Ashtabula Pride on June 15

The 4th Annual Pride Festival of Ashtabula County on June 15 was nothing less than a successful event once again. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ community members and their allies flocked to the shores of Lake Erie at Ashtabula's Walnut Beach, a new location for the event. President and founder Michael Riffe, the event's MC as local drag queen and live singer Mona Lotz, said, "Each year it just keeps getting better. Since our first year at the Hamper Family Farm in 2020, where we were astonished by the nearly 3,000 attendees, to now making our new home at Walnut Beach, we keep growing and growing."  Riffe continued, "We had over 100 vendors this year who told us this was their best year yet, some even stating that this was the best festival for sales they had ever been to. We also added some amazing family fun events like the 18-foot blow-up slide and 'ax throwing" game, along with characters like Spider-Man and Ariel from Castel on a Cloud Entertainment."  Riffe said another crowd favorite was the balloon artist from Flower Clown Entertainment, who created just about anything the kids could ask for. He said the "smiles on everyone's faces, despite the small hurdles they faced in preparation from local protestors, confirmed the event's need for the community and was worth it all! The day also included entertainment provided by Lotz Productions, which included local and native solo artists like Rob Covert and Sue Hagan, Ohio drag performers, a group of teens singing show tunes from Lakeside High School as well as bands such as Lymewire from Conneaut. Next year's festival is planned for June 21 at the same location. The plans have already begun to expand, making the festival one that will continue to rewrite history for Ashtabula County.