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Every flag waved this weekend will carry its own unique message and story. Together, these stories weave together into the multicolor tapestry that is Flagstaff鈥檚 Pride in the Pines.

Crafted of equal parts defiance and dazzle, the experience is certain to be a showstopper.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a big dance party. We are so much more,鈥� said Zane Jacobs, president of Flagstaff Pride and one of the main organizers of the weekend鈥檚 festivities.

The weekend kicks off on Friday night with a free, all-ages star party at Buffalo Park. Sponsored by Flagstaff Stargazing Adventures, there will be constellation tours, astrophotography and opportunities to view the night sky through a telescope. Lowell Observatory will be on site, with two guest speakers presenting and answering questions. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or chairs and kick back as they gaze into the cosmos.

Also on Friday is the Pride preparty at The Orpheum Theater. The 21-and-over event is hosted by Aimee Justice Colby and features a vast array of drag performers and other entertainers, including Asia Consent of Dragula fame and the Stallions GoGo Dancers.

On Saturday morning, before the gates open at Thorpe Park for the main event, the third annual Pride Parade will perambulate through downtown. Emcees from Hits 106 will be in Heritage Square announcing the brightly colored floats and lively performers.

The festival this year boasts more than 100 vendors total, including Juneteenth vendors and 12 vendors included in the event鈥檚 Indigenous Market.

The main stage hosts headliners such as Tia Wood, the first Native female to ever be signed with Sony records, and Stella Standingbear, a rising Native performer on TikTok. The stage is also home to Dragstaff, the primary drag scene in Flagstaff. The second stage is a community stage, offering an eclectic mix of local talent.

A large children鈥檚 area with an obstacle course and slides will be available, and anyone is welcome to stop by for a drink at the mocktail bar sponsored by Twisted Botanist.

鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to say that we are a family-friendly festival,鈥� Jacobs said.

Another unique area is the desensitization room, a quiet space to step away from the hubbub with noise-canceling headphones, fidget spinners and photos from the star party.

The theme of this year鈥檚 festival is PURR: Pride, Unity, Rise and Resist.

鈥淯nifying does not mean that we all have to be the same, but we can all gather together and fight for what we deserve.鈥� Jacobs said.

Like many Pride events, Pride in the Pines began not as a celebration, but a protest.

The sentiments of three decades ago ring true in the modern age, perhaps even louder.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the reason why we still do what we do,鈥� Jacobs聽said. 鈥淔lagstaff is a safe space. The Flagstaff community welcomes everybody.鈥�

鈥淭his is the most important Pride we鈥檝e had yet,鈥� said Dillon Vee Duvet, local drag queen and organizer of Dragstaff. 鈥淚n 2025 alone, there have been 908 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States.鈥�

鈥淲e are seeing and we are going to continue to see active regression in our rights and our genuine community,鈥� said Jayde Justyce, drag queen. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our responsibility to keep raising awareness and stand up for each other.鈥�

Drag performance is one of the major highlights of Pride in the Pines. The queens venture out into the sweltering summer heat dressed in layers upon layers of clothing and makeup, singing, dancing, telling jokes and mingling with the crowd.

鈥淚t feels like resistance in some capacity,鈥� Duvet said. 鈥淭he whole point of drag is that it captures peoples鈥� attention. All eyes are on you. It teaches you to be unwavering. It teaches you to stand your ground.鈥�

Justyce emphasized that drag comes with responsibilities.

As high-fashion individuals in the literal spotlight, drag queens are obligated not only to educate the public and stand up for marginalized identities, but also to do so with positive energy.

鈥淲e鈥檙e like little micro-influencers. It鈥檚 a lot of work,鈥� Justyce said. 鈥淜now yourself before you do drag, because it鈥檚 going to be your responsibility to make sure other people know who they are, too.鈥�

In addition to hosting聽Pride in the Pines, Flagstaff Pride also offers support to the local queer community all throughout the year. One goal of the association is to be able to open its own resource center to expand its horizons even further.

This summer, Jacobs and the Flagstaff Pride staff plan to put together a youth advisory committee to give a voice to the young LGBTQ+ community of Flagstaff and offer support and networking. Jacobs welcomes the local youth to reach out and know that they are not alone.

鈥淚f I could tell the young queer community anything, it would be, 鈥楪et off the internet,鈥欌�� Justyce said. 鈥淧eople are going to have opinions about you your whole life, especially if you are a queer person of color. Your experience is your experience. It is yours to cultivate, it is yours to create, it is yours to live.鈥�

Duvet echoes the sentiment of living a truth that is unique to the individual.

鈥淎uthenticity is scary, but it鈥檚 the right thing to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淭rust the process. It does get better. If you let people weigh you down, you will never rise above.鈥濃��

Duvet and Justyce perform with Dragstaff on the main stage on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets for Pride in the Pines are available at at a discounted rate, but prices will increase on the day of the event. A full lineup of activities can be found online.

For the LGBTQ+ community, Pride represents not only a coming together today, but an unwavering commitment to a more inclusive future.

鈥淚 love that you can go outside and cut a branch off of a tree and that tree is still gonna grow. I think that brings me hope,鈥� Justyce said. 鈥淲e will regrow. We have always been able to regrow. It may not look the way we want it to. They are gonna cut us down. We will regrow, but it won鈥檛 be the same tree it was. Have hope for a better tree. Have hope for a better America. Have hope for a better world.鈥