CAZENOVIA — This spring, the Cazenovia community will celebrate Pride Month with the inaugural Cazenovia Pride Fest, held June 18-20 at various locations.
According to organizer Travis Barr, the theme of the weekend is “Everyone is welcome here.”
“We are really eager for everyone to come participate,” Barr said. “We are excited to show the diversity we have here in our small community. For me, the rainbow flag is all about diversity, and it includes everybody. There is a misconception that the rainbow flag is just for LGBTQ people, but I think that while it does represent that community, it was created for human rights. That’s why it’s a rainbow; it’s for every color, it’s for every background; it’s for every person. We want every person to come out and be part of this.”
Barr co-owns H. Grey Supply Co. with his partner Alex Altomonte.
Located at 53 Albany St., the modern day general store and outfitter is focused on celebrating inclusivity, positivity and community.
Barr organized Cazenovia Pride Fest with the help of an “unofficial committee” of volunteers, including community members Alison Boissonnas, Meg Tobin and Casey Frazee, along with Meghan Kelly, co-owner of Cazenovia Community Fitness (CCF), and Sara Muñoz, founder and executive director of SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) Kids, Inc. — a Cazenovia-based advocacy organization dedicated to encouraging, empowering and elevating LGBTQIA+ youth in rural communities.
The celebration will begin on Friday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m. with a Pride Fest Kickoff Family Meet & Greet at Madison County Distillery, 2412 Rt 20, Cazenovia.
The Cazenovia Pride Sidewalk Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 19. Participants will assemble at 10:30 a.m. in the Buyea’s True Value (131 Albany St) parking lot and proceed west on Albany St to Lakeland Park.
Following the march, CCF will present a Pride Family Zumba class at the Lakeland Park Pavillion at 12 p.m.
“Travis is a new personal training client of mine, and he asked me if CCF would be interested in collaborating on the Pride event,” recalled Kelly. “With the current climate, I feel like it’s [so] important to show tolerance, inclusion and acceptance, and what better way than with a celebration of Pride.”
The class is free and open to all. Pre-registration is not required, but participants will be asked to sign in at the event.
The celebration in the park will also include music, activities, and special performances from 12 to 4 p.m.
“We are inviting different groups, organizations and businesses that are inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly to join us in the park,” said Barr. “We plan on doing some face painting and games and things like that . . . We will have some high school students and the local SAGA youth group, and I will be hosting in drag [as Anita Buffem].”
According to Barr, the Pride Fest committee has also organized a raffle to benefit The Q Centers at ACR Health.
ACR Health is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides a range of support services to individuals with chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness.
The Q Centers are safe spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, their families, and allies to gather, share, and receive support.
“Our hope is to get together a basket of different products and services from local businesses and vendors,” said Barr. “The basket will travel around to each business, where you can buy raffle tickets, and we will raffle it off on Saturday in the park.”
During Saturday’s festivities, Barr will posthumously award “The Amy Bradstreet Ally Award” to former Cazenovia community member Amy Bradstreet, who was killed at her home in 2014.
Bradstreet was the daughter of former Nelson Town Supervisor Roger Bradstreet and his wife, Bonnie. “She was super influential to me in my youth,” said Barr.
“She was more to me than a babysitter; she was like an older sister. She was such a free spirit, and she really made me feel secure in the person I am. She is a big part of who I am today. [Since her passing], I had been trying to find a way to honor her. When this all came about, I thought, ‘What a great way to honor her and other people in years to come.’ I created the award because she was such a great ally to our community and to me . . . In the future, the award will go to another individual who has been a great ally to the Cazenovia and LGBTQ communities.”
According to Barr, the inaugural ally award will be presented to Bradstreet’s family on her behalf.
On Saturday, participating businesses will be extending their hours to join in the celebration.
Pride Fest will conclude with a Modern Family Breakfast/Brunch at Pewter Spoon (87 Albany St) on Sunday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All families, traditional and non-traditional, are welcome to attend.
“[We will be open] for folks who want to celebrate Father’s Day with their dad, or for those wanting to celebrate their own modern family,” said Pewter Spoon Co-manager Dana Carmeli. “[We are] really excited to be part of Cazenovia’s first official Pride weekend because we hope to be seen as a safe space for people to be themselves no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. Back in October 2019, we hosted a SAGA event where Queen Anita Buffem did a super fun story hour and Q&A for children and parents from the community. We’re so grateful to have such special members from the LGBTQ+ community right here in Cazenovia, and although they deserve to be celebrated every day, we hope this weekend is a time to show them a little extra love.”
Throughout the weekend, the Pewter Spoon will be offering a special pride-themed beverage, the “Beet to Your Own Drum” latte, which is a hot or iced pink beetroot latte made with organic beetroot, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and choice of milk.
On Saturday, Pewter Spoon will set up a table at Lakeland Park to sell coffee and treats alongside the other groups and businesses.
