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  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Event Production & Fabrication

WorldPride 2019: 20 Highlights From New York's Month of Celebrations

WorldPride’s first U.S. edition offered a slew of events throughout the city, including opening and closing ceremonies, the Pride Island music festival, the N.Y.C. Pride March, and more.

Ian Zelaya
July 15, 2019

Pride IslandN.Y.C. Pride’s third annual music festival took place at Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 for two days. JJLA helmed production of the event and built a stage with arches that formed a tunnel over the pier. Jeff Consoletti, founder and principal of JJLA, said the custom stage structure was one of the largest ever built at the venue.Photo: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.com

NEW YORK—2019 was a significant year for Pride celebrations in cities throughout North America, and especially New York. The city became the first in the U.S. to host WorldPride, an international event that was previously held in cities such as Madrid and Toronto. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, WorldPride drew five million people to the city, compared to N.Y.C. Pride’s typical attendance of two million people. The celebration coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which inspired additional commemorative events.

While a bulk of New York’s Pride events usually happen during the last week of June, given the importance of this year, N.Y.C. Pride organizers held 25 different events and saw 80 partner events happen throughout the month. Festivities culminated with the annual N.Y.C. Pride March on June 30, which was the largest in the history of the gay-rights movement—the 12-hour march had more than 750 contingents and 200,000 participants.

Marchers also walked a new route, which began at 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, traveled down to Christopher Street, and looped back up to end at 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue. N.Y.C. Pride’s executive director Chris Frederick, who spoke to BizBash in June about what went into planning WorldPride, said the route change went smoothly, for the most part.

“I think there were definitely some logistical issues we will need to address next year,” said Frederick. “It's hard to really understand how this route will affect a normal year given the unique nature of this year. ... We're still evaluating the best route for 2020 but it looks likely that we will want to continue with the same route.”

While WorldPride was mostly a success according to Frederick—he noted the historic attendance numbers and ticket sales among the reasons—the event did experience a few hiccups. The third annual Pride Island, a two-day music festival at Pier 97 and the largest show N.Y.C. Pride has executed, was temporarily evacuated both days due to severe weather.

“Trying to evacuate 7,000 people off of a pier is always a logistical challenge but we overcame it and were able to reopen doors after the storms had passed,” Frederick said. “Additionally, there are small logistical issues that all events face, but I think in the end what matters is the attendee experience and if they feel they received the best possible event."

Jeff Consoletti, founder and principal at event production company JJLA, led the build and production for Pride Island, which saw headliners such as Grace Jones and Madonna. Consoletti and his team worked on the event site for about a week prior to the festival. From a producer perspective, he said one of the highlights of WorldPride was that it was felt throughout New York’s five boroughs.

“Oftentimes, the only event that gets coverage surrounding Pride events is the parade,” said Consoletti. “While New York’s parade was indeed epic in scale, production, and length, it was the extent of the many other events that really showcased how far the L.G.B.T. community has come, and the deep levels of support the community has from big brands and local supporters all throughout the city.”

New events this year included WorldPride’s opening ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the closing ceremony in Times Square; the two spaces usually don't host official Pride events. Frederick said the city didn’t require organizers to use specific venues—they also didn’t receive funding from the city—so they based their venue choices on what could accommodate massive crowds. 

“As you can imagine, there are limited venues that hold the crowds we were expecting, and New York inherently is logistically challenging when trying to create so many events that have such large attendance numbers,” said Frederick. “In the end, we felt Barclays and Times Square worked perfectly for the opening and closing ceremonies.”

The opening ceremony drew some 8,000 people to Barclays Center for a slate of performers that included Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, and RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni. The event also raised money for L.G.B.T.Q. organizations. And the closing ceremony took over the center of Times Square, with a concert that featured headliners Melissa Etheridge and Deborah Cox.

See below for some of the most exciting highlights from WorldPride's official events, as well as adjacent galas, parties, and activations. 

