N.E.W. Pride Alive 2025
- 19-20 Sep 2025
- De Pere, WI
N.E.W. Pride Alive 2025
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### A regional celebration of lgbtq+Q+ life in northeast Wisconsin
N.E.W. Pride Alive, the community festival formerly known as Rainbow Over Wisconsin, has grown into the signature lgbtq+Q+ celebration for the greater Fox Valley and Green Bay region. The organization exists to **empower lgbtq+Q+ individuals and organizations in Northeastern Wisconsin**, raise awareness of their history and current issues, and provide funding for programs that support queer and trans people year‑round. N.E.W. Pride sponsors social events, educational workshops and a major summer festival that draws thousands of people. Its mission is to create a Northeast Wisconsin where every lgbtq+Q+ person can flourish and to foster partnerships that build a more inclusive community. The festival is produced by volunteers and local sponsors and reinvests proceeds in community grants and scholarships.
### Dates and venues for 2025
The 2025 edition of N.E.W. Pride Alive is scheduled for **Friday–Saturday, September 19–20, 2025**, at the **Brown County Fairgrounds** (1500 Ft Howard Avenue, De Pere, Wisconsin). Organisers confirmed in a local news report that the festival runs over two days. According to Fox 11, the schedule they released for the 2024 festival featured a **21+ party on the first night** and an all‑ages celebration on the second day【42916027634142†L120-L127】. The 2025 festival will follow a similar format: Friday evening will be geared toward adults aged 21 and older, with DJs, cabaret acts, a beer garden and late‑night dancing. Saturday’s programming is designed for all ages and families, with daytime entertainment, vendors, food trucks and youth‑friendly activities. The grounds are accessible and have plenty of parking, but organisers encourage guests to use ride‑share services or shuttle buses to reduce congestion.
### Friday night: adults‑only cabaret and dance party
Opening night on **Friday, 19 September 2025** focuses on nightlife and adult entertainment. Gates will open around **5 p.m.** with a welcome mixer and cocktail hour. The evening programme includes:
* **Cabaret show with local drag stars** – Northeast Wisconsin has a vibrant drag scene, and the festival invites some of the region’s favourite queens and kings to perform. In 2024 the second day included a **Drag Story Time** featuring performers Anita Bobbypin and Ellah Maeaux【42916027634142†L120-L127】. For 2025 the organisers plan a more grown‑up cabaret with comedy, burlesque and live singing followed by a meet‑and‑greet.
* **Music and dancing** – Multiple DJs spin high‑energy sets ranging from pop and country remixes to house and EDM. A dance floor and lighting rig turn the exhibition hall into a club space. A beer garden features local craft brews, hard seltzers and cocktails. Guests must show ID at the gate; those under 21 will be admitted only during set changeovers to assist with setup.
* **Community awards** – N.E.W. Pride Alive honours organisations and individuals who have contributed to lgbtq+Q+ visibility in rural Wisconsin. Past honourees include supportive businesses, educators and activists. The ceremony highlights the importance of allyship and the network of small towns that sustain the festival.
### Saturday festival: family‑friendly pride celebration
On **Saturday, 20 September 2025**, the Brown County Fairgrounds transform into a daytime pride festival open to everyone. The second day will include many of the elements that made previous editions so successful:
* **Main stage entertainment** – A full day of live music ranges from local rock bands to queer country artists and drag troupes. Performers from across the state volunteer their talents to celebrate diverse identities. Mid‑day, festival goers gather for speeches from community leaders and a moment of remembrance for queer and trans people whose lives were lost over the past year. The afternoon culminates in a high‑energy drag show.
* **Family zone and youth activities** – A supervised area will offer face painting, craft stations and games for children and teens. Volunteers will lead storytime and reading circles, and there will be opportunities to learn about lgbtq+Q+ history and rights. The event emphasises that families are welcome and that all ages should be able to celebrate pride together. The 2024 festival drew crowds to a **heartwarming Drag Story Time**【42916027634142†L120-L127】; organisers plan to expand this concept with puppet shows and interactive theatre.
* **Vendors and community booths** – More than forty local businesses, artisan markets and non‑profits will line the fairgrounds offering pride‑themed merchandise, informational materials and free health resources. Food trucks will serve Wisconsin staples—brats, cheese curds, vegan wraps and sweet treats—alongside beer tents and non‑alcoholic beverage stalls. Community organisations will register voters, provide HIV testing and distribute harm‑reduction kits.
* **Fireworks and closing ceremony** – The festival traditionally ends with a fireworks display over the De Pere waterfront. Before the finale, organisers invite attendees to light candles or phone torches in a moment of solidarity. The closing ceremony includes thank‑yous to sponsors and volunteers and a call to support local lgbtq+Q+ initiatives year‑round.
### The event’s impact and what’s new for 2025
N.E.W. Pride Alive has been central to lgbtq+Q+ visibility in rural Wisconsin for nearly three decades. It began in 1996 as a picnic hosted by **Rainbow Over Wisconsin** and has evolved into a multifaceted festival that draws participants from Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and small towns across the Fox Valley. In recent years the organisers have increased their focus on **youth outreach and rural inclusion**, emphasising that queer people in small communities deserve affirmation and celebration. The festival also acts as a fundraiser for local organisations such as Pride Center of Green Bay and PFLAG De Pere.
For 2025, the organising committee plans to expand the festival’s **rural outreach** by providing **free shuttle buses** from towns like Shawano and Manitowoc, making it easier for people without reliable transportation to attend. They also intend to launch a **queer history exhibit** featuring oral histories from older residents and archival materials; this aligns with N.E.W. Pride’s goal of bridging generational gaps in the local lgbtq+Q+ community. Environmental sustainability is another focus: the festival will increase recycling stations, encourage reusable water bottles and offer water refill stations.
### Planning your visit
* **Tickets and entry** – Admission to Saturday’s festival is **free**, while Friday evening requires a modest cover charge to support the entertainment and venue rental. VIP packages include reserved seating near the stage and access to an indoor lounge.
* **Travel and accommodation** – De Pere is located about 15 minutes south of downtown Green Bay. Visitors coming from out of town can fly into Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport or drive via U.S. 41. Several hotels near the fairgrounds offer Pride weekend specials; book early because rooms sell out quickly.
* **What to bring** – Attendees should pack sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, hats and a refillable water bottle. Wisconsin weather in mid‑September can change quickly, so layers and rain ponchos are advisable. Pets are not permitted on the fairgrounds except for certified service animals.
* **Respect and safety** – N.E.W. Pride Alive is committed to creating a safe, respectful environment for everyone. Harassment, discrimination and disruptive behaviour are not tolerated. Security personnel and volunteer marshals are present to assist attendees, and medical services are available on‑site.
### Looking ahead to 2026
While the focus is on making the 2025 festival inclusive and memorable, organisers are already considering long‑term sustainability. They are exploring the possibility of adding a **Sunday spiritual service and community picnic** in 2026 to extend the weekend and provide a quieter, reflective space after the main festivities. They also hope to increase scholarship funding for lgbtq+Q+ youth and collaborate with neighbouring pride committees to create a statewide network of rural pride events. By continually evolving, N.E.W. Pride Alive aims to remain a beacon of visibility and support for Wisconsin’s lgbtq+Q+ community.