The Utah Pride Center announced its plan for the 2025 Utah Pride Festival on Tuesday morning — including a list of star entertainers.
Most notable to Utah music fans — and those interested in the intersection between faith, culture, and LGBTQ+ representation — is homegrown favorite David Archuleta.
In recent years, the singer-songwriter has been outspoken about his coming out journey through his music and performances. He’s been a mainstay on the lineup at the LoveLoud Festival.
This will mark Archuleta’s first-ever performance at Utah Pride.
(Shaun Vadella) David Archuleta pictured on the set of his music video for "Afraid to Love."
Other performers for this year include: rapper CupcakKe, singer-songwriter Mindy Gledhill, and SLC-based drag rock band Marrlo Suzzanne & The Galaxxy Band.
There will also be a stage for local LGBTQ+ artists from across Utah, according to a news release from Utah Pride Center.
This year’s pride festival theme is “Radical Love” — one that “honors the deep-rooted resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and invites all of us to show up for each other with compassion, courage, and authenticity,” the center said in the release.
Chad Call, the executive director of the Utah Pride Center, said that the theme is not just “a celebration” but a “promise.”
“It’s the way we show up for one another when it matters most. Our theme this year reminds me of the values and spirit that have held our community together through the good times and bad,” Call said in a statement.
Celebrations this year will kick off on June 5 with the festival’s annual Interfaith Worship Service, and continue over the next three days. On June 6, there will be a Pride Youth Dance.
Celebrations will start on June 7 with a 10 a.m. rally at the Utah State Capitol. Rally attendees will march down State Street to Washington Square Park where the festival, which will last two days, will take place.
The annual Utah Pride Parade will take place on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In recent years, the center has had a rocky financial path. They bounced back with a scaled back celebration in 2024, one of two pride celebrations in Salt Lake City. Earlier this spring, the center unveiled what they call the largest transgender pride flag in the world.
This year, parade participants will be allowed to handout swag items to spectators and exhibiting vendors can install their own tents, according to the news release. In 2024, pricing for booths ranged from $400-$1,600, depending on tent size and the type of organization.
For more info on festivities, visit utahpride.org.
