FOLIO
“River City Pride is where we as a city celebrate who we are and come together in pride and support for the LGBT community.”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2016 – River City Pride 2016 presented by Bank of America, to be held Oct. 1-2 and themed “Together In Pride,” is a family-friendly event open to all. Expected to draw well over 15,000 attendees over the two-day period, this is the 37th annual Pride event in Jacksonville.
“We are excited to be celebrating the 37th annual River City Pride Parade together at our family-friendly parade and community festival,” said Mike Nicholson, president, River City Pride. “River City Pride is where we as a city celebrate who we are and come together in pride and support for the LGBT community.”
River City Pride kicks off at 3 p.m. on Oct. 1 with a family-friendly parade through the Riverside neighborhood followed by a Pride Block Party presented by the 5 Points Merchants Association. The River City Pride Festival will be held Oct. 2, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Riverside Arts Market location, 715 Riverside Ave. Live entertainment and family-friendly activities will be available, including a rock climbing wall, bounce house, obstacle course, face painting, caricature sketching and balloon artists. For the first time, a River City Pride mobile app is available free for iOS and Android. Using the app, attendees will be able to see event details, performer information, take and share photos and support River City Pride’s online store.
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Route
- From Boone Park, turn left onto St Johns Avenue
- Continue for one mile to McDuff Avenue
- Turn left onto McDuff Avenue and continue for half a mile
- Turn right onto Park Street and continue for one mile
- Stay left at caution light to Riverside Park
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Day 1: Saturday, Oct. 1
● Corner of King & Park Streets ● 5 Points’ iconic blinking traffic signal
3:00 p.m. River City Pride Parade starts at Boone Park, 3700 Herschel Street
6 p.m. Parade ends at 5 Points business district on Park Street
5 Points Block Party begins
9:00 p.m. 5 Points Block Party ends
Day 2: Sunday, Oct. 2
11:00 a.m. River City Pride Festival begins at Riverside Arts Market location, 715 Riverside Ave. River City Pride Organizers and First Coast Sisters give welcoming remarks & performances begin. (times & performers subject to change)
11:05 a.m. Jordan Wright
11:15 a.m. Ami Starling/Matt Mitchell
11:25 a.m. Lady J
11:35 a.m. Highkey
11:45 a.m. Tiffany Simone
12:00 p.m. Shawna Hodges
12:15 p.m. AJ Menendez & Co
1:00 p.m. Johnathan Celestin
1:45 p.m. Beverly McClellan
2:45 p.m. Hamburger Mary’s
3:15 p.m. Rob Session
3:30 p.m. Jourdan Frost
4:00 p.m. AJ/ Bebe
4:15 p.m. Well Strung
5:15 p.m. Pepper Mashay
6:00 p.m. Skye Strickler
6:45 p.m. Dee Ranged
7:45 PM Corey Fisher
8:00 p.m. River City Pride Festival ends
Mostly influenced by the folk-rock scene of the late ’60s, Pepper Mashay was planning a career as a rock singer/songwriter before visiting a European night club where she decided to turn to dance music. During the 1980s and 1990s, Jean McClain teamed up with prominent producers and artists to participate in successful records such as Michael Bolton’s “Time, Love and Tenderness,” Cher’s “Love Hurts,” Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and Whitney Houston’s “My Love Is Your Love.” Her highly anticipated solo career began in 1993 after meeting producer Michael O’Hara. Pepper Mashay’s debut came in 1995 with the release of “Something to Feel,” followed by “Into You,” “Happiness,” and “Right Back to Love.” In 2000, her smash “Dive In the Pool” became a chart-topping song in the dance/club scene and achieved the Best Underground 12″ award at the Miami Winter Music Conference. A year later, “I Got My Pride,” produced by Barry Harris, topped the Billboard dance music chart.
Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Beverly McClellan makes soulful folk and R&B-inflected rock music. A contestant on the 2011 season of NBC’s The Voice, McClellan was coached by judge Christina Aguilera and finished in third place. A native of Florida, McClellan studied piano from a young age, but it wasn’t until her early twenties that she began singing and performing in the Fort Lauderdale area. She recorded several independent albums before appearing on The Voice. Drawing on personal experiences with her Native American heritage and being openly gay, McClellan often imbues her songs with a sense of honest self-expression and love. She released her first post-The Voicealbum, Fear Nothing, in 2011. The following year she was featured on guitarist Steve Vai’s album The Story of Light & toured with him.
Skye Strickler is an American singer and songwriter from Austin, TX. His empowering and melodic songs are influenced by everything from RnB to EDM – all infused into modern, upbeat anthems. At 19 he moved from his family farm in Kansas to Texas to develop his unique sound. He began showcasing his music in the local scene, leading to a downtown residency, local radio coverage and festival performances. His debut single “Dance the Night Away” has established him as a positive emerging pop act. His first EP, “DNA” is due out this year, with the much-anticipated feel-good tunes “Where Did You Go?” and “College” as well as others.
Well-Strung, a New York City based string quartet, derives their unique blend of vocals and strings by fusing classical music with the pop music of today. Members Edmund Bagnell (1st violin), Chris Marchant (2nd violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello), and Trevor Wadleigh (viola) spend their time making new music and touring internationally. The group was conceived by producer Mark Cortale and Chris Marchant. Four hot, gym-built young men, forming a classically educated string quartet, doing classical versions of modern hits.
Jacksonville native Jourdan Frost. I love Gospel, R&B, Soul Ballads, Jazz, Pop, Dance Electronica, Latin Pop, RocknRoll, and Country. I want to be one of the greatest voices/artist of all time and more importantly I want my music to help someone. I just want be a vessel in God’s plan in my life to be a blessing to others.
At the age of 20, the aspiring singer/songwriter left Virginia and moved to New York with nothing but $200 in his pocket and a dream in his heart. Since then, Johnathan has made a name for himself. He has performed on Broadway Tours and has written and sung for many artists and commercial companies like McDonalds, Target and Old Navy. Johnathan became popular on YouTube from singing his own music and covering other artists. He released his debut album in 2012. Since then he has been touring and promoting his music.
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