N.Y.C. Pride March
N.Y.C. Pride March
A month of festivities culminated with the N.Y.C. Pride March on June 30. The march stepped off at 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, once again led by N.Y.C. Pride organizers and volunteers. Marchers carried balloon arches in rainbow and trans flag colors, along with two balloons that noted the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
Photo: Madison Voelkel/BFA.com
As part of BMW’s #GoWithPride campaign, the automotive brand partnered with designer Jonathan Adler to design a custom fleet of Pride BMW 8 Series convertibles. Rainbow wraps formed a heart on the front of the vehicle. BMW's media agency Anchor Worldwide partnered with Enhance a Colour to create the vehicle wraps.
As part of BMW’s #GoWithPride campaign, the automotive brand partnered with designer Jonathan Adler to design a custom fleet of Pride BMW 8 Series convertibles. Rainbow wraps formed a heart on the front of the vehicle. BMW's media agency Anchor Worldwide partnered with Enhance a Colour to create the vehicle wraps.
Photo: Courtesy of BMW
The rainbow-wrapped vehicles carried activists including MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson, stars of the FX series Pose and the march’s grand marshals.
The rainbow-wrapped vehicles carried activists including MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson, stars of the FX series Pose and the march’s grand marshals.
Photo: Madison Voelkel/BFA.com
For the month of June, the intersection of Gay and Christopher streets in the West Village was renamed “Acceptance Street.” The New York City Commission on Human Rights and Mastercard partnered to unveil inclusive street signs highlighting numerous identities.
For the month of June, the intersection of Gay and Christopher streets in the West Village was renamed “Acceptance Street.” The New York City Commission on Human Rights and Mastercard partnered to unveil inclusive street signs highlighting numerous identities.
Julian Mackler/BFA.com
This year’s march had 677 contingents, which included a number of brands that had eye-catching floats, including sock and apparel brand Bombas. The brand’s debut float at the march featured a rainbow mosaic created with 4,500 actual socks. The float highlighted the brand’s partnership with the Ally Coalition and their commitment to donating socks to L.G.B.T.Q. homeless youth.
This year’s march had 677 contingents, which included a number of brands that had eye-catching floats, including sock and apparel brand Bombas. The brand’s debut float at the march featured a rainbow mosaic created with 4,500 actual socks. The float highlighted the brand’s partnership with the Ally Coalition and their commitment to donating socks to L.G.B.T.Q. homeless youth.
Photo: Courtesy of Bombas
TV personality Andy Cohen doubled as a DJ for Bravo’s rainbow float, which featured Real Housewives cast members from all of the network’s franchises, as well as drag queens dressed as various housewives.
TV personality Andy Cohen doubled as a DJ for Bravo’s rainbow float, which featured Real Housewives cast members from all of the network’s franchises, as well as drag queens dressed as various housewives.
Photo: Courtesy of Bravo
Smirnoff’s float paid homage to New York with colorful cutouts that resembled the city skyline. Drag queen Alyssa Edwards led the float dressed as Lady Liberty. The brand partnered with BMF to design the float.
Smirnoff’s float paid homage to New York with colorful cutouts that resembled the city skyline. Drag queen Alyssa Edwards led the float dressed as Lady Liberty. The brand partnered with BMF to design the float.
Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Smirnoff
W Hotels’ Love Out Loud float featured floral wrap and a hot pink, oversize megaphone. NVE Experience Agency designed the float.
W Hotels’ Love Out Loud float featured floral wrap and a hot pink, oversize megaphone. NVE Experience Agency designed the float.
Photo: Courtesy of W Hotels
Representatives from Key West unveiled a 100-foot-long rainbow flag at the march, which was part of the historic, 1.25-mile “Sea-to-Sea” Pride flag, which was made by the late rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker in 2003.
