Quest
Newsroom
Updated
June 13, 2006 Compiled
& written by Mike Fitzpatrick
Sun Shines On
Milwaukee PrideFest Saturday
Belly Dancing, Bearapalooza, Sexy Soul
Superstar Brandy Among The Diverse Attractions
Milwaukee -
What a difference a year makes! Last year's PrideFest was a washout, to
put it mildly. Record-breaking weather during three 
successive
days of
multiple storms battered southern Wisconsin June 6-8, causing
widespread
flash flooding, popped manhole covers throughout downtown Milwaukee,
collapsed two buildings four blocks from the city’s gay district and
hundreds of stranded motorists across the metro area. Governor Jim
Doyle later declared disaster areas in 30 counties across the state.
Saturday morning briefly hinted that this year's PrideFest might suffer a taste of last year's weather. But by midday sunny skies and temperatures tickling 70 along the lakefront resulted in the festival's biggest day generating near-record crowds. Festival organizers touted a 57% increase in year-to-year attendance.
"We have said a number of times this year that we 'can see clearly now the rain has gone.'" festival producer Pete Minns told Quest. "That is especially evident as we continue to have the pleasure of glorious weather and the rain stays away long enough for all of our patrons to truly enjoy PrideFest at its best."
The crowds were treated to the widest selection of programs and events in PrideFest's 22 year history. Both the health and wellness fair and children's area offered alternatives to the more traditional beer tents and dance pavilion. An encore performance of the recently sold-out production of The Vagina Monologues at the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center returned to a crowd nearly as big as the show's total indoor attendance. Acts that had been washed out in 2008 such as men's music Bearapalooza troupe finally got their chance to shine.
During the afternoon Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also stopped by to visit, shaking hands with production team members in the festival office before receiving a guided tour of the grounds. To help Barrett get into the spirit of the day, on attendee popped a rainbow colored lei on the mayor as he toured the grounds. "I'm happy to be here!" Barrett said. "It is a wonderful turnout on a gorgeous day and everyone seems to be having fun."
By nightfall, fireworks erupted on-stage and off thoughout the festival grounds. Dance diva Cyon electrified the packed dance pavilion. The 9:20 PM eruption of the genuine article was the biggest fireworks show in PrideFest history. And immediately following the pyrotechnics, music fire erupted on the Miller Lite Main stage as sultry should superstar Brandy warmed up her, banner and sign-waving fans with her new hit single "Right Here (Departed)" from her newest album "Human."
successive
days of
multiple storms battered southern Wisconsin June 6-8, causing
widespread
flash flooding, popped manhole covers throughout downtown Milwaukee,
collapsed two buildings four blocks from the city’s gay district and
hundreds of stranded motorists across the metro area. Governor Jim
Doyle later declared disaster areas in 30 counties across the state.Saturday morning briefly hinted that this year's PrideFest might suffer a taste of last year's weather. But by midday sunny skies and temperatures tickling 70 along the lakefront resulted in the festival's biggest day generating near-record crowds. Festival organizers touted a 57% increase in year-to-year attendance.
"We have said a number of times this year that we 'can see clearly now the rain has gone.'" festival producer Pete Minns told Quest. "That is especially evident as we continue to have the pleasure of glorious weather and the rain stays away long enough for all of our patrons to truly enjoy PrideFest at its best."
The crowds were treated to the widest selection of programs and events in PrideFest's 22 year history. Both the health and wellness fair and children's area offered alternatives to the more traditional beer tents and dance pavilion. An encore performance of the recently sold-out production of The Vagina Monologues at the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center returned to a crowd nearly as big as the show's total indoor attendance. Acts that had been washed out in 2008 such as men's music Bearapalooza troupe finally got their chance to shine.
During the afternoon Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also stopped by to visit, shaking hands with production team members in the festival office before receiving a guided tour of the grounds. To help Barrett get into the spirit of the day, on attendee popped a rainbow colored lei on the mayor as he toured the grounds. "I'm happy to be here!" Barrett said. "It is a wonderful turnout on a gorgeous day and everyone seems to be having fun."
By nightfall, fireworks erupted on-stage and off thoughout the festival grounds. Dance diva Cyon electrified the packed dance pavilion. The 9:20 PM eruption of the genuine article was the biggest fireworks show in PrideFest history. And immediately following the pyrotechnics, music fire erupted on the Miller Lite Main stage as sultry should superstar Brandy warmed up her, banner and sign-waving fans with her new hit single "Right Here (Departed)" from her newest album "Human."
Throughout the
evening the crowd erupted into repeated chants of "Brandy! Brandy!
Brandy!" as she
performed most of her biggest hits, "The Boy is Mine" and
"Have You Ever."
Milwaukee's Pride weekend concludes on Sunday, June 14 with the annual Pride Parade kicking off at 2 PM along Second St. and through the Third Ward gay entertainment district. PrideFest wraps up with a 7 PM headline performance by Etta James and the Roots Band with special guest Deborah Cox on the Miller Lite Main Stage. Additionally, Swedish entertainer September will be performing in the Dance Pavilion Sunday evening.
Quest's photo team of publisher Mark Mariucci, Will Sharkey and news editor Mike Fitzpatrick already have shot over a thousand candids of festival goers and shows, including the 50+ slide show above. Check back regularly on the Quest website - www.quest-online.com - for more slide shows and photos. For more information about PrideFest's final day, visit the festival website at: www.pridefest.com.
Milwaukee's Pride weekend concludes on Sunday, June 14 with the annual Pride Parade kicking off at 2 PM along Second St. and through the Third Ward gay entertainment district. PrideFest wraps up with a 7 PM headline performance by Etta James and the Roots Band with special guest Deborah Cox on the Miller Lite Main Stage. Additionally, Swedish entertainer September will be performing in the Dance Pavilion Sunday evening.
Quest's photo team of publisher Mark Mariucci, Will Sharkey and news editor Mike Fitzpatrick already have shot over a thousand candids of festival goers and shows, including the 50+ slide show above. Check back regularly on the Quest website - www.quest-online.com - for more slide shows and photos. For more information about PrideFest's final day, visit the festival website at: www.pridefest.com.