The first-ever #Rainbow Weekend aims to connect members of the Kent community and raise money for #Kent State’s #LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund. The two-day festival will feature events such as a drag show, bar crawl, art exhibits, live music, educational activities and more.
Rainbow Weekend, organized by Main Street Kent and Kent State faculty, will take place on March 6 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. and March 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
At the Mean Queens Drag Brunch, attendees can enjoy cocktails, a brunch buffet from Erie Street Kitchen and photo opportunities with the drag queens performing. The show is family-friendly and begins at 12 p.m. at Venice Cafe. Tickets are $36 and include both brunch and two cocktails, alcoholic or virgin.
Those looking to bar hop Saturday night can buy a bar crawl ticket for $15, which enters participants into a raffle to win an overnight stay and dinner for two in downtown Cleveland.
“Fearless Femme Storytelling” will give attendees an opportunity to listen to stories from female-identifying community members, including a story from a Kent State student. This event is organized by Suzy D’Enbeau, a member of Rainbow Weekend’s planning committee and an assistant communications professor at Kent State. It is a monthly event at Zephyr Pub and will start at 7 p.m. on Friday for Rainbow Weekend.
Volunteers are still needed to help decorate the W. Main Street bridge in gay and transgender flag colors Feb. 28 and paint the crosswalk near Hometown Bank in rainbow colors March 5.
Overall, the Rainbow Weekend events are anticipated to raise up to $5,000 for Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund, which assists LGBTQ+ students and allies in financial crises. The money can go towards academic supplies, food and housing costs.
“I’m excited to see families, community members and students all out supporting an important cause,” D’Enbeau says.
To learn more, get tickets to events and buy T-shirts, visit the Main Street Kent website.
