East Providence Hosting Its First Pride Parade

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — East Providence will host its first annual LGBTQ Pride parade and celebration on Saturday at Pierce Field.

City officials encouraged the public to line up at Pierce Field at noon and step off at 12:30 p.m. The parade will take off from Pierce Field, travel up Lyon Avenue, turn left onto Warren Avenue, turn right onto Purchase Street, and turn right onto Taunton Avenue which will take us right to East Providence City Hall for the pride flag raising.

"We are thrilled to be hosting the City’s first-ever Pride parade in recognition of the struggles members of the LGBTQI+ has had to overcome," Mayor Bob DaSilva said. "My administration saw a great need in bringing members of the LGBTQI+ community together to work in collaboration with the City to reinforce East Providence’s commitment to identify, explore, address and provide educational resources regarding emerging topics and concerns relevant to the LGBTQI+ community."

If you or someone you know is interested in participating individually or as a group, you can register for the pride parade here.

The celebration comes on the heels of the LGBTQI+ Advisory Council announcing its board - Chair Hunter Riley, Vice-Chair Karen DePolo and Secretary Michael Smith.

"The Mayor’s LGBTQI+ Advisory Council is happy to participate in East Providence Pride events and looks forward to a bright future in East Providence," Riley said.