MILWAUKEE — PrideFest Milwaukee has reported record-breaking attendance for the 2019 festival that took place June 6-9 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee. This year's total confirmed festival attendance was 45,787, an increase of 1% from the 2018 total of 45,400.
The increase is a great achievement, following the cost-conscious decision to reduce Sunday hours in response to a three-year attendance downtrend. The choice to reduce Sunday hours allowed festival operators and visitors to attend the largest Milwaukee Pride Parade in history, another record-breaking event with 133 parade entries.
Milwaukee's 2nd Annual Ride with Pride, presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson, also broke previous year records. This year saw 300 riders participate in the world's largest LGBTQ-themed motorcycle ride, which roared through Milwaukee on June 8.
Milwaukee Pride will also give back to the community. This year's PrideFest Plus One Campaign, benefiting future LGBTQ leaders via the UW-Milwaukee LGBT Resource Center, raised a record-breaking $10,419 in donations. They will match these donations for a total gift of $20,838.
"We are filled with gratitude for the unprecedented support from PrideFest Milwaukee visitors," said Jennifer Murray, director of the UWM LGBT Resource Center. "By investing in the UW-Milwaukee LGBT Resource Center, you are helping us create a safer and more inclusive campus and the community at large through educational workshops, events fostering personal expression and outreach-based programming," she said.
"We look forward to furthering visibility for LGBTQ communities through education, programming and outreach on our campus and beyond. Thank you for investing in the next generation of LGBTQ leaders."
