival “Market” area. We also intentionally spread out parts of the festival so folks can explore, connect with community resources, shop queer-affirming vendors, and discover local businesses that actively support our LGBTQ+ community.

That said, if you’re looking to stay closer to the mainstage, there are food options nearby. ArtsQuest operates the “Mack Truck” food stand almost directly next to the mainstage, as well as a food and beverage stand inside the ArtsQuest building on the first floor, both offering a variety of items for purchase.

We also want to be transparent that Bradbury-Sullivan does not set food or beverage prices at the Festival. We rent the space for the day, and pricing for ArtsQuest-run food and drinks is determined by their policies. Additionally, their policies do not allow us  to bring in additional alcohol vendors which limits our ability to reduce the price-point of drinks. We do however, bring in additional food vendors in the Market area to increase options, reduce lines, and offer a fuller, more joyful Pride experience — including some vendors with a range of price points. We do plan to have more free water available and are researching water stations for 2026.

We know affordability matters, and this feedback is meaningful to us as we continue planning future Prides. Thank you for helping us make Pride more accessible, welcoming, and community-centered for all. 🏳️‍⚧️ 🌈 ✨

Feedback: What is up with the restrooms and covering the signs? I really dislike the smell of a urinal.

Response: Thank you for sharing this feedback—we truly appreciate you taking the time to let us know how the restroom setup impacted your experience.

At Pride, inclusion is a core value, and that includes making sure everyone can access restrooms safely and with dignity. To support this, we designate all restrooms as gender-neutral, and we clearly post signage indicating when a restroom includes a urinal. This is done intentionally so attendees can make informed choices about which restroom feels most comfortable for them. We also note where family restrooms are located for those who may prefer a more private option.

We understand that the presence and smell of a urinal can be uncomfortable for some folks, and we want to acknowledge that experience with care. Our goal is not to dismiss that discomfort, but to balance the wide range of needs within our community—especially for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people who are often excluded from traditional restroom setups.

Because the festival takes place on a property that is rented for the day, we work within the existing restroom infrastructure. That said, we do our best to improve clarity and accessibility by adding or enhancing signage where possible, including covering or supplementing permanent signs to better reflect how restrooms are being used during Pride.

Your feedback helps us continue to think thoughtfully about layout, signage visibility, and communication so we can keep improving year after year. We’re grateful you spoke up, and we remain committed to creating a Pride Festival that centers access, transparency, and belonging for all. 🌈

Thank You for Making Pride 2025 So Special

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share feedback about Pride 2025. We are truly grateful for the abundance of kind words, love, and encouragement—and we’re just as thankful to those who thoughtfully offered suggestions for how we can continue to grow and improve. Your voices matter, and your feedback helps us shape a Pride that is more inclusive, accessible, and joyful for our whole community.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all who made Pride 2025 possible: our attendees who showed up as their full, authentic selves; our incredible vendors and community partners who brought energy, resources, and creativity to the festival; and our generous sponsors whose support helps make this celebration of LGBTQ+ life and visibility a reality.

We are already looking ahead with excitement and full hearts, and we can’t wait to welcome you back on August 30, 2026, to once again gather, celebrate, and experience queer joy together at Lehigh Valley Pride 2026. Until then—thank you for being part of this vibrant, resilient, and beautiful community. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 💖