Colorful printmaking, community poems, and creative posters at Pride Festival.
We had a wonderful weekend of art-making and festivities at Centennial Park for Out On The Lakeshore’s Holland PRIDE Festival.
CultureWorks provided two activities for festival-goers. Visitors at our printmaking station could choose between four designs created by CultureWorks staff and friends. Each visitor selected their own color to create an individualized print, which ranged from local landmarks to Pride symbolism, such as flags or butterflies. Folks pressed their selected design onto postcard-sized paper.
Next was our typewriter station, where visitors could add personalized messages to their postcards. Additionally, we had a community story and poem typewriter where folks could respond to one of the many prompts we provided. Our story focuses on Walker the Pride worm who goes on to travel to the moon and back!
Holland PRIDE 2024 was a vibrant celebration that united our community through art and shared experiences. One festival-goer mentioned how they had traveled up from Indiana specifically to attend Holland PRIDE because they loved it so much last year. This weekend at Centennial Park was not just about making art but about building a stronger, more unified community through the shared joy of creativity and celebration.
Pride Poems
Community Story
This community story has been revised to bring more continuity to Walker the Pride Worm’s story. The editor has done their best to retain the spirit of all contributions.
It was a hot and muggy Saturday, and Walker was sitting in his favorite armchair and thinking about lemonade when suddenly someone knocked on the door. “Who is it?” Walker asked. Walker sees a giant purple polka-dot chicken holding a briefcase underneath his wing and wearing oversized glasses. This surprised Walker because the only person who usually knocked on his door was a giant purple polka dot turkey holding a briefcase and wearing oversized glasses.
The rain had stopped, and the sun started to peak out from the black clouds. Walker slithered to the door and opened it. He chanted a magic spell. BOOM! Suddenly, his wormlike appearance glistened with strawberry glitter. He laughed and slithered uber fast, showing off his glitter, when two men walked in dressed in all black. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see the cool guys when all of a sudden Walker wormed wormily, transforming into an even wormier worm.
As Walker was inching through Pride Fest, he saw a Scarlet Tanager flying high among the fest’s trees, and they knew they were home!
Walker was excited to see many other worms of different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Pride was a special time for Walker; it was a time to remember. Walker strode quickly and excitedly to join the rot squad. Walker traveled around the event and met new friends. Walker also found some yummy food at the Pride festival! Walker learned that to love is to accept yourself. Also, to be loved is to be transformed. Walker smiled, knowing that they found a family and place.
Walker thought he/she was all alone. Then, his/her little worm eyes spilled tears upon the realization that it just was not so. Walter felt beautiful and loved. Then the Scarlet Tanager spread its wings and yelled, “Fly, Walter, fly! You can fly!”
“Of course, I can fly! We can fly together!” Walter replied.
Suddenly, a meteor fell out of the sky. On it were more worm friends. Being from space, the new worms were rainbows, and they all sang songs in glitter language. But more important than all was the fact that they were kind. Together, Walker and the space worms flew through the clouds.
As Walker was flying, he looked over at the moon. It shined with a beautiful light. Wow, he thought, it’s beautiful. He turned his eyes to face the moon.
