2nd Annual “Pride Weekend” Starts Friday

By Vanessa Wolf

A scene from Maui Pride 2012. Photo courtesy Maui Pride

Beginning tomorrow, Oct. 4, you can participate in a three-day event to celebrate diversity and promote understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The 2nd Annual Pride Weekend is being held at venues in Central and South Maui all weekend long.

Festivities kick off on Friday night at 8 p.m. at Moose McGillicuddy’s in Kihei with the ’80s vs. ’90s Dance Party.

It’s a no cover, all ages event… well, until 10 p.m. for those of you 20 and younger.

Join DJ Ron and Out Aloha magazine until midnight as, presumably, hits from the ’80s and ’90s are played and the Electric Slide squares off with the Macarena.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Maui’s GLBT hiking group will meet up at 8:30 a.m. at the Starbucks in the Queen K Mall in Kahului. From there, the Maui Pride Culture Hike will take place until 10:30 a.m. at Kahakuloa Ridge.

The 2012 Pride Hike. Photo courtesy Maui Pride

After the hike, there will be caravans over to the Maui Tropical Plantation for the Maui Pride daytime festival.

Free and open to the public, the festival runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and features a drag show and drag race competition (probably not the car kind, folks) and Hawaiian cultural activities. There will also be food and beverages for purchase.

Following the festival, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is “An Evening Dinner with Streisand, Summer and their Closest Friends!”

A buffet dinner at the Maui Tropical Plantation will feature special performances by Barbara Streisand and Donna Summer impersonators along with some of their closest friends.

The show is produced and performed by Poison Waters and Bolivia Carmichaels and tickets are $60.

Tickets for the buffet dinner and show include entry to the Maui Pride Celebration Dance Party from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

DJ Ron is back again, this time playing top 40, house and other hits. Tickets are $5 and drinks will be available for purchase all night.

From there, you can head to Ambrosia in Kihei for the official after party. There is no cover and you can smash up against your friends and loved ones in the super tiny space until 2 a.m.

Presuming you head straight home and catch some ZZZs, events come to a close with the Maui Pride Breakfast Social at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Stella Blues in Kihei.

People who have purchased the Rainbow Pride Package for $125 will receive a free breakfast. The rest of you need to buy your own.

Have an idea for a fun, funny or thought-provoking story or topic? Get in touch: we want to hear from you. – Vanessa (@mauinow.com)