The third annual Pride Parade and Block Party is coming to downtown Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – June 1st kicks off Pride Month in the United States, and thousands of people here in Springfield celebrated Saturday with a pride parade and block party.

Thousands of people headed to downtown Springfield to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and kick off pride month with the third annual Springfield Pride Parade and Block Party.

Mayor Sarno told us, “Today shows a beautiful mosaic of Springfield in western Massachusetts with the Pride Parade, I can’t say enough about Taurean Bethea. This young man, he started this 3 years ago, and now we have thousands of people marching down State St.”

The parade route was lined with rainbows and flags representing the LGBTQIA+ community.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno told Western Mass News that it’s all good vibes at Pride, saying, “This is such a colorful parade, and again, that everybody feels good, feels safe, feels welcome and that means the world to me.”

In the parade’s third year, organizers estimate that more than 10,000 people will line the streets of Springfield to see the Pride Parade.

Wesley Days himself, who was the “You Ball” Master of Ceremonies, shared with us that he hopes those in attendance gained a positive experience during today’s celebration.

“I think people understand that inclusion is for everyone, everyone is included in everything. I think that pride month is not just about loving everyone, it’s about accepting everyone.”

Days adds that today’s celebration was a true testament to what the city of Springfield is all about.

“When I walked from STCC to Stearn Square, everybody knew she belonged in that space, everybody knew she was loved, she was celebrated.”

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