MI Pride in the Park is set for Aug. 7

Community celebration will take place at Mercerdale.

By Andy Nystrom • August 1, 2025 8:30 am
Attendees with and without masks joined in the community celebration at last year’s Mercer Island Pride in the Park at Mercerdale Park. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo
Attendees with and without masks joined in the community celebration at last year’s Mercer Island Pride in the Park at Mercerdale Park. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Music, dancing, Rupaw’s Puppy Party and celebrating will liven up the day at the city of Mercer Island-hosted Pride in the Park community event on Aug. 7 at Mercerdale Park.

Fun activities will begin at 4:30 p.m. and Brickhouse’s ’70s disco and funk vibes will keep the party rolling at 6:30 p.m. at the Mostly Music in the Park concert.

“Come by for vendors, activities and to celebrate that being who you are is wonderful and that everyone belongs in our community,” reads a city press release. The event will also feature community booths and food trucks. An event flier encourages people to bring their whole family.

The Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) is one of the city’s community partners at the event: “Showing up for all members of our community is something MIVAL loves to do. We’ll have a hands-on art project ready for all ages,” said Carol Whitaker, MIVAL volunteer.

Mercer Island’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) department Administrator Derek Franklin said that YFS is honored to participate in the Pride event “to support members of the Island’s LGBTQIA+ community and to help foster meaningful community connections, reduce the experience of isolation, and highlight YFS’s behavioral health support services for queer youth, adults, seniors and families.”

The city is proud to host the Pride event, according to a statement to the Reporter, adding that it’s a community celebration of diversity, inclusion and belonging.

“This event invites everyone to engage with local booths, resources, food and music. Beyond advocacy, it’s a joyful gathering that brings Mercer Island together. By hosting Pride just before Mostly Music in the Park, we hope to encourage residents to enjoy both events and help foster a welcoming space for all,” the city statement noted.

Pride in the Park is fully city hosted and funded, with the approximately $2,500 to present the event coming from the allocated special events budget under the Recreation Division. The city receives a yearly $44,000 King County 4Culture grant that it utilizes as across-the-board special events revenue, according to the city.

At last year’s event before the Scrunchies ’80s cover band kicked off its set, the guitarist/vocalist eyed the crowd and asked for a chant of “Pride!” It was loud at first, but the bandleader wanted more from the attendees. After giving it a second go, the noise level massively rose, satisfied smiles abounded and the tunes were underway, according to a Reporter story.