Pride will be centre stage, along with a local celebrity drag performer, at an upcoming event in Lakefield.
Lakefield Pride Committee members are getting ready for the fourth annual Lakefield Pride picnic, which includes a performance by Betty Baker, and is slated for Sunday, September 22.
The picnic runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Isabel Morris Park, which is located at 20 Concession St. in Lakefield.
Organizers say this year’s picnic will feature family-friendly events with performers and artists from the Lakefield area, including Baker, who was raised in Young’s Point and went to elementary school in Lakefield.
“We are so proud to have Betty Baker back again at the Lakefield Pride picnic,” said Rebecca Rose, spokesperson for the Lakefield Pride Committee, in a media release.
“Betty has attended and performed at our event every year since we started in 2021 and we are so happy to see her back again. We are looking forward to welcoming the Lakefield community to this wonderful community event.”
Baker, who regularly performs at Drag Queen Story Time at the Peterborough Public Library, said she has always been involved in theatre, music, and performing arts. Her call to drag came from watching RuPaul’s Drag Race at 14 years old, her first time being introduced to the art form, she earlier told kawarthaNOW.
Baker is pleased to take part in Lakefield Pride.
“Going to Lakefield Pride is like coming home again,” Baker said. “I’m honoured to be asked to return every year to perform, to see so many familiar faces, and to bring joy to the community.”
The tentative agenda for the Lakefield Pride picnic includes a welcome and opening ceremonies at 11 a.m., a Pride march through Lakefield at 11:30 a.m., story time with Baker at 12:30 p.m., local entertainment at 1 p.m., a drag performance with Baker at 3 p.m., and closing ceremonies at 4 p.m.
Rose said the committee is looking forward to the return of food and merchandise vendors, as well as community organizations and sponsors, who will take part in this year’s festivities.
“Lakefield is a wonderful and caring community, and we welcome more vendors and sponsors to our event. It has been great to see the event grow every year.”
The Lakefield Pride Committee is a small group of local youth and adult volunteers who help to organize the Lakefield Pride picnic in September each year.
Lakefield Pride invites local businesses, vendors and organizations interested in setting up a stall at the picnic to reach out to the committee by emailing lakefieldpride@gmail.com by September 13.
In addition, those interested in sponsorship for the Lakefield Pride picnic can contact the sponsorship chair at sponsorship@lakefieldpride.com, also by September 13. There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities and benefits available, the committee noted.
For more information about Lakefield Pride and the upcoming picnic, visit www.lakefieldpride.com.
