Despite Rain, Pride Committee Considers Festival Week a Success

When weather gets in the way of plans, people can become frustrated and the situation only becomes more uneasy. Weather was a problem for many in town a couple weeks ago, but the never lost its cool, enjoying its week with the community instead.

Throughout the 20th annual Pride in Manchester Week in the beginning of June, it seemed like Noah’s Ark would be making an appearance. Despite the heavy rain, thunder and lightning, the committee said events still went on, with a few changes made on the fly. All things considered, the committee said it was a fantastic event for the town.

“It was really a wonderful week even with the crazy weather,” Joyce Hodgson, who chairs the committee, said. “You just have to roll with the punches and do the best you can.”

Hodgson, who is also the executive director of the Little Theater of Manchester at Cheney Hall, is very proud of what the committee put together, as well as all the people who came out in the rain. Hodgson said she cannot see the committee going about the week differently next year, as a response to the weather that happened this year.

“There’s nothing you can do about weather,” she said. “You just need to make sure that people are constantly keeping in touch with one another, and you have to be patient.”

Hodgson said the Strollin’ on Main Street event on June 9 was most affected by the torrential weather. There were bursts of thunder and lightning, but she said entertainers, such as local musicians, showed up anyway.

“People are proud of what they do and what they offer,” Hodgson said. “Walking down Main Street didn’t happen because it was far too dangerous outside, but they still made something out of it.”

Hodgson said the entertainers went inside to local businesses, as they showed off their talents in stores. Instead of an external stroll down Main St., Hodgson said it became an internal stroll, and people seemed to have a good time.

There was also rain during Heritage Day on June 11, the climax of the weeklong celebration. Hodgson said it was an amazing day despite the bad weather.

She said that Cheney Hall was full of people doing all sorts of activities. Exhibits, entertainment and performances were happening at the core cultural center throughout the day.

In addition to the programming at Cheney Hall, the day included a free old-fashioned trolley shuttle between S.H.A.R.E. sites, which is a collaboration of historical, arts, recreation and educational institutions in South Manchester.

“A lot of people jumped on the trolley to move place to place,” Hodgson said. “They didn’t have to worry about their car, and they didn’t have to walk through the rain.”

New this year to Pride in Manchester Week was a photography contest, spotlighting what makes Manchester such a great place to live, work and play. Winning photographs will appear in a 2012 calendar.

The week actually began with beautiful weather, as thousands came out to the sunny on June 4. Stealing Jupiter, a local band, opened up the concert, and they were followed by The Great Escape, a Journey Tribute band.

Then on June 6, the weather was splendid yet again. Susan Barlow of the Manchester Historical Society co-led a free history walk at the East Cemetery, as she provided commentary about the gravestones and cemetery.

“It was absolutely beautiful weather for the walk,” Barlow said. “Not only is this cemetery historic, but it’s also an excellent resource for genealogy and finding veterans of the Civil War. I was really pleased with the public’s response and the amount of people who came out.”

Barlow, who was the treasurer for the committee, is grateful for all of the sponsors and donors of the week.

“Some are these tiny businesses and they still pitch in,” Barlow said. “These events couldn’t have happened without our sponsors, and all these events bring us closer together as a community.”