Sebastopol Pride Stroll happening Saturday, June 24, on Main Street

It’s all in the buzz

Rumor has it that a Pride Stroll is happening this Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in Sebastopol, and wow is that rumor making the rounds. Local Sebastopol business owner Serafina Palandech was in Trader Joe’s in Santa Rosa last Friday and mentioned the event to someone in line and the cashier piped up, “I’m going to that!”

Palandech knows all about the Pride Stroll, though you might not — the event has no literature or website, but it’s her brainchild. It’s strictly word of mouth.

“This is thrown together, grass roots, no official organization,” she says. “I’m quite surprised because so many people have heard about it; so many people have said they are coming.”

Explaining its origins, she added, “I think we’re in a little bit of a bubble here, but there is a full-blown assault going on against trans people and the gay community … and you know, I went to Sonoma County Pride, which I’ve gone to many times before, and it’s lovely and it’s bigger than ever this year, and I just got to thinking, ‘Why don’t we just do our own little small town Pride?’ Cuz I think it makes a huge difference to the kids that hear about these terrible things that are happening and we, as a community, can respond with support.”

Last week she began talking about the idea with Cici Vincent, the manager of her new store, Luminarium Curated Goods, located at 122 N. Main St., and came up with the idea of a Pride Stroll. Cici went business to business on Main Street, asking folks if they wanted to be involved, and every business she approached enthusiastically responded and said they wanted to celebrate. Cici and Palandech then printed up a Pride poster and bought rainbow flags which they distributed to the interested stores.

“It’s just people getting together in the community,” Palandech said. “So there will be chalk for kids to draw on our sidewalks, there will be decorations, pride flags and rainbows down for a couple of blocks, and just general merry making and celebration and joy and love and support.”

Each business taking part in the Stroll will have some activity for customers.

Word is that Retrograde Coffee will have a bubble machine and that Bubbles Boba — which Palendech co-owns — will do a boba pop-up. Milk & Honey and Retrograde are sponsoring a drag queen, Vendetta from San Francisco, who will make an appearance. A local DJ, Sweet Lou, will even join the fun.

Cici is organizing a scavenger hunt for people to collect card stamps at businesses displaying the Pride sign she created. She will then present prizes to people who get it completely filled out.

“The response has been fantastic,” Cici said. “Everyone has been so excited and you can feel the joy radiating when we talk about it. I’m a Sebastopol local; I live right down the road. So I stop in at all these businesses constantly, and people are talking about it and they are excited. It’s to the point where I’ve gotten hugs from people because they are just so ecstatic about this event. It’s been so heartwarming.”

Palandech added, “A lot of folks on Main Street are talking about how to get more folks to come downtown. That’s kind of an ongoing conversation with business owners. So this meets two needs—encouraging people to come downtown and be together.”

Word around Sebastopol — and on this sign posted at many businesses on Main Street — is that the Sebastopol Pride Stroll is taking place this coming Saturday in the heart of downtown. (Photo credit: Mark Fernquest)