The Cedar Valley is Diverse and Welcoming, Says Pride Fest Organizer

Now in its second year, Cedar Valley Pride Fest has grown.

One of the event's organizers, Chris Schwartz, said over 3,500 people showed up for the one-day festival that packed West Fourth Street in downtown Waterloo Saturday. That's a thousand more than showed up in 2012.

The event featured everything from booths representing local churches to local bands like Dylan Sires & Neighbors and Minitallica to the burlesque troop Sissy's Circus, which wrapped up the evening to the delight of the cheering crowd.

Schwartz said the turnout and success of the event was due both to the wider community's acceptance and the hard work of the volunteers.

"The Cedar Valley is a diverse and welcoming community with a thriving LGBT population," he said. "Within that population you have a wealth of talent that makes Cedar Valley Pride Fest not only possible but wildly successful."