Queerapalooza is back for round two and it’s bigger than before

Queerapalooza, a music and arts festival that was first held last year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Giovanni’s Room, wasn’t intended to become an annual event — but its success destined it for an encore.

Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou — executive director of Philly Aids Thrift — said the June 8 festival, held on the 1100 block of Pine Street, will continue to honor the legacy of the historic bookstore.

“Giovanni’s Room has stood as a beacon of support and acceptance for over five decades,” she said. “It remains an invaluable resource, offering a welcoming and educational space for LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as their families and friends. Beyond its role as a friendly local bookstore, Giovanni’s Room fosters a sense of community, extending a warm welcome to all!”

Philly Aids Thrift took over operations for the Gayborhood storefront — where customers can browse an extensive assortment of new and used books, vintage items and collectibles, clothing, and other goods — in 2014 to prevent it from closing. The organization later bought the business to secure its place in the community.

“In this world of Amazon, please support your local queer businesses and buy your books at QueerBooks.com,” Kallas-Saritsoglou said, underlining the need to preserve LGBTQ+ spaces and retailers. Any book can be purchased through Giovanni’s Room — not just titles related to LGBTQ+ experiences.

“We hope that new and old customers alike will join us in expressing our gratitude for this history, our joy in our present, and our hope for the future,” she said about welcoming attendees to this year’s Queerapalooza.

“Dancing in the street is strongly encouraged,” reads this year’s flier.

The all-day event will extend for an hour longer than it did last year. It’s the same format but with a larger footprint. The store’s merchandise will be placed out front for perusing. Mixto will offer food and drinks. And singers and entertainers will take to the stage. 

“There’s some folks that are lesser known and some folks that are fan favorites in the community,” Kallas-Saritsoglou said. Some of those favorites include Icon Ebony Fierce, Tony & The Kiki, Sug Daniels, and Fyre — a local pole dancer. The lineup also includes an eclectic group of bands and musicians of various genres, DJs, and drag artists.

Last year’s festival had space for 24 vendors, but the market portion of the event is expanding. Vendors will be positioned in Kahn Park — which allows Queerapalooza to welcome up to 40 artists, craft makers, vintage retailers, and other small, independent businesses.

“Most of them are local queer artists,” she said. “We wanted to celebrate the creativity that’s in the community.”

Last year, Kallas-Saritsoglou worried inclement weather might ruin the festival, but the sun was shining. However, nature brought other challenges. Wildfires raged in Canada bringing smoky air across the Northeast, making it one of the worst weeks of the year for air quality. Advisories warned people to limit outdoor activities due to unsafe conditions.

Fortunately, Kallas-Saritsoglou explained that the festival experienced one of multiple “mini miracles.”

“The evening before it just started to subside, and then that morning it was completely clear,” she said. “So we were at the event!”

Weather is a concern again this year, since there’s no option to postpone the event for a make-up date — but Kallas-Saritsoglou is less concerned about air quality this season.

“We just have to make sure it doesn’t rain,” she underlined.

Giovanni’s Room is hosting Queerapalooza from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. on June 8 on the 1100 block of Pine Street.