The Aqua-Nets perform at the Asphalt Amphitheater. (Photo: Susan Fried)

PHOTO ESSAY | White Center Pride 2024

On a classic Seattle first day of June — overcast and only slightly warmer than November — Pride Month started out brilliantly in White Center, with hundreds of people enjoying the Fifth Annual White Center Pride Street Festival. Local businesses and vendors adorned their storefronts and booths with rainbow colors, and huge rainbow arches dotted the street along 16th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Roxbury Street and Southwest 100th Street.

Published on:

Jun 04, 2024, 11:00 pm

by Susan Fried

The all-ages festival featured a pet pride parade, multiple beverage gardens, several stages featuring live music and performances, delicious food, live wrestling matches facilitated by Lariat Bar, and a children's area with a super slide.

The block party started at 11 a.m. and continued until 11 p.m. If you missed this year's festivities, there's always next year! Judging by the 2024 Street Festival, 2025's event promises to be even bigger and better. Follow White Center Pride on Instagram for more info on events throughout the year.

Booths at the White Center Pride Street Festival offer

Members of the organization Free Mom Hugs offer hugs to passersby at the Fifth Annual White Center Pride Street Festival on June 1, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Children hold hands and dance in a circle, laughing at the White Center Pride Street Festival. Adults watch and smile in the background.

Children dance during a performance of the Aqua-Nets at the Asphalt Amphitheater. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two dancers in black outfits and rainbow leg warmers dance with a young girl in a pink outfit at the White Center Pride Street Festival. The band performs on stage behind them.

Members of the Aqua-Nets dance with an audience member in front of the Asphalt Amphitheater during the Fifth Annual White Center Pride Street Festival on June 1, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two wrestlers face off in a ring at the White Center Pride Street Festival. One wrestler, in black and white pants, kicks the other, who is shirtless and in red shorts. A referee and a cheering crowd watch.

Wrestlers from DEFY Wrestling competed in matches in front of the Lariat Bar during the Fifth Annual White Center Pride Street Festival on June 1, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A singer in a bright pink beret, purple glasses, and a fuzzy pink jacket performs at the White Center Pride Street Festival, passionately singing into a microphone.

The lead singer for the Aqua-Nets. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A large crowd walks under an inflatable rainbow arch at the White Center Pride Street Festival. Tents and booths line both sides of the street, and a sign reads

Hundreds of people celebrated the first day of Pride Month at the Fifth Annual White Center Pride Street Festival on June 1, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A diverse crowd watches a wrestling match at the White Center Pride Street Festival. One man in a rainbow outfit and a blue animal hat stands out among the spectators.

An enthusiastic crowd watches wrestlers from DEFY Wrestling compete in matches in front of the Lariat Bar. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A band performs on stage at the White Center Pride Street Festival. The lead singer wears a colorful outfit, another singer wears a metallic robot costume, and the bassist has blue hair and a headband.

The Aqua-Nets perform for an enthusiastic crowd. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Festival-goers enjoy the White Center Pride Street Festival. A woman with heart-shaped sunglasses and hair decorations smiles while holding a drink.

Audience members enjoy a performance by the Aqua-Nets at the Asphalt Amphitheater. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Festival-goers walk under a vibrant rainbow arch at the White Center Pride Street Festival. The street is lined with booths and colorful decorations, with people enjoying the festivities.

Rainbow arches decorated 16th Avenue Southwest in White Center during the White Center Pride Street Festival. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A performer in a colorful, patterned bodysuit and neon green wig entertains children in front of the stage at the White Center Pride Street Festival. The band performs energetically in the background.

Holli B. Sinclair dances with some children in front of the Asphalt Amphitheater before a performance by the Aqua-Nets. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two wrestlers engage in a match at the White Center Pride Street Festival. One wrestler in red pants grabs the other, who is wearing black and purple shorts. A referee watches closely.

Wrestlers participate in a tag-team match. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two women work at a food booth at the White Center Pride Street Festival. One cooks on a grill while the other prepares and hands out food to customers. The background shows a busy crowd.

Dishing up pupusas at Pupuseria Salvadorea Natalie. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A white dog wearing a rainbow harness walks with its owner at the White Center Pride Street Festival. The street is filled with people enjoying the event.

A dog shows his pride at the White Center Pride Street Festival on June 1, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Susan Fried is a 40-year veteran photographer. Her early career included weddings, portraits, and commercial work — plus, she's been The Skanner News' Seattle photographer for 25 years. Her images have appeared in the University of Washington's The Daily, The Seattle Globalist, Crosscut, and many more.She's been an Emerald contributor since 2015. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan.

📸 Featured Image: The Aqua-Nets perform at the Asphalt Amphitheater during the Fifth Annual White Center Pride Street Festival on June 1, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

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