Milwaukee Pride celebrates 30 years; offers free admission for opening ceremonies

Milwaukee, WI - PrideFest Milwaukee will officially kick off Milwaukee's summer festival season on Friday, June 9 and Milwaukee Pride, Inc is inviting guests to celebrate its milestone 30th anniversary with complimentary admission from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on opening day.

PrideFest Milwaukee began in 1987, thanks to the efforts of the Milwaukee Lesbian/Gay Pride Committee, which hosted the first in a series of 30 consecutive Pride celebrations that year.

Milwaukee's festival is unique among Pride festivals in that it has its own, permanent festival park to call home. While most Pride events around the country, including Chicago, take place at block parties, neighborhood parks, or temporary stages, PrideFest Milwaukee is now celebrating its 21st year at Henry W. Maier Festival Park, home to Summerfest, the nation's largest music festival, as well as Milwaukee's summer ethnic festivals.

PrideFest Milwaukee 2017 features headliners Betty Who, 10,000 Maniacs, Steve Grand and Todrick Hall, along with over 150 diverse acts on eight stages. Comedian, actor, writer, host and Internet celebrity Randy Rainbow, best know for his series of satirical videos, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the three-day LGBT festival.

Related: Video superstar Randy Rainbow brings his musical wit to PrideFest Milwaukee

Opening ceremonies on Friday, June 9 begin at 3:00 p.m. sharp in the PrideFest Milwaukee Dance Pavilion and will end at 4:00 p.m. with activist Jim Obergefell as the keynote speaker. In 2015, Obergefell's landmark Supreme Court case resulted in a national victory for marriage equality.

Milwaukee Pride, Inc. will present the 2017 Pride Awards to three honorees: Lois Ratzow, founder of the Old Timers Party; Linda Wesp, NP, of the Milwaukee Center for Health & Wellness; and Milwaukee Bucks.

PrideFest Milwaukee returns to Henry W. Maier Festival Park June 9, 10 and 11.

Visit PrideFest.com.