Pridefest Shows What Oneonta, New York is Capable Of

This past Saturday, I spent the afternoon at Oneonta's Pridefest organized by Otsego Pride Alliance. I was there, not in the role of a media person, but as a performer. My Rocky Horror Picture show troupe (Inside Insanity - shameless plug) was invited to teach the crowd the Time Warp, and dance it with them.

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I'm also a local event planner, and it was nice to sit back and watch someone else's work and be a participant. So many times I'm bogged down with logistics that I don't get to enjoy things. I made a point on Saturday to really observe and enjoy Pridefest.

No pun intended, color me impressed. My first impression was that this was a well organized, and well executed event. Vendor selection was top drawer, and they were spaced out nicely. All offered unique goods and interesting items.

My second takeaway is much more intangible, and speaks to the vibe of the event. The general feeling is almost indescribable. It was fun, welcoming, colorful, and full of smiles everywhere I looked. While on stage, the crowd was overwhelmingly receptive, we couldn't have asked for more.

Pridefest shows what Oneonta is truly capable of. Despite the laments du jour about parking, the unhoused, or other city issues, and faced with negativity on social media, OPA knocked this right out of the park. Kudos to them. People were happy, and downtown businesses benefitted from the foot traffic. This is the way.

No matter the theme or topic around an event, it's clear that Oneonta is able to come together, be positive to a fault, and have a whole lot of fun at the same time.

Let's keep paying that vibe forward, shall we?