“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.” – Barbara Gittings

So much is at stake when we think about equality, our freedom, and our rights.  And that can feel heavy these days.  But the power and connection we find in our COMMUNITY helps each of us find meaning and a place to call home.  We welcome YOU to come celebrate with US in a week full of memorable events this June!

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PRIDE WEEK 2025 - THE SCHEDULE

SUNDAY JUNE 1
​KICKOFF TEA DANCE

The Dunes Resort will host a vibrant Tea Dance on June 1 as part of Pride Week celebrations. This will be a lively gathering for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, featuring music, dancing, and more. Tea dances at the Dunes Resort are cherished traditions, offering attendees a chance to socialize, dance, and celebrate Pride in a festive and welcoming environment. For the most current information, please check the Dunes Resort’s official event calendar.

Free to attend!  Must be 21 or over.

The Dunes Resort | 333 Blue Star Hwy | Douglas | 4:00 PM 

MONDAY JUNE 2
RAINBOW PUTT-PUTT TOURNAMENT

​On Monday, June 2, Community Pride will host the Rainbow Putt-Putt Tournament at Saugatuck Mini Golf.  Whether you've earned a green jacket, aren't sure which end of the putter is up, or somewhere in the middle, come out and enjoy an evening of fun.

With 18 holes to play, foursome teams will start at each hole and play the entire course.  Fun prizes will be awarded!  Entry fee is only $10 per entrant/$40 per foursome. Tee Time is 6 PM.  So grab your family and friends, and gear up for a colorful time!  This will be popular, so please register soon using the button below to secure your spot!  UPDATE:  All  spots are now full - thanks to everyone for signing up and we look forward to the fun night ahead!!

​Scott's Pig Roast food truck will have food/drinks available for purchase and will start serving at 5:30 PM!

​Saugatuck Mini Golf | 3460 Blue Star Hwy | Saugatuck | 5:30 PM 

TUESDAY JUNE 3

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IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Unfortunately, due to the severe storm that caused damage across the area including to Lakeview Lanes in Douglas, the Pride Bowling Party has been canceled. We're sorry not to be able to bring you this fun event this year. If you had registered to bowl, we'll be contacting you shortly.  Most importantly, we wish Dave, Blake and the Alley's Pizza/Lakeview Lanes Team the very best, and we look forward to your reopening soon.

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​SO...MAKE THAT A PRIDE PADDLE CRUISE!

Ahoy, Mateys! Can you think of a better way to spend a June evening in Saugatuck than out on Lake Michigan?  We think not!  So please join Community Pride for our very first Pride Paddle Cruise aboard the Star of Saugatuck. It's more than just a boat ride - We've got complimentary snacks/desserts, a cash bar, DJ Ruth Crowe spinning the tunes, dancing, and the chance for one of Michigan's best sunset views.  Come join us, and don't miss out on this incredible experience!!  The details:

Cost: $30/person
Tickets: Purchased at the event on the day of the event, June 3, on a first-come, first-served basis.  There's space for 75 passengers aboard.
Time: Ticket sales begin at 5:15 PM.  Boat departs at 6:00 PM.  Duration of the cruise is about 90 minutes long.
Where: Star of Saugatuck dock, 716 Water St in Saugatuck.
Parking: Parking downtown Saugatuck can be limited. Please plan accordingly.
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We've selected OutCenter Southwest Michigan as the beneficiary of this event's proceeds. Their mission of advocating for change and providing community to LGBTQ+ persons, their allies, and their families in Southwest Michigan aligns with our values in the communities we serve.  Let's help them keep up the valiant work!

​The delicious food comes courtesy of our friends at Everyday People Cafe, Isabel's Market + Eatery, and Retro Bakery.  So thanks to all of them and especially to Julie Ziemann and the Star of Saugatuck Crew for making this private cruise come to life!

Star of Saugatuck | 716 Water St | Saugatuck | 5:15 PM

WEDNESDAY JUNE 4
PRIDE SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS - 
ARCHIVING LESBIAN HISTORY: FROM SPORTS TO MUSIC 

As a part of our Speaker Series events, Bonnie Morris, women’s history professor currently teaching at UC Berkeley, will be speaking at 5:30 PM in the Saugatuck-Douglas Public Library, our co-host for the evening.  The engaging discussion will focus on her book, What’s the Score: 25 Years of Teaching Women’s Sports History.

​Before the lecture, at 4:00 PM, our friends at the History Center are hosting a social gathering with drinks to set the stage for this educational event.

Come make a night of it!  Free to attend, drinks available for purchase.

