A Country Fair with a Gay Flair
Bucks County's premier gay pride organization, New Hope Celebrates, is having its 4th annual Somewhere Over the Rainbow weekend, May 18-20, 2007.
Daniel Brooks, New Hope Celebrates Coordinator, anticipates that this celebration of New Hope, Pennsylvania's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered visitors, friends and neighbors will have an overall atmosphere of a country fair that "just happens to be run by gay folks," with the whole town participating. "While it is a GLBT pride occasion, part of the pride is of its inclusiveness," says Brooks.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow festivities begin with the unfurling of a section of the 4-mile Key West Rainbow Flag in front of Starbuck's at Main and Bridge Streets on Friday, May 18 at noon. The events and activities continue all weekend. Some highlights include an entertainment showcase featuring vocal impressionist Jimmy James; choreographed flag-dancing from the Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston; a performance by edgy Broadway comedian Scott Nevins; and an afternoon dance party starring drag artiste extraordinaire Lady Bunny.
The weekend will also feature outdoor exhibits by GLBT artists, as well as performances by folk/rock songstress Christine Havrilla and comediennes on The LOL Tour (Lesbians of Laughter). And a country fair wouldn't be complete without softball games, drag-queen cheerleaders, and a musical mini-parade.
Songwriter Josh Zuckerman will perform with his band, and a nationally-known DJ will host a Decade an Hour dance party. The young winner of New Hope Celebrates' acclaimed New Hope Idol contest, to be held in April, will also perform at Saturday's showcase.
And it's all for a good cause. "In addition to throwing a great party, we want to raise money to support organizations that assist people in finding the educational, financial and emotional support they need to live healthy lives," explains Ed White, New Hope Celebrates Treasurer. The Somewhere Over the Rainbow celebration is one of only a handful of pride festivals in the country with the principal goal of raising money to serve needs within the community.
Proceeds from the 2007 Somewhere Over the Rainbow events support Fighting Aids Continuously Together (FACT Bucks County), the Human Rights Campaign, and the Rainbow Room, a youth center of Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County.
Visit www.NewHopeCelebrates.com for more information on events, tickets and lodging.