Delaware Pride will hold the state’s ninth annual Pride Festival on Saturday, September 10, 2005, from noon until 6:00 p.m., at Gordons Pond State Park (North Shores) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. This year’s festival will feature headliner Crystal Waters, a long-time dance and pop music favorite. Crystal has enjoyed big club and pop hits like "100% Pure Love," "In De Ghetto," "Makin’ Happy," "What I Need," and "Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)," which some club enthusiasts may remember as "La Da Di, La Di Da." Most recently, Crystal attacked the dance charts with "Come on Down," which sampled the familiar "Price Is Right" theme. Crystal was born and raised in Philadelphia. She comments, "I just like people to know that I write my own songs. I am a songwriter and a singer." And she’s sure to be a big hit at this year’s Delaware Pride Festival!

For the first time in its history, the festival will feature a nationally-renowned emcee, comedian and author Bob Smith. Bob is the author of the best-selling collections Openly Bob and Way to Go, Smith! He is the winner of the 1998 Lambda Literary Award and is a New York Times bestseller. A true GLBT trailblazer, Bob is the first openly gay comedian to appear on The Tonight Show as well as to star in his own HBO special. Bob has written for The Advocate, OUT, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine. He has also written for the MTV Video Music Awards and MAD TV, among numerous other television programs. Mr. Smith grew up in Buffalo, New York, and now lives in Los Angeles. Not only will Bob emcee this year’s festival, he will also perform his hilarious and true-to-life stand-up comedy.

There will also be performances by musicians Ari Gold, Karen Jacobson, and Keyth Lawrence. Talented hottie Ari Gold has recently opened for RuPaul and Chaka Khan. In addition to his sold-out shows in NYC and headlining Pride festivals across the country, he has performed overseas in Prague, Israel, Milan, Ibiza, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Brussels and the UK. Boy George calls him "clearly a star waiting to burst," and his music has been featured on Queer as Folk. Australian-born Karen Jacobson is fresh from her tour with diva Cyndi Lauper and is ready to rock this year’s festival. In September 2004, Karen previewed her first full-length studio album to a sold-out crowd at NYC’s The Duplex. She has shared the stage with Norah Jones, Deborah Cox, and Uncle Kracker. Keyth Lawrence’s most recent album, following a sold-out release concert at NYC’s FEZ, zoomed to #1 on the Outvoice Top 40 Charts, with rave reviews from publications such as Philadelphia Gay Newsand Indie-Music.com. In addition to the overall success of the CD, the first single off the album, "Leaving," has been receiving national airplay and was recently recognized by the International Songwriting Contest.

Other attractions at this year’s festival are local drag favorites, including Tisha Towers, Tina Montgomery, Rome, Regina Scott, and CeeCee Lords. Dozens of vendors will also be on hand, offering food, drink, clothing, jewelry, books, and other items. Many regional GLBT groups will also have tables at the festival, including political groups, churches, community organizations, and extracurricular activities. Statewide elected officials have been invited to speak at the festival, and several have already confirmed. As you can see, this year’s festival is packed with non-stop entertainment and fun. The Delaware Pride festival, as always, is free, family-friendly, and open to all members of the regional GLBT community and their allies. Parking will be available on site for a nominal fee, and shuttle parking is also available. This year’s festival is sponsored by EXP Magazine, The Jolly Trolley, ID Lube, Amtrak, and The Atlantis Inn.

The annual festival is organized by Delaware Pride. According to its mission statement, the organization "is dedicated to creating a more visible and united GLBT community through outreach, education, and referrals." The Pride Festival is the organization’s most known event, marking Delaware’s largest annual gathering of GLBT persons and their allies, and regularly drawing well in excess of 1,500 attendees. But throughout the year, Delaware Pride keeps busy not only with festival planning, but with Bingo-a-Go-Go and other social, fundraising, and networking events and activities. Currently, Delaware Pride is looking to increase its membership, and is in the process of introducing a bold new look and logo. The organization is open to all GLBT Delawareans and their allies, holding monthly meetings in Newark, and working toward sponsoring more meetings and events in central and southern Delaware. If you want to find out how to get involved, visit the Delaware Pride table at this year’s festival.

Helping hands and new ideas are always welcome!

We’ll see you at this year’s Delaware Pride Festival!