BONNIE J. MORRIS earned her Ph.D. in women’s history from Binghamton University and taught at both George Washington University and Georgetown for almost 25 years, becoming professor emeritus and Professor of the Year at GWU and Vicennial Medalist at Georgetown. In 2017 she joined the history faculty at the University of California Berkeley, earning a nomination for its Excellence in Teaching Prize. A nationally recognized authority on both women’s sports history and lesbian culture, Dr. Morris is the author of nineteen books, including Women’s History for Beginners, The Feminist Revolution, The Disappearing L, and the new volume What’s the Score? In recent years, Dr. Morris became the archivist for Olivia Records, the nation’s first lesbian-owned recording company in 1973; organized the first women’s music exhibit at the Library of Congress; introduced the new LGBT History course at Berkeley; and served as a scholarly adviser to the National Women’s History Museum. Dr. Morris is a regularly featured lecturer on Olivia cruises and on Semester at Sea.

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RECEPTION
Saugatuck-Douglas History Center | 130 Center St | Douglas | 4:00-5:30 PM 

LECTURE
​​Saugatuck-Douglas Public Library | 174 Center St | Douglas | 5:30-7:00 PM 

THURSDAY JUNE 5
PRIDE SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS -
ACLU LEGAL UPDATE
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The Kirby Hotel/J Paul's Dining Room will be the host site for an incredible combination of culinary excellence and insightful dialogue, in our second Speaker Series event of the week.  Featuring Jay Kaplan, the LGBT Staff Attorney from ACLU of Michigan, attendees will gather to hear him speak to today's most pertinent issues, drawing from his extensive experience advocating for civil liberties, and at a time when many of those liberties are under attack.

​All guests can enjoy a selection of craft cocktails, fine wines, and other beverages from the cash bar with complimentary hors d’oeuvres beginning at 5:30 PM. At 6:00 PM, attendees will gather to hear Jay Kaplan speak either on the patio or dining room, depending on weather.  Free to attend.

Chef LaBelle's four-course dinner portion of the evening, with specially paired wines from Modales Winery, will be served at 7:00 PM.  Cost is $120/person, advance reservations are required, and proceeds from the dinner go to the ACLU.  Please check out the delectable menu and make reservations through the Open Table link below.

Open Table Reservations

Jay has been staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ Project since it began operations in 2001.  The issues he has worked on include:  challenging undercover sting operations targeting gay men, protecting the right of same-sex couples to jointly adopt their children, marriage equality and the benefits associated with marriage, access to state identity documents for transgender residents, and the Aimee Stephens case, which went to the United States Supreme Court, where the Court held in Bostock v Clayton County that LGBTQ+ employees are protected against discrimination under federal civil rights laws.   Jay’s work has been recognized by the Michigan State Bar (Unsung Hero),  the National Education Association (Virginia Uribe Civil Rights), and Michigan Lawyers’ Weekly (Lawyers Hall of Fame). ​

ACLU Michigan

The Kirby Hotel | 294 W Center St | Douglas | Reception 5:30 PM | Dinner 7:00 PM

FRIDAY JUNE 6
JAZZ FOR JUSTICE: PRIDE MONTH 2025 KICKOFF

Once again, our friends at All Saints' Episcopal Church are hosting an outing you won't want to miss.  Featuring the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra, you can take advantage of this melodious performance on the beautiful grounds at the church.  Free to attend!  And come hungry and thirsty...food trucks and drinks available for purchase!

All Saints’ Parish | 252 Grand St | Saugatuck | 5:30-7:00 PM

SATURDAY JUNE 7
THE BIG DAY!!!!

​CARE-A-VAN PARADE

Our annual parade is a time for EVERYONE to come out and CELEBRATE!  You'll enjoy a motorcade of classic cars, convertibles, and more, as they motor their colorful ways from Saugatuck High School to the final destination in downtown Douglas.  Our Grand Marshal will lead this trek through our incredible towns - a fun event for people of all ages!

PARADE ROUTE

Saugatuck High School | 401 Elizabeth St | Saugatuck | 10:30 AM 

PRIDE IN THE PARK

Everything this week has lead us to this exciting point, Pride in the Park!  It's a culmination of events running all week long, and it's going to be a party like none we've ever put on before.  A few of the highlights include:

• Headliner, Sixteen Candles, is making their Pride in the Park debut!  Experience the nostalgia and energy of the greatest decade of music - the 1980's!! This Chicago-based band has an incredible following for a reason...they deliver unforgettable concerts!
• Local phenoms, Random Play band and Lakeshore Community Chorus also performing!
• A variety of delicious food and drink options, including pulled pork sandwiches, walking tacos, beer from Saugatuck Brewing Co, Modales wines, and much more!
• Hall of Fame Honoree
  
• Tenth anniversary celebration for landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling granting same-sex marriage in all 50 States
  
• Vendors showcasing their products/services
• Tents - rain or shine, "nothing's gonna stop us"!
• FREE TO ATTEND

It's going to be a day filled with love, inclusivity, and pure celebration. Don’t miss out on this spectacular display of community and pride! Come be part of the magic in Saugatuck/Douglas with Community Pride!

Beery Field | 8 Center St | Douglas | Noon – 6:00 PM