April 28, 2023
Performer and musician Kalifa announced as headliner; appearances will be made by stars of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Bravo TV’s “Family Karma”
BUFFALO, NY – Buffalo Pride Week organizers announced today that tickets to the Pride Festival are now available for purchase online at www.buffaloprideweek.com. Kalifa, the New York City-based rapper, producer, and dancer formerly known as “Le1f,” will headline the festival with additional acts by performers Lady Camden and Bosco of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and appearances by Amrit Kapai and Nicholas Kouchoukos of Bravo TV’s “Family Karma.” This year’s Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 4, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Buffalo’s Canalside.
“The Pride Festival is a beloved celebration here in Buffalo that we look forward to each year as we support our LGBTQIA+ community and bring people together in the name of love, inclusivity and unity,” said Justin Azzarella, chief strategy officer, Evergreen Health. “We couldn’t be more excited to announce that tickets are now available for the festival and that we will be joined by a diverse group of local and national talent to bring our theme, ‘Show Up. Turn Up.’ to life.”
General admission tickets to the Pride Festival are $10 if purchased in advance online or $20 if purchased on the day of the event at the festival’s entrance at Canalside. For those interested in the Premium Lounge, tickets are $45 per person if purchased in advance or $55 per person on the day of the event. The Premium Lounge is reserved for those 21 years of age and older, featuring free and for-purchase drinks, VIP stage seating and views, and an opportunity to mingle with Pride Festival talent. Ticket purchases, along with all sponsorships and donations, support Buffalo Pride Week and the Pride Center of WNY, a non-profit organization dedicated to making Western New York a safe, healthy and satisfying place for LGBTQIA+ people to live, work and establish their families.
“This year’s Pride Festival is going to be packed with incredible local and national performers that have made an undeniable impact within the underground and pop culture space,” said Kelly Craig, executive director, Pride Center of WNY. “We encourage members of the community to show up to the party and join us in singing, dancing, and celebrating out loud with our fellow peers and biggest supporters.”
The 2023 Buffalo Pride Week celebration, held Tuesday, May 30, through Sunday, June 4, at various locations and venues throughout Western New York will include family-friendly events, fitness-related events, art events, club parties and much more. The celebration and events will encompass the theme “Show Up. Turn Up.” Details for the signature Pride Parade and Pride Festival include:
The Pride Parade and Pride Festival are hosted by Evergreen Health Foundation, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, and are presented by Evergreen Health and M&T Bank. 2023 Buffalo Pride Week is also sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association of WNY, Barefoot Wine, BryLin, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres Foundation, Christopher J. Tyrpak, Attorney at Law, Dunkin’, Explore & More, Highmark BlueCross BlueShield, HSBC, Independent Health, Life Storage, Linde, National Grid, Phillips Lytle, Rich Products, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tito’s Vodka, Try-It Distributing/Labatt USA, Univera Healthcare, and Wegmans.
“Buffalo Pride Week is one of the most exciting and joyous celebrations held in the city as the week-long event brings together individuals from different backgrounds to express their enthusiasm and support for one another,” said Glenn Jackson, Chief Diversity Officer at M&T Bank. “Standing with the LGBTQ+ community, we’ll continue to show up and turn up, fighting for equality and inclusion and celebrating our victories along the way.”
For more information on 2023 Buffalo Pride Week events, visit www.buffaloprideweek.com.
About The Evergreen Health Foundation
The Evergreen Health Foundation, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, coordinates and manages the Buffalo Pride Parade and Pride Festival as a way to give back to the communities served by Evergreen Health and its affiliate organizations.
About Evergreen Health
Evergreen Health fosters healthy communities by providing medical, supportive and behavioral services to individuals and families in Western New York – especially those who are living with chronic illness or who are underserved by the healthcare system. For more information, visit www.evergreenhs.org.
About Pride Center of Western New York
The Pride Center of Western New York, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, is a Buffalo-based 501(c)(3) health promotion organization specializing in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) health and HIV prevention. Established in 2001, the Pride Center’s goal is to promote the lifelong health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people.
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.