LAKELAND, FL — The Rainbow Roots Festival is returning to Lakeland for its second year on Sunday, Oct. 4, bringing an expanded lineup of entertainment and a significant piece of LGBTQ+ history to Polk County. Panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed in the county for the first time in roughly 20 years, honoring some of the more than 700,000 lives lost to HIV and AIDS.
The free, all-ages festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lake Mirror Auditorium. The event is hosted by the Rose Dynasty Foundation in partnership with Pineapple Healthcare and celebrates LGBTQ+ arts, history and community.
Organizers said panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be available for attendees to view up close. The quilt, which began in 1985, has become known as the “world’s largest community arts project.” Individual panels measure approximately 3 feet by 6 feet and feature the names and stories of people who died from HIV and AIDS.
According to organizers, the display marks the first time in roughly two decades that portions of the quilt have been shown in Polk County. An earlier display was held in 1989 at what was then known as the Polk Museum of Art.
The festival debuted last year with more than 900 attendees, 38 vendors and 25 performers. This year’s event is expected to feature returning vendors along with an expanded entertainment lineup of singers, dancers and presentations highlighting local LGBTQ+ history.
Another addition this year will be a pop-up Little Free Pantry offering free nonperishable food, period products and hygiene supplies. Attendees who bring donations to the pantry will be entered for a chance to win $50 toward a commissioned art piece from Katrina Evans Art.
“The success of the Rainbow Roots Festival is a testament to the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Polk County, who continuously show up to celebrate and honor the rich history in our area and beyond,” said Jason DeShazo, founder of the Rose Dynasty Foundation and Polk County drag performer Momma Ashley Rose.
Admission is free, with food and concessions available for purchase inside the festival. A limited number of vendor and sponsorship spots are still available for the festival, and those interested can visit rainbowrootsfesitval.com for more information.
SOURCE: The Rose Dynasty Foundation
