Thousands gathered in downtown Omaha Saturday for a lively and colorful celebration of the local LGBTQ+ community. On Saturday morning, the annual Heartland Pride Parade made its way down Capitol Avenue from 16th to 10th Streets, and then up 10th Street to the CHI Health Arena, where a festival followed. This year’s parade included over 190 entries, according to the event's website , and included everything from extravagant balloon displays to rainbow-clad "Star Wars" stormtroopers.
Members of Northern Natural Gas hold balloons that spell out “PRIDE” while walking in the Heartland Pride Parade on Capitol Avenue in Omaha on Saturday. Participants in the parade and spectators alike were decked out in their best rainbow attire and many waved pride flags. Heartland Pride kicked off the weekend with a youth pride event at the CHI Health Arena Friday evening.
On Saturday, the festival following the parade was expected to continue into the evening with vendors, food and drinks and entertainment including musicians and drag artists. Zario Ixcoy of Omaha said they appreciated the open and welcoming environment the pride parade offers. “I feel like at events like this you can dress however you want and be who you want to be out here and not feel judged,” Ixcoy said.
David Gaines of Washington D.C. was at the parade holding a sign that read “I heard there would be glitter.
” Gaines said he was excited to be in town for the pride parade. People line the sidewalk and street o.