THE 52627

Local Pride event continues to grow

Riverside Pride hosts their fifth annual event in Fort Madison's Central Park.

Riverside Pride volunteers pose together at this year’s event.

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Kalyssa Hansen, Kennedy Sparrow, and Izzy Hind enjoy the pride festival together. Hind mentioned she enjoys that’s it’s grown to a new location and thinks it’s beautiful at Central Park.

Stephanie Hoemmen/The 52627

"This is my fourth year, helping to plan it. And every year it has grown bigger and bigger and it's just been amazing to see the community support and to see our little group become so much, so much more. And it's really an honor to be a part of something like this," said Erin Harmon.

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Traci schrader, Sierra Stromquist, and Cal Wolver. "I've been helping out with this vent for the last two years. I would love to see everybody be accepted and loved in this neighborhood and in our community because we all belong here."

Stephanie Hoemmen/The 52627

"It's just something that's, like, really been important and, I think, beneficial for the community just to show that we are here, even though it's a small little town, there's still something for everyone. You are still part of a community here, even though it may not always feel like it," said Danielle Neaves. Pictured is the Roverside Pride members, Breanne helmers, Danielle Neaves, Erin Harmon, and Carrie Combites.

Stephanie Hoemmen/The 52627

Posted Sunday, June 7, 2026 12:55 pm

By Stephanie Hoemmen, Creator of 52627

FORT MADISON - Riverside Pride hosted its fifth annual Pride Festival on June 5. The event included vendors, food, drinks, information booths, fun activities, music, speakers, a photo booth, and a family-friendly drag performance to end the night. This event is held in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ and allies community in southeast Iowa.
Danielle Neaves, president of Riverside Pride, has been amazed by how the event has grown over the last five years.
“The original mission was to provide a safe, family-friendly place where members of the community, allies, friends, and family could just come together, have a good time, and just really celebrate Pride Month and everything it represents,” Neaves said.
Neaves and three other Riverside Pride board members (Breanne Helmers, Erin Harmon, Carrie Combites) kicked off the rest of the night’s festivities by thanking all of the community sponsors who helped make the event possible.

“Each year we get more and more support from the community, from local resources, from businesses, and we’re just excited to see so many people get out and celebrate pride, and we hope to keep getting bigger and bigger every year,” said Breanne Helmers, vice president of Riverside Pride.
The attendees of the event strolled through the park, enjoying the activities for all. Thomas Savage, a vendor at the festival, has been to Fort Madison’s Pride each year.
“Pride’s very important, so people have a safe place to go. People feel seen. People know that there’s community, especially right now in the political climate, just having a place in the park where people can go and they can see that they’re loved is perfect and what we need right now,” said Savage.
Kaleb Wischmeier served food from his ‘Glizzy Station’ at this year’s event.
“It’s one of my favorite events of the year. It’s just a day to celebrate being you and being authentic, and it’s really nice. It’s a bunch of like-minded people together. [There’s] no hate going on. We know everyone supports each other.”