Highlighting Nashoba Valley Pride

{ Sara Arnold }

Massachusetts has its share of fun and fabulous Pride Festivals. This year, I avoided the big Pride Festival in Boston (too many people and too much going on all at once) and opted for the lesser-known Nashoba Valley Pride Parade and Rally. This was its third year, and, while it was not listed in major LGBTQ+ publications, it should have been.

       Nashoba Valley Pride, which was held on Sunday, May 18, in Bolton, was a special Pride event for the area (including other towns like Clinton, Lancaster, and Stow).

And it was absolutely beautiful.

         The event kicked off with a march from The Emerson School on the grounds of the elementary and middle schools, down cars stopped on Main St, with a police presence.  Many of the people in the cars whooped and cheered for the walkers dressed up in their Pride best with amazing makeup.  It was an amazing experience.  Every year I’ve done it, I’ve gotten goosebumps from the sense of community and togetherness that Nashoba Valley Pride brings to the region and to Bolton itself.

         The parade ended at Bolton Common, which holds far more people for Pride than it does for any other event.

         There were vendors everywhere. They included anyone from religious organizations to drop-in centers for LGBTQ+ kids to free face painting. (I got the bisexual flag on my face, and my daughter got the Pride flag on one side and the lesbian flag on the other.  Her best friend, straight as an arrow but very much an ally, also got the Pride flag.)

        There were books to buy, bracelets to make, pins to choose, jewelry to browse. There were huge flags for sale, good to put outside on a flag pole or wrap around oneself. There was quite a selection of vendors, some of whom were offering things for free plus information, others who were selling things that did and did not have to do with Pride, and more.

         I bought a lesbian bracelet (and another one I’ve forgotten) for my daughter and bi and poly bracelets for me.   I made a free bracelet with both my daughters’ names on it.  I took information from radical LGBTQ+ organizations and small nonprofits alike, and the LGBTQ+ organizations from all the schools in the area that chose to participate.  I took pictures of gorgeous drag queens, and said hello to young people that I know who are just starting out on their LGBTQ+ journey.

         And this year, there were actual food trucks, rather than just a single ice cream truck as in the past.

         There was a whole line-up of speakers.  I have to admit that there’s so much going on that I tend to miss most of the speakers, even though my intention is always to go and listen.  I spend too much time going around in a circle seeing all the vendors, including goats from a local farm, which help people who have experienced trauma and other mental health needs.

         Speakers ranged from local politicians to well-known members of the wider LGBTQ+ community and many more.  I am always so amazed by the people who take the time and the risk to talk to the attendees of Pride, especially the tweens and teens who may be listening closely to people who mirror their futures.

         I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of Nashoba Valley Pride is the raffles.  They’re so mixed in terms of what is offered by local artists, artisan food, medical treatments, and more.  There’s some art I’ve wanted every year to put at my late firstborn’s grave, but once again, I did not win that. One of these years.

         I did win $100 of legal services, which is always useful.

         Happy Pride! I hope we can all carry the energy of Bolton Pride with us throughout the rest of the year! May you always be safe and loved, whomever you are.