'Everybody celebrating themselves': Johnstown Pride marks 25th anniversary
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – From live entertainment and several dozen vendors to pride rainbow flag shirts, bracelets, pins, stickers and much more, there was something for everyone at Johnstown Pride Saturday.
"It's just everybody celebrating themselves," Lady Ashley LaRoccoa said. "That's what it's all about."
She was dressed in a multi-color gown and proudly sporting a sizeable crown for being named Miss Keystone Alliance 2024.
LaRoccoa said for her, this Pride is about the youth.
People of all ages packed Central Park in downtown Johnstown for the 25th anniversary of the event.
Tia Mann, of Johnstown, walked through the festival checking out the vendors with her 11-year-old daughter, Sadie Montgomery.
This was the pair's first time at Johnstown Pride, but were pleased by the offerings.
"We just truly believe in respecting everybody," Mann said.
That's why they decided to support the local event and why Montgomery was wearing her sibling's progress pride flag as a cape, which includes the traditional rainbow stripes, but also has brown and black stripes for LGBTQIA+ communities of color and light blue, pink and white stripes symbolizing the transgender pride flag.
Montgomery said she's a big supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights and that's why she donned the flag for the event.
She and her mother were glad to see Johnstown hold a Pride festival.
"It's good to see people out here supporting the cause," Mann said.
Hailey Kirkpatrick, of Twin Rocks, and Hastings resident Jessie Foulks shared similar messages.
"It just feels nice to know how many people showed up," Kirkpatrick said. "It just shows the good in the community."
Foulks said it's good to know that there's so many people that can be relied on and Saturday's event is a demonstration of that support.
"Pride makes this area more of a home," Foulks said.
For Felicity Honan, of Johnstown, attending a local Pride event meant a lot "to know there are people in the community that accept you," Honan said.
Lacey Lee, whom Honan attended with, said Pride to her means a world full of love and without hate, and that's something she wants to support.
Organizer John DeBartola described Johnstown Pride as a "beautiful event" and credited the community for its success.
"This can only happen because we have the support of the community," DeBartola said.
DeBartola commended the 76 vendors and volunteers who made the festival a reality, as well as the six local, federal and state proclamations that recognized the event.
He gave a special shoutout to Ken Rose, owner of Ken's Sales and Savings, as well for donating thousands of dollars worth of bottled water to give out for free.
Rose said he was inspired by getting a free bottle of water at Pittsburgh Pride and wanted to give back.
"The fact that we have this level of involvement – that's breathtaking," DeBartola said. "This is the manifestation of 'Love wins.' "
Pride events took place from 2 to 9 p.m. in the park with a 21 and older after-party at Lucy's Place on Washington Street.
