Niles Celebrates first annual Pride Festival

NILES, Mich. - June is Pride Month and cities across Michiana have been using it as an opportunity to celebrate their LGBTQ+ communities.

One Michigan city, Niles, hosting a Pride Festival for the first time despite some controversy when the event was announced.

Hailey Colpitt, wanted to bring a family friendly pride event to the city, Nile’s first annual Pride Festival.

"Niles is growing…. We have an increasing population… which means the LGBTQ+ population is also growing--- and so we wanted to show them they are accepted and welcomed here and that there is a space for them,” she added.

The festival brought hundreds out to Riverfront Park waving their multicolored flags with pride Saturday evening.

Despite the council voting unanimously to allow the event in the public space, some residents were not pleased to hear that their would be a family friendly Drag Show.

A select few who opposed the festival showed up, luckily the Niles Police Department was able to keep the peace, and ensure no laws were broken.

“Certainly with an event like this protesting is always in consideration, we really heavent see any of that tonight… we did have a few people come up and ask if we were doing to allow this... and they applied for the space so certainly they can enjoy the event like anyone else,” said Chief Jim Millin.

There is no legislature in Indiana or Michigan restricting Children from attending Drag Shows.