I attended the Heartland Pride Parade and Pridefest on July 12, 2025.
I'd never been to Omaha, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Nebraska's slogan is “Nebraska. Honestly, it's not for everyone.”
I love that.
Setting the standard so low allowed for a great deal of surprises and positive experiences. The Omaha Zoo is one of the best in the country, but I'm saving that for another trip. I didn't have it in my budget to pay for tickets this time.
Heartland Pride charged admission, so my friend and I visited the Joslyn Art Museum, which was free. I'll be writing about that in another article.
A cool fountain and statuary were across from our hotel.
The Pride Parade was a decent size with a great crowd.
A group of women dressed like the characters in A Handmaid's Tale, representing the suppression of women and the fight for bodily autonomy.
Most of the people I encountered were great. I painted my nails, so I naturally got a few “looks,” but I ignored those.
The city has an awesome downtown area with old brick streets and buildings.
We visited an old-fashioned candy shop, a delicious ice cream parlor, met a dog with a cowboy hat, and I held a large, yellow boa constrictor.
The Pridefest was held in a large, indoor convention center. Many vendors were selling cool items, and corporate sponsors gave away free stuff.
It was a wonderful experience, and I'm looking forward to going back!
I wouldn't have been able to travel to these places without my paid subscribers. I appreciate you so much, and I hope the content I'm presenting reflects these awesome experiences.
Even though this is the last stop of my Midwest Pride Tour, there might be an encore in September.
Do you want exclusive content that most of my subscribers will never see? Do you want to collaborate with me? If so, become a paid subscriber.
Until the end of July, you can do it for only $3 per month ($30 per year).
If you feel generous, subscribe at the full price of $6 per month ($60 per year).
You can also buy me a coffee.