Northampton, Massachusetts, ushered in Pride Season 2026 on Saturday, May 2, with one of the first parades and festival of the year, and it was all smiles and sunshine along Route 9 and onto the festival grounds. Hampshire Pride (the organization that took over after NoHo Pride stopped hosting the town’s festivities at the onset of COVID) is now proudly celebrating its fourth annual Pride celebration for the region.
Reports MassLive.com:
They marched down Main Street on Saturday, and they did it with pride.
And in case anybody didn’t know what was going on, the loud music, rainbow flags and colorful costumes left no doubt that this was the fourth annual Hampshire Pride Parade and celebration.
Thousands of onlookers lined the streets to see marchers in colorful garb — many of them carrying signs — make their way down Route 9 and Main Street, from Sheldon Field to the end of Crafts Avenue.
Following the parade, crowds gathered in the Armory Street parking lot for a festival featuring approximately 130 vendors, including artists, crafters, nonprofits and local businesses.
The event included a Vendors’ Market, Resist Rally, Mainstage performances and a Drag Show.
The Expandable Brass Band was part of the entertainment, which also included singer Taína Asili, singer-songwriter Deanna Bach, the Valley Queerleaders, comedian Tammy Two Tone, recording artist ‘Zay and the Queer Joy Chorus.
The celebration brought together the LGBTQ+ community of Hampshire County in a day of celebration of each other, according to event organizers.
