By Keely Baribeau

The Community Foundation is proud to support Blue Water Pride Fest and Blue Water Allies with $20,000 in grants from the Blue Water Arts Committee and the Equity & Inclusion Committee.

“Blue Water Pride is more than a celebration,” said Lisa Naveen, Blue Water Pride Director of Events. “It’s a statement that everyone belongs. It’s about showing up for each other, creating welcoming spaces, and building a community where every person feels seen, valued and loved.”

Now hosted by Blue Water Allies, the first and only LGBTQ+ center in Michigan’s Thumb Region, Blue Water Pride Fest has become a cornerstone event, bringing together diverse individuals to celebrate unity and inclusivity, Naveen added.

Blue Water Pride will be held on June 29 from 1-7 p.m. at McMorran Plaza in downtown Port Huron and promises to be a day full of live entertainment, great food and a wide variety of local vendors. Amanda Collins will host the event, with music and performances from DJ Myint, Barbara Payton, Drew Porrett and more.

In addition to vendors, musicians and other performers, this free, family-friendly event will offer community resources, a Pride March and a special Kid’s Zone with crafts, stories, face painting and games.

“With a growing turnout and increased community engagement expected for the 2025 event, this grant will help amplify our message of love, acceptance and belonging” she said. “We’re uniquely positioned to lead this effort, making a lasting positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community in the Blue Water Area and beyond.”

That message of acceptance and belonging is why the Community Foundation’s Arts Committee supported musicians during the event, said Committee Chair Jody Parmann. “We want everyone to be able to experience a wide variety of music in environments where they can be themselves without fear.”

Naveen said Blue Water Pride has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 2022 as a small gathering of individuals promoting equality and fairness. “Over the years, it has grown into a major community event, with more than 1,200 attendees in 2023 and over 1,500 in 2024,” she said. “This year, we’re expecting our largest turnout yet, with an estimated 2,000+ participants. The 2025 Pride planning team has been hard at work for over six months, dedicating their time and energy to making this year’s festival the biggest and best one yet.”

The first Pride Festival in the United States was hosted on June 28, 1970 in New York City, to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of the previous year. Every year following, pride marches and celebrations have been hosted in cities around the world. In 2000, June was officially recognized as “Pride Month.”

Locally, Blue Water Pride Fest offers an opportunity for people to come together without prejudice and uplift fellow citizens, recognizing the literal “pride” we take in our individual selves and collective community. The purpose is positive and marks an occasion for all to recognize the joy that can be attained when everyone involved is open-hearted, open-minded and serving the good of the entire community.

To make the event more accessible, sign language interpreters will be provided by Mott Community College, helping to ensure all participants feel welcome and included.

While the event is free to attend, it serves as a fundraiser for the Blue Water Allies, a local nonprofit serving as a bridge of solidarity between LGBTQ+ people and allies promoting the common good of the entire community. All proceeds from the day will support the 2026 Pride event and the Blue Water Ally Center.

“The Blue Water Pride Festival strives to unite all people – straight and LGBTQ+ – by promoting social awareness, understanding and the celebration of diversity,” Naveen said. “Through fostering inclusivity, we create a safe, welcoming space where the voices and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, along with their allies, are amplified. Via arts, culture and entertainment, we bring people together to celebrate differences, bridge gaps and build solidarity across all backgrounds, identities and orientations.”

To become a supporter, donor or learn more about Blue Water Allies, please contact the Blue Water Ally Center at 1519 Military St. in downtown Port Huron or visit the website at bluewaterallies.com.

Blue Water Pride is just one fun, celebratory way that each of us can support the Blue Water Allies mission to create a welcoming, supportive and empowering space for our LGBTQ+ community. Together, we can all make a positive impact for the local LGBTQ+ community for generations to come.