The Sousa Archives’ One Community Together through Music returns again this fall as part of the 2024 Uniting Pride of Champaign County celebration.  The Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest celebrates LGBTQ+ pride in our local community.  The 2024 CU Pride Parade will step off on September 21 at 1:00pm from the parking lots on E. Illinois between Broadway and Vine, and will make its way to downtown Urbana to join the celebration’s vendors, activities, art, and community organizations sharing information.

Starting at 1pm, this year’s One Community Together (OCT) stage will provide music performances by several local music ensembles.  The OCT stage will be located at the intersection of Urbana’s Broadway and Main Streets. In addition the Papashoy Klezmer Band will be performing between 4:15 and 5:00 on the Parade Stage, located at the intersection of Race and Elm Streets.  Children’s educational activities sponsored by the Champaign County Museums Network will be part of this year’s OCT programming.

Music Performances

1:00-1:45 — Hot Club of Urbana

2:00-2:45 — C4A Bow-dacious String Band and Kids Rock Band

3:00-3:45 — Chris Chism and the Copper Creek Church Band

3:45-4:00 — Yvie Oddly and Lucy Stoole

4:15-5:00 — Sixth Street Brass Band (OCT Stage)

4:15-5:00 — Papashoy Klezmer Band (Parade Stage)

Children’s Activities

1:00-5:00 — Watercolors and Rainbows – Celebrate the colors of the rainbow and show your pride with young artists coloring our local community with watercolor pencils and other materials.  Sponsored by the Giertz Gallery and Krannert Art Museum.

All of the children’s activities and music programs are Free and open to the general public.  So why not get your weekend off to a great start with some wonderful music that supports our community together?  For further information about these performances call 217-333-4577 or email schwrtzs@illinois.edu.  For further information about the 2024 Pride Fest visit https://www.unitingpride.org/pridefest2024.html.