By Eston Tolf / For Black Squirrel News
BATTLE CREEK — Rainbow flags waved above hundreds of attendees as music, local vendors, and community organizations transformed Leila Arboretum into a vibrant celebration of pride on Saturday, July 18, bringing Battle Creek residents together for a day centered on visibility, inclusion, and community.
Hosted by BC Pride, the annual festival featured local organizations, vendors, performers and community members who gathered to celebrate while creating opportunities for connection and support. This marked another milestone for an organization that has grown significantly since its beginnings a decade ago.
Building a community celebration
For BC Pride President and co-founder Deana Spencer, the festival represents more than a yearly gathering; it is an opportunity to create a space where people feel intentionally welcomed and supported.
“Battle Creek Pride works really hard to focus on our community and to make this a very intentional event,” Spencer said.
Spencer added that the festival’s growth reflects the support it has received from community partners, vendors and volunteers. What began as a small picnic at Willard Library with around 30 people has grown into a four-day celebration that included trivia, drag performances, a downtown parade and Saturday’s festival at Leila Arboretum.
Looking ahead, Spencer said she hopes BC Pride continues expanding while maintaining its focus on partnerships and education.
“My goal is just to keep getting bigger and better,” Spencer said.
Celebrating through connection
For Jim Craig, a tattoo artist with Ink Station Tattoo in Battle Creek, participating in Pride is a way to support the community while representing a group that is not always highly visible in his industry.
“Coming from a queer background, you don’t see a lot of artists or tattoo artists that are really prevalent in the business,” Craig said. “So I have always made it my mission, now that I’ve become a tattoo artist, to be involved with the community and to celebrate.”
Craig said Pride also provides an opportunity to connect with others and create a welcoming environment.
“There are a lot of people who make you feel ashamed for just being who you are,” Craig said. “So I want to always celebrate, and I want to celebrate other people because meeting people and celebrating others is what I do best.”
Finding belonging at Pride
Among the crowd at Leila Arboretum was David Greenquist, who stood offering something simple to festivalgoers: a free hug.
Greenquist and his sign were one example that reflected the welcoming atmosphere that he said keeps him returning to Pride each year. Greenquist said he first discovered the event through an online advertisement and continues returning each year because of the connections he makes with other attendees.
“Pride means to love whoever you want,” Greenquist said.
For those attending Pride for the first time, Greenquist offered a simple invitation.
“Do come. You’ll be glad you did.”
How we reported this
Black Squirrel News attended Battle Creek Pride’s July 18 festival at Leila Arboretum, interviewing organizers, participants and festivalgoers while documenting the event through photographs.
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