Cedar Valley Pridefest: Wired Production Group Supports Annual Pride Celebration in Eastern Iowa
Since 2016, Wired Production Group has been a part of the event production with Cedar Valley Pridefest in Waterloo, Iowa. The continued growth of the annual non-profit organization’s festival has made Cedar Valley Pridefest one of the most entertaining and enjoyable pride festivals in the state. Wired Production Group is proud to provide audio, lighting, staging, and LED services for the annual festival.
What is Cedar Valley Pridefest?
Cedar Valley Pridefest is a volunteer organization focused on highlighting the diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community of Eastern Iowa in a positive and informative manner to promote acceptance, understanding, equality, and inclusion. Each summer, Cedar Valley Pridefest hosts its annual festival in the streets of Downtown Waterloo. The festival spans the streets of four city blocks. It fills the streets with rows of informational booths, shopping vendors, and an entire block of food. The festival has brought crowds of thousands together to celebrate themselves for the last decade.
Annual Pride Celebration Brings Together Community
While Cedar Valley Pridefest spends the majority of its time planning for the festival scheduled for August each year, the volunteer organization stays committed to its community connection to the Cedar Valley year-round. It holds many partnerships with local area agencies, businesses, and organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community in and around Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and surrounding areas of Black Hawk County.
Community partnerships offer extended outreach to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community with services like free and confidential STI testing with Black Hawk County Public Health and public conversations about local, state, and federal policies regarding LGBTQ+ individuals’ rights. Cedar Valley Pridefest collaborates and supports other area LGTBQ+ organizations. This includes One Iowa, Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund, and LGBTQ+ Coalition Cedar Valley. Throughout the year, Cedar Valley Pridefest hosts fundraising events for its festival. Some of the favorite events include its Love is Love Drag Brunch, Fabulous and Floral soirees, pride cookie decorating classes, live music at Friday Loo in Waterloo, Iowa, and virtual shopping fundraisers with RAYGUN. Community supporters can find more information on Cedar Valley Pridefest’s programming on social media.
Pridefest Highlights LGBTQIA+ Talent Across Midwest
The two-day festival prides itself on hosting activities for all. This includes, but is not limited to, yoga and hula sessions, art exhibits, over 100 food vendors and merchandise booths, speakers, and a kids zone, including storytime events, art projects, and face painting. This is all on top of a long list of performances! Cedar Valley Pridefest brings in Friday night performances on the main stage at 5 p.m. and 12 hours of live entertainment from Noon to Midnight on Saturday.
Friday night scheduling highlights drag shows from regional performers scheduled around its headliners. The 2023 Friday night headliners included Allegra Hernandez, Us the Network, and Boy Band Review. Additionally, Cedar Valley Pridefest hosted its Pride Fashion Show during its Friday night programming. Local designers, shops, and models strut their stuff on the runway with the special event hosted by Tiahni Carrasco. The fashion show focuses on supporting small businesses within the Cedar Valley and showcasing personal identity through fashion.
Cedar Valley Pridefest packs Saturday full of speakers in the Waterloo Convention Center and the main stage performances of Whit & Erica, Alisabeth Von Presley, Leslie Hall & the Lys, Ada Vox, and The Dragon Sisters.
How to Support Cedar Valley Pridefest
- Volunteer at the festival: Cedar Valley Pridefest operates 100% on volunteers. Without the support of volunteers running the festival, it would not be possible to host nearly 10,000 attendees annually. Bonus? Volunteers get into the festival FREE!
- Vend at the festival: With its focus on keeping things local, Cedar Valley Pridefest is looking for vendors (both commercial and non-profit organizations) who support its diversity initiatives within the Cedar Valley community. More information on its vendor policies and applications can be found on the Cedar Valley Pridefest website.
- Join CVP committees: If you’re interested in event planning, there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved with Cedar Valley Pridefest! They are seeking new friends and volunteers to serve on its board and sub-committees, including the entertainment committee, community outreach committee, education committee, and more.
- Contribute financially: You can donate online or by postal mail. If you want to donate by mail and have your gift be tax-deductible, please make your check payable to “Cedar Valley Pridefest Fund” and mail to Cedar Valley Pridefest, PO Box 1435, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-1435.
Learn more about Cedar Valley Pridefest here on their website. We look forward to seeing everyone at Pridefest 2024!