Hampshire Pride Parade and Festival held in Northampton

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The city of Northampton celebrated Pride early this year.

The first Pride march in Northampton began in 1982. After not having an event since before the COVID-19 pandemic, three people felt the calling to bring it back in 2023, calling it the Hampshire Pride Parade and Festival.

Hampshire Pride is committed to creating a space where people of all genders, races, and ages can come together in a day of joy. But in recent years, there have been political attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. That's when members of Northampton Resists stepped in to host rallies against the current administration.

"When Trump was inaugurated, I couldn't sleep, I just wanted to do something," said Mary Wang-Boucher, member of Northampton Resists. "And Carla and I and a couple of other people pulled together a rally in front of City Hall in like four days. And then we did another one with Senator Markey, and it was like 800 people, and we did another one a couple weeks ago, and we were asked to do this one."

As the marchers filled Sheldon Field, they made their way to Route 9 and Main Street's downtown area. The parade dispersed at the end of Crafts Avenue into a festival with vendors alongside a stage with activists and drag performers. Many people said they see this year's celebration as a way to be more intentional in coming together as one.

"I just really needed something positive in my life right now," said Chris Baxter of Amherst. "You know, it's springtime, and I just want to be around joyous people."

The Western Massachusetts chapter of Parasol Patrol was there to make sure everyone was enjoying the day.

"We use our rainbow umbrellas to make sure people are seeing love and colors and rainbows and not hate," said Ali Wicks-Lim, organizer of the Parasol Patrol.