On Saturday, June 10, thousands of folks from far and wide flocked to South Allen Street to celebrate the third annual State College Pride.

The three-day Pride celebration was highlighted by the Pride Parade that stretched from State College Area High School to Sidney Friedman Park along a 1.5-mile route.

South Allen Street was lined with colorful, joyful attendees for more than an hour leading up to the parade. As anticipation toward the parade built, the crowd grew larger and extended down West College Avenue.

Traffic was blocked off and the parade made its way through the route. Participants threw flags, candy, and confetti into the crowd from their floats, while occasionally stopping to share hugs and support with attendees.

State College Mayor Ezra Nanes addressed the crowd during the parade and at the Pride Festival in Sidney Friedman Park.

Nanes was one of several local and state representatives to participate in State College Pride, including Malcolm Kenyatta, the grand marshal of the event and first openly-LGBTQ person of color to be elected to the Pennsylvania State House.

Cars, trucks, floats, bicyclists, roller skaters, walkers, dogs, and even a pony made their way to Sidney Friedman Park to enjoy kind words from Nanes, Kenyatta, and members of the Center LGBTQA Support Network, Downtown State College Improvement District, and the State College Borough.