Festival Policies

+ Safety and Security

The safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors, sponsors and all involved is a top priority for us. With that said, there will be no firearms or weapons of any kind allowed at the festival. Large back packs, outside food, drinks and coolers are also prohibited. Purses, Fannie packs, and other small bags are allowed but should be clear and will be subject to random search by security.

Our security officers, and police officers patrolling will be armed to keep everyone safe. The muhlenberg and surrounding police departments will be adding extra patrols and help to keep everyone safe.

All larger items should be left in your car, with the exception of chairs. We encourage you all to bring a chair or picnic blanket as chairs will not be provided this year.

While the Schuylkill River flows alongside our new location, logistics, security and safety will not allow for any entrance to or exit from the river during our festival. Kayaks and tubes are fun, but not acceptable transportation for our festival. :)

+ Inclusion

Reading Pride Celebration welcomes participation by all people regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identity, HIV status, national origin, physical or mental development ability, race, religion, and/or sexual orientation and asks all participants to engage in non-discriminating behaviors by respecting all other participants. This is a family event and children are present. Nudity, profanity and obscenity is prohibited and violators will be asked to leave. Also, events such as ours may attract protesters and we strongly suggest that no one engage in conversation with them.

+ Pets

We welcome dogs as a cherished part of our Reading Pride Celebration family. We ask that you follow a few guidelines to make sure everyone enjoys their day. Fresh water bowls being maintained and sponsored by the Animal Rescue league of Berks County.

• Never leave your dog alone for any reason at any time, including when you use the restroom.
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times, unless your dog is a service animal and being on-leash directly impacts their ability to do their job.
• If you need to approach another dog and their person, please give verbal warning. Blind and visually impaired individuals especially need this.
• For everyone’s comfort, please clean up your dog’s waste.
• You are responsible for keeping your dog under control. If your dog becomes a direct threat, you will be asked to remove the dog from the festival grounds.
• Sun and heat are especially hard for our furry companions. Please take advantage of available shade and water for your furry friends.

+ Smoking

READING PRIDE CELEBRATION IS SMOKE/VAPE FREE except for designated smoking areas.

Reading Pride Celebration is proud to support LGBT community health, and is proud that our pride festival will be designated as smoke free. (There will be two smoking areas just outside the festival.

+ Weather

Reading Pride Celebration is rain or shine! Tickets are not refundable.

+ No Alcoholic Beverages

Outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the pride festival area, however, there will be bars set up on site. Persons deemed to be visibly intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to participate and will be asked to leave.