CEDAR RAPIDS – With a show that once again focuses mostly on showcasing familiar names from eastern Iowa, CR Pride holds its annual festival Saturday with an anticipated crowd of more than 20,000.
A total of 24 performers are featured from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. during the free festival, both during the main festival at NewBo City Market at 1100 3rd St. SE, and during an adults-only evening show at nearby CSPS Hall.
This year’s CR PrideFest has expanded to include more streets near NewBo City Market.
This year’s event also spreads out a bit beyond NewBo, one of several ways that organizers sought to apply feedback from last year’s attendees, said CR Pride President Corey Jacobson.
“We really listened to our community members,” Jacobson said. “ We really listened to that feedback about spreading out and bringing in some more food opportunities. This year, we were able to accommodate that by blocking off additional streets.”
Corey Jacobson, president of the CR Pride board
CR Pride also partnered with owners of some vacant lots to open up more space for the festival’s kids’ zone. “It’s really been exciting to see the impact that expanding is having within the community. I think we found the right path,” said Jacobson.
Here’s a rundown of the performers to be featured at CR PrideFest Saturday:
Beep Beep Queen, a regular Studio 13 and Club Basix performer based in Iowa City, 2-4 p.m.
Chey Boi (Mr. Basix), a drag king who performers regularly at Studio 13 and Club Basix and is based in North Liberty, 4-6 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Dior Valentino (Ms. Basix), drag queen based in Iowa City who is also Show Director of Body&Soul at Studio 13, 4-6 p.m.
Jaida Essence Hall, winner of Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will headline CR PrideFest.
DJ Lady J, (Z102.9 FM), closing out the 2-4 pm slot
DJ Miles, the resident DJ at Basix, 6-10 p.m.
Elliot B TopHer (Mx. Basix), a regular performer at Studio 13 and Basix, 4-6 p.m.
Erotica Divine-Belle (Miss Iowa City), a Studio 13 regular based in Iowa City, 2-4 p.m.
Frisbee Jenkins, a regular Studio 13 performer who also competed on RuPauls Drag Race as Sasha Belle, 6-10 p.m.
Frisbee Jenkins, formerly Sasha Belle, will perform at CR Pride.
Hazel Sanchez-Belle, former Miss Capital City Pride and a regular Studio 13 presence, 4-6 p.m.
Hollywood Hope (Iowa Drag Awards Top Drag Queen), an Iowa City-based performer who is a regular at Studio 13 and tours nationwide, 4-6 p.m.
Honey J Beverly Hillz, named Favorite Nonbinary Performer by the Iowa Drag Awards, kicking off the 2-4 p.m. show
Lexi Belle, a regular at 4-6 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Nevae Love (Miss Gay Iowa), a regular at Basix and national title-holder based in Cedar Rapids, 6-10 p.m.
Nevae Love will perform at CR PrideFest
Paris J Beverly Hillz (Miss Gay Wisconsin Newcomer), a regular performer at Basix who was named Favorite Female Entertainer by the Iowa Drag Awards, 2-4 p.m.
Ronnie Belle, a performance artist formerly based in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City and now based in New York City, 6-10 p.m.
Sinclaire Snaps, a performer originally from Moline and now based in Cedar Rapids, 2-4 p.m.
Drag king Spookyy Santos is among the performers at CR PrideFest.
Spookyy Santos (Mr. Studio 13), 2-4 p.m., a Cedar Rapids-based drag king and regular at Studio 13 and Basix who was also named Mr. Studio 13 this year.
Stinger Wright-Sin, a Davenport-based drag king, 2-4 p.m.
Taystee, a Burlington-based drag performer who is also show director at Wake & Bake, 6-10 p.m.
Saturday’s festival show will wrap up with performances by two personalities from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Jaida Essence Hall, who won Season 12, was also a cast member for the HBO drag documentary We’re Here. Dawn competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race this past season.
CR Pride also held a June 8 parade that drew about 8,000 parade-watchers, Jacobson said.
For more information about the festival, head to crprideia.com, or the CR Pride Facebook page.
