Utah Pride Festival gets under way Saturday

SALT LAKE CITY — A weekend chock full of rallies, marches, entertainment, food and beverages will draw tens of thousands to downtown Salt Lake City's Washington Square for the 2010 rendition of the Utah Pride Festival.

Activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with a 5K run and continue through Sunday evening.

Highlights include an appearance Saturday night by actress/comedienne Sandra Bernhard. The state's second-biggest parade will wend its way through downtown beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Former radio character and current theater sensation Sister Dottie S. Dixon will head the parade as grand marshal. Dixon is portrayed by Charles Lyn Frost, a local actor who has been lauded for his Pygmalion Theatre performances that explore the struggles and triumphs of a Mormon mom who has to come to terms with her son coming out of the closet.

Utah Pride Center executive director Valerie Larabee said the Dixon character sends a message she hopes all Utahns will hear.

"In every home where a conversation exists about LGBT people, be it friends, family, co-workers, etc. … that conversation happens best in an environment of love and compassion," Larrabee said.

Pride center spokesman Michael Westley said entertainment at the three sound stages will be more streamlined this year, with the north main stage booked for nonstop entertainment Saturday night and throughout Sunday.

Details on Utah Pride Festival events, including ticket purchases, are available at www.utahpridefestival.org.

— Arthur Raymond