Samuel Travis | Specifically for independent news media

The Phoenix Pride Festival will be a major celebration this year, offering a range of performances, events and opportunities galore.

And the entire organizational effort to create the largest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the Valley is led by four people.

Phoenix Pride is an organization that hosts year-round events aimed at celebrating the LGBTQ+ experience and amplifying queer voices, but it only has four full-time employees. This year's major fall celebrations – the Pride Festival and Pride Parade – will feature more than 150 performances, a non-stop VIP experience, brand new accommodations and more.

The event will be held at Steele Indian School Park on Saturday, October 19th from 2pm to 10pm and October 20th from 12pm to 9pm. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at Third Street and Thomas.

To get the help they need, the four employ hundreds of contractors and outside organizations, as well as a volunteer board of directors and hundreds of other volunteers.

Jeremy Helfgot, Director of JM Helfgot Communications and member of Phoenix Pride, gave insight into why Phoenix Pride works year-round to prepare for the mid-October celebrations.

“It’s a huge undertaking…it never stops. And we haven't even mentioned all the factors yet; the exhibitors, food, entertainment – including construction, staff and operation of the stages – i.e. production, lighting, sound and all associated support; the hospitality behind the scenes, the support of the artists… too many moving parts to even mention. But somehow, and this is a real credit to the four-person staff who did it, they somehow manage to make everything fit together,” said Helfgot.

Mike Fornelli, executive director of Phoenix Pride and one of those four employees, said money was a big hurdle for the organization again this year.

Although inflation in the Phoenix area rose to over 13% in August 2022 and then fell, Fornelli said Phoenix Pride did not increase ticket prices at all, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. He credited this success to the help of the organization's sponsors, partners and volunteers.

General admission ticket prices range from $30 for one day to $50 for two days. Discounts are available for youth ages 13 to 17, former military personnel and seniors over 55. Active military personnel and children under 12 receive free admission with ID.

Alero Mills, who has been volunteering with Phoenix Pride for 23 years, offered insight into why volunteers like her keep coming back to help.

“When it comes to Pride, I know that if we don't have the right people on the ground or the right volunteers, it can't be as successful as usual. So I come and volunteer to strengthen our community,” Mills said.

Mills explained that one of her favorite things about volunteering is seeing all the new faces and families that show up as Pride grows each year. She also said people don't have to be LGBTQ+ themselves to volunteer – it can be anyone who just wants to help.

Phoenix Pride also has a unique relationship with the Phoenix City Council and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs.

Helfgot explained that while Phoenix Pride works with the Phoenix government regardless of whether politicians want to harm or hinder their events, Hobbs is definitely a helper.

She will serve as one of three grand marshals overseeing the Pride Parade this year, a unique position given to her after years of helping and working with Phoenix Pride and for LGBTQ+ rights in Arizona.

Fornelli also stressed the importance of voting.

“This is an election year, so I encourage everyone to learn about issues that matter to them and to vote. Your voice is your voice, so use it,” Fornelli said.

This year marks the 43rd year of Phoenix Pride events. The festival will be themed “Born This Way” to celebrate the uniqueness of the LGBTQ+ community and will feature a line-up of 100% LGBTQ+ headliners.

For more information about the celebration, volunteer applications and tickets, visit phoenixpride.org.