Columbiana County gears up for second annual Pride Celebration

Columbiana County is preparing for its second annual Pride Celebration to be hosted at Eleanor Acres in Lisbon in late July.

The event will be free and will contain family-friendly entertainment, food, crafts, workshops and more. It will be highlighted with a charity drag show where all proceeds will go to the Columbiana County Humane Society.

Lead event organizer, Joey Shilot, stated that this year’s event aims to be bigger and more inclusive.

“We’re thrilled that through this opportunity we can foster inclusivity, empower individuals, and contribute to the long-term progress and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ issues in rural Ohio and beyond,” Shilot said.

Last year’s event saw over 600 attendees — three times more than what the event planners were anticipating, according to Shilot. The Pride event was held at Wellsville in 2023 and was met with some backlash from local churches. Despite this, the turnout at the event led to a very successful celebration.

“We’re so thankful for our community members who have offered their support as we grow and build a bigger, more inclusive festival,” Shilot said. “From the decorating team, to the greeters, to the workshop facilitators, to the sponsors, to the vendors, it truly takes a village. We have many different opportunities for folks to get involved.”

The event organizers are currently recruiting vendors, volunteers and sponsors for the festival. It is set to be held from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on July 20.

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