Representatives from Key West unveiled a 100-foot-long rainbow flag at the march, which was part of the historic, 1.25-mile “Sea-to-Sea” Pride flag, which was made by the late rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker in 2003.
Photo: Jonathan Atkin/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO
WorldPride Opening Ceremony
WorldPride Opening Ceremony
The WorldPride Opening Ceremony took place at the Barclays Center. Formatted as a benefit concert, the event raised money for three New York-based organizations that support the L.G.B.T.Q. community: the Ali Forney Center, Immigration Equality, and Sage. N.Y.C. Pride partnered with Live Nation and the Barclays Center to produce the event.
Mike Vitelli/BFA.com
The event featured performances by a variety of drag entertainers and talent such as Whoopi Goldberg, Ciara, Chaka Khan, Todrick Hall, and Cyndi Lauper (pictured).
The event featured performances by a variety of drag entertainers and talent such as Whoopi Goldberg, Ciara, Chaka Khan, Todrick Hall, and Cyndi Lauper (pictured).
Mike Vitelli/BFA.com
Pride Island
Pride Island
N.Y.C. Pride’s third annual music festival took place at Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 for two days. JJLA helmed production of the event and built a stage with arches that formed a tunnel over the pier. Jeff Consoletti, founder and principal of JJLA, said the custom stage structure was one of the largest ever built at the venue.
Photo: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.com
Pride Island closed with a set by Madonna, who paid tribute to the L.G.B.T.Q. community. The pop star’s performance featured a massive disco ball.
Pride Island closed with a set by Madonna, who paid tribute to the L.G.B.T.Q. community. The pop star’s performance featured a massive disco ball.
Photo: Courtesy of JJLA
WorldPride Closing Ceremony
WorldPride Closing Ceremony
WorldPride’s official closing ceremony took place in Times Square. The evening event offered a lineup of influential speakers and musical talent including Melissa Etheridge, MNEK, and Deborah Cox (pictured). Organizers worked with Ideko Productions to produce the event.
Photo: Mike Vitelli/BFA.com
AIDS Memorial Quilt at Brookfield Place
AIDS Memorial Quilt at Brookfield Place
The AIDS Memorial Quilt was on display at Brookfield Place from June 27 to July 1. The quilt is composed of more than 49,000 individual, three-by-six-foot panels, which have been sewn by hundreds of thousands of people over the years. The quilt was originally created by gay rights activist Cleve Jones in 1987 and is one of the largest known pieces of ongoing community art in the world. The last time the quilt was displayed at Brookfield Place was in 1992, when the venue was known as the World Financial Center.
Photo: Shane Drummond
Stonewall 50 at New-York Historical Society Exhibition Opening
Stonewall 50 at New-York Historical Society Exhibition Opening
The New-York Historical Society celebrated the opening of its new exhibition, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, with a launch event in June. David Beahm Experiences designed the rainbow-hued event, which featured lighting by L&M Sound & Light and furniture rentals by Party Rental Ltd. and Taylor Creative Inc. Jove Meyer Events planned the event.
Photo: Fred Marcus Studio
TrevorLive
TrevorLive
The Trevor Project held its New York fund-raising gala on June 17 at Cipriani Wall Street. The event featured a starry night stage backdrop and red lighting on the walls and ceiling of the venue. Stamp Event Management produced and designed the gala.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Trevor Project
The Tea Dance
The Tea Dance
The annual Tea Dance took place at the Rooftop at Pier 17. For the daylong event, Bubbleworks, a company that creates custom bubble effects for live events, produced a bubble spectacle that was choreographed to the music of DJ and producer Dan Slater.
Photo: Courtesy of Bubbleworks
‘Live 4 Love’ Pride Installation
‘Live 4 Love’ Pride Installation
Australian artist Maurice Goldberg created an inflatable installation that stood more than 20 feet tall at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center. The structure was covered with design symbols representing freedom, inclusion, gender diversity, friendship, and adversity.
Photo: Courtesy of Westfield World Trade Center
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