SWAMPSCOTT — The Pride Day celebration will kick off June’s public events in the town Saturday, followed by a town-wide yard sale and the return of the Farmers’ Market.
Swampscott will celebrate Pride Month and its LGBTQ community with a third annual Pride Day Saturday on the Town Hall lawn. The event will start at 1 p.m. with speeches, said Danielle Strauss, recreation director, and will culminate with a Pride flag raising.
“We are celebrating Pride Month because we recognize just how important it is that we uplift and affirm our obligation to support the dignity of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, gender,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “Swampscott is a safe community for everybody.”
Fitzgerald encouraged all residents to attend the celebration and to reflect upon the work the town has been doing to build an inclusive community.
“Every year that goes by, we see hatred, and we see violent assaults against individuals because of their gender or sexual orientation. We know that we have more work to do to create a community and a culture that celebrates the infinite value, the infinite dignity and worth of every human being,” said Fitzgerald. “Our effort in June is to just reaffirm that and to speak loudly and proudly about the work that we have to do together and encourage everyone to join us and be open to celebrating the great diversity of Swampscott as well as our nation.”
The Pride flag will fly over Swampscott for the rest of the month of June, Strauss said.
The town residents and neighbors can expect music from DJ Kahleil Blair, yard games, giveaways, and tasty treats. The Pride Pony and an equine rescuer Mari Anne Hartmann will come to visit the event as well.
On Monday, June 6, 120 participants will come together at the Tedesco Country Club for the Annual Golf Tournament, which will raise funds for the July 4 celebrations. Registration for the event is currently closed, Strauss said.
The town-wide yard sale will be taking place in Swampscott June 11 from 8 a.m. to noon. More than 50 households have registered to hold a yard sale. All of the addresses will be posted on the town’s website and Recreation Department’s Facebook page, said Strauss, who also sends out email blasts to anyone with a Swampscott recreation online account.
The yard sale turned out to be so popular that the Recreation Department is planning to hold another one later in the fall.
The Farmers’ Market will return to the Town Hall lawn on Sunday, June 12, until October 30. About 30 vendors will participate on Sunday, bringing food products and farm crafts.
Alena Kuzub can be reached at [email protected].
