Spokane Pride Parade, festival is Saturday

Spokane’s 26th annual Pride Parade is drawing a bit of inspiration from “Star Wars.”

The theme, “May Pride be With You,” started as a joke when organizers were looking at memorabilia from the franchise while making plans. But to avoid infringing on Disney’s rights, organizers said it’s also intended as an inspiring phrase, akin to “may the Lord be with you.”

“Any ‘Star Wars’ reference is completely coincidental,” joked Michael Jepson, an OutSpokane board member who organizes Pride.

Saturday’s celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community will feature the usual march through downtown, starting at noon, followed by a festival on the Lilac Meadows on the north bank of the Spokane River. The usual location in Riverfront Park was moved because of construction.

An 800-square-foot rainbow flag is a new addition to the parade. OutSpokane purchased it with donations from people who sponsored one of the flag’s 80 handles.

Jepson has asked a classmate from North Pines Middle School, who was the first person he came out to, to carry his handle.

For the second year in a row, fireworks will follow the celebration at 10 p.m.