Little Apple Pride festivities brought Manhattan’s LGBTQ+ community together this past weekend.

A parade through Aggieville kicked off the event, followed by a festival at City Park. Organizers estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people showed up in support.

Brad Everett, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn, continued his family’s tradition of driving a toy train through the parade and at the festival to spread a little love.

“It’s providing a little entertainment, and it carries on my wife’s tradition that I bought in her memory,” Everett said. “So it’s a way of staying active in the community and participating in things that are important for all of us.”

Everett said the event gives people a sense of community and feels blessed to participate in something special.

“Well, the event gives opportunities for individuals to come out and share and be part of something special,” he said. “For me to be able to be lucky enough to go ahead and come out and be a part of that is a win win for me, so I feel blessed.”

The festival featured food trucks, a photo booth, haircuts, business tabling and a drag show with top performers from around the Manhattan area.

Curtis Vogts, Little Apple Pride co-chair, said organizers invited all the performers back for a big show and an opportunity to get them more exposure in town.

“The drag show is currently all the performers that we’ve had throughout the year at our other fundraisers and events,” Vogts said. “We asked them all to come back and do a show at pride. They’re all semi-local and they’re all really great.”

Local businesses and non-profits advertised at the festival and showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Karla Hagemeister, Flint Hills Breadbasket executive director, said serving all community members is a part of the message the organization wants to send out.

“We want all of our community to know that they’re welcome,” Hagemeister said. “Anybody experiencing food insecurity is welcome to come through our doors and that it’s part of our mission, to make sure that all people feel valued and feel that they’re welcome in our space.”

An after-hours event at The Press concluded the day.