South Bend Pride Festival set for Saturday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. ---South Bend will be holding its annual Pride Festival on Saturday. The event will take place at Potowatomi Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Organizers expect this year’s festival to be the biggest one South Bend has ever held.

“We’re really excited about Saturday and what that looks like. We have more vendors coming and different businesses and nonprofits here in the Michiana area than we’ve ever had in the past so we’re really excited to see all those people there and come out,” said H.R. Jung, Executive Director of the LGBT Center. “We have a full lineup of entertainment on our stage so we have a lot of stuff going on so we’re excited.”

Saturday’s Pride Festival comes on the heels of South Bend Pride week which organizers say was more inclusive than in years past. The LGBTQ Center says it also has received more national attention because of Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.

“I’m not sure how Mayor Pete is influencing how many people are coming to the festival. We are definitely seeing more news coverage of outside sources or national news are calling in and wanting to know “Is Mayor Pete going to be at the festival?”. Unfortunately, his schedule does not allow him to be there but he will be there in spirit,” said Jung.