PLATTSBURGH — The crowd went wild when the pride flag was raised during Pride Fest this past Friday. This year’s Pride event was hosted by The Strand Center for the Arts on their front lawn with music, games, tie dye, cotton candy and more for everyone to enjoy. Games included cornhole, giant dartballs, giant Trouble, giant Connect Four and chalk to decorate the walkway with.

‘CELEBRATE AND LOVE EACH OTHER’ Following the event, The House of Starr, a local drag troupe, took to the stage of the Strand Theater for a Pride Fest Drag Show. “We’re very proud to have this here,” said Jamie Durivage, Strand Center stage manager. “The pride fest was looking for a new home, and we knew we could so we did.

I’m glad we did, so we can take care of it as best we can. We have some fun performances planned for tonight.” Assemblyman Billy Jones made an appearance at the event to give a speech about what pride means to the North Country.

“Happy Pride, and Happy Pride month,” Jones said. “Celebrate love and each other.” HUES OF IDENTITY At 5 p.

m., members of The Strand Center team raised the pride flag on the corner of Margaret and Brinkerhoff Streets. Inside the Strand Center for the Art’s is the Pride Exhibition, “Hues of Identity,” an exhibit dedicated to showcasing the art of queer individuals in the North Country.

The exhibition depicts a variety of artistic mediums from painting, drawing, sculpture, digital art, mixed media and photography. “As queer pe.