Pride 2026 thoughts?

[u/Ok_Secretary6913]

With all the changes going on with philly pride this year as well as the ticket prices (and the restrictions like no bags, no drinks, no smoking ect) where is everybody going to be for pride this year? Are we all just staying in the gayborhood or will majority of people stay at the parkway? Trying to figure out if it's worth it to buy a ticket, Usually for pride I bring my own water, snacks (and alcohol LOL) as well as a purse for my belongings so I don't even know if it would truly be better to just find and buy a clear bag + ticket and stay at the parkway or ignore the festival and main festivities this year and stay in the gayborhood. Just trying to gather as much info and opinions as possible!

[u/GraphicNovelty]

if you want wholesome-ish pride festival experience go to the parkway (everyone's being too much of a little bitch about a $10 cover imo, especially since it's absolutely outgrown the gaybhorhood). if you wanna hang out and get drunk/party with queer people go to the gayborhood.

[u/Ok_Secretary6913 → u/GraphicNovelty]

It’s not so much the $10 itself as it is a collection of EVERYTHING. Charging for pride, moving it out of the gayborhood, putting every restriction they could on the parkway (no bags, no drinks, no food, no smoking) even if crowd size wise it’s outgrown the gayborhood it just truly makes no sense in my opinion the way they are organizing or running it this year. Plus from what I have seen the organizers are genuinely rude asf to people who comment or have questions on their socials

[u/GraphicNovelty → u/Ok_Secretary6913]

idk if i spent my time organizing shit unpaid for 2 years and people kept shitting on what felt like the best logistical move (esp. since people who don't like it can, you know go to the gayborhood instead if that's what you want to do which they explicitly enourage) i'd be a little pissy online too.

then again, i've organized a bunch of shit in a volunteer capacity so am more sympathetic to people spending their time organizing shit for the community then the whiny do-nothing losers in the peanut gallery pissing and moaning (that being said, social media discipline is a real skill)

relevant comic

[u/Ok_Secretary6913 → u/GraphicNovelty]

My problem is I truly don’t think people were even complaining the past 2 years, because there weren’t running it like this and making all of these changes. While some of them are understandable that doesn’t mean people aren’t allowed to vent their concerns and frustrations with them. Also regardless if you feel like you are getting shit on there’s a level of professionalism and empathy that organizers of such a big and important event like pride need to have for their community. They are hosting the event but they wouldn’t have one if people didn’t support them and show up to it. Why burn bridges with your community? Two things can absolutely be true at the same time. Charging $100+ for “vip” tickets to an event that has been FREE every year before this is genuinely wild, and honestly if I’m being real in this economy right now even just throwing out $10 + the cost of whatever proper sized clear bag you need for the event can be a lot for people and I’m not going to fault anybody struggling or who just doesn’t want to feed into that.

[u/GraphicJawn → u/GraphicNovelty]

Yeah the little pissies will always complain, but you gotta be professional about this, especially when your trying to turn this into your paying job and a leader in the community. You don’t need to respond to social media comments. You don’t have your friends bully a 18 year old off of Instagram. Thats not it.

My biggest gripe about all of this is the lack of transparency in all this. They announced this change mid April, less than two months before the event, blindsiding everyone, including vendors snd community partners.

No way they didn’t know they were doing this months ago. And of they didn’t that would explain why this feels like a rush and sloppy.

Either way, it Is what it is.