Pride Day continues its proud traditon Saturday in downtown Rochester

Colorful and exuberant Pride Day crowds made Hanson Street their playground at a recent Pride Day in downtown Rochester. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - The LGTBQ community is expected to be loud and proud at the city's annual Pride Day set for Saturday in the city's downtown.
The observance, which takes place around 2 Wakefield St., gets under way at noon and will include live speakers, music and vendors of all sorts and food.
At a recent Pride Day event dozens of vendors on Hanson Street could be seen selling everything from jewelry to artwork to clothing to burgers and dogs while others had booths offering advocacy for LGBTQ causes and concerns.
Organizers expect large crowds, which have continued to grow over the years since the event began in 2015. Up to 5,000 visitors are expected on Saturday.
The nature of the event is not only to show the pride the LGBTQ community feels about itself but to also push back against the stereotypes and prejudices some folks have against them.
At a recent Pride Day Sarah Bennert of Laconia said they need more events like this to show they will not be silenced by those who seek to marginalize them.
"This is not just a celebration of who we are but a protest against those who seek to oppress us," she said standing next to her wife, Jenifer Bennert.
The event is family friendly and pets are welcome.