SUMMIT STATION — A sense of unity and peace pervaded the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds on Saturday as people from all walks of life enjoyed the annual Schuylkill PrideFest.
A sizable crowd was in attendance the sixth rendition of the event dedicated to supporting and bringing together the LGBTQ+ community. The event is held annually in June, the month designated nationally as Pride Month. Whether they personally identified with an aspect of the Pride movement or considered themselves an ally, attendees saw the event as a place to be yourself and to express oneself freely.
The event, which ran from noon to 7 p.m., featured entertainment, food and craft vendors, and resource tables from local nonprofits and human resource services.
Many showed their support for Pride by wearing rainbow-colored apparel or empowering slogans, fostering a safe, inclusive environment.
Morgan Morgan Morgan accepts a tip from Jaden Ebert during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: Sixth annual Schuylkill PrideFest takes place at the fairgrounds
Mikaela Gavaletz, founder and executive producer of PrideFest, said it is a family-oriented event aimed at bringing people together, especially young people without many resources or opportunities to take part in such an event.
“It’s all about seeing others in the queer community being able to bond, make new friendships,” she said. “It’s a lasting memory to people, their first time, their first Pride. So they’re seeing a community of people coming together. They come here to gain that sense of community.”
Although she had always been deeply involved in the LGBTQ+ movement, including in events like the Transgender Day of Remembrance, it took Gavaletz a long time to become an active voice for the LGBTQ+ community. She sees PrideFest as a culmination of her anger over some of the injustices suffered by the community, and she believes the community’s passion has continued to make the event more and more successful. She said the festival typically draws about 1,500 to 2,000 attendees.
Executive Producer Mikaela Gavaletz speaks about putting together the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
A man named Bob, who declined to give his last name, attended his third Schuylkill PrideFest with a rainbow flag slung over his shoulder. He noted the festival was different from other Pride events he’s been to because it is more family-friendly, and he was glad to see many younger people turn out to the event.
“(PrideFest) helps them to see other people that are like themselves,” he said.
Folks check out the Stonewall exhibit during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
A 14-year-old named Mick, from Minersville, explained the concept of pride as “being comfortable with yourself and how you express yourself.” Her friend Z, 15, agreed with that sentiment, saying everyone is unique in their own way.
PrideFest “helps you express yourself and feel free to be who you are,” Z said. “You don’t have to feel judged or different.”
Wyatt Koons, 20, of Tower City, attended his first-ever PrideFest wearing a shirt that said, “Love is for all.” He had read about the event on social media and wanted to show his support, recognizing PrideFest’s value in the community.
“It means a lot, especially in a place like this, where there’s not a lot of Pride (events) and places for people to go and learn about stuff like this, so it’s very important,” Koons said.
Throughout the afternoon, several performers in drag showed off their skills, wowing the crowd with high-energy moves and showmanship.
Felicia Rondajambe, of Reading, performs during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
There were two drag shows involving about 20 performers from across the country, Gavaletz said, including the headliner, Danyel Vasquez of Akron, Ohio.
Felicia RondaJambe of Reading, wearing a hot pink leotard, performed a number of acrobatic moves on the stage and the lawn to the backing of Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.”
Morgan Morgan Morgan, 2023 Miss Gay Pennsylvania USA, wore a regal plum-colored dress and performed to a Queen medley that included “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
This year’s PrideFest also featured an exhibit called “Out of the Shadows” from the Stonewall National Museum and Library. It recounted the events that led to the Stonewall uprising, which Gavaletz noted was an important part of gay history.