Utah Pride Festival 2008

Welcome to the 2008 Utah Pride Festival! This year’s festival features non-stop entertainment on two stages, great food and beverage options, and over a hundred exhibitors who represent the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. This brochure is your guide to the festival! For additional festival information, please visit www.utahpride.org or visit the Pride Headquarters & Information Booth located on festival grounds near the east stairs of the City building. The following are basic rules and regulations that make for a safe and happy festival for all.

Basic Information: The 2008 Utah Pride Festival is a private event. Please be advised that the event organizer, the Utah Pride Center, reserves the right to decline admittance to anyone who violates the reasonable policies established by the Utah Pride Center. Local law enforcement is responsible for enforcing all applicable state laws and local ordinances during Utah Pride Festival events. Such statutes and ordinances regulate issues including public decency, alcohol consumption and distribution, controlled substances, public safety and vehicle-related issues. Uniformed Security and Safety Monitors will be in abundance and constantly patrolling the festival grounds. Festival staff and volunteers will be identifiable by the official staff or volunteer t-shirts. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance in the event that a problem should arise.

Prohibited Items: No firearms, coolers, alcohol purchased outside of the festival grounds, glass bottles, or open containers from outside are permitted. Festival and Parade participants and attendees are reminded that public nudity is illegal, and such laws will be enforced by local law enforcement personnel. In addition, participants are not permitted to leave the festival grounds with open containers of alcohol. Organizers encourage you to support festival vendors and discourage you from bringing your own food or beverages to the festival. You may bring bottled water in plastic containers (bottled water will be on sale at various locations throughout the festival). For your safety and protection, Utah Pride reserves the right to search all bags and people entering the festival area. Anyone failing to comply with regulations will be asked to leave.

Festival Admission: A ticket is required for admission to the festival. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Purchase your tickets online at www.utahpride.org to avoid waiting in line. With a pre-purchased ticket, a new express lane will fast-track you onto the festival grounds. If you leave the festival grounds and want to return, you must have your hand stamped for re-entry.

Volunteers: Hundreds of volunteers are needed to produce the festival each year. Volunteers must apply in advance and must agree to work a shift of three or more hours. The Volunteer Reception Area is located at the main festival entrance on 400 South. Admission is free to volunteers on the day(s) of their volunteer shift. Those who cannot afford admission are encouraged to volunteer. Additionally, some tickets may be available, in limited circumstances, for low-income entrants. Contact the Utah Pride Center at 539-8800 for more information.

Alcoholic Beverages: As required by Utah law, you must be 21 years or older to purchase or consume any alcoholic beverage. Age verification for alcohol sales will be conducted with a wristband system. Alcohol purchasers and consumers must wear an appropriate wristband at all time. To ensure that you will be permitted to purchase alcohol, please bring your drivers license or state ID to the festival. In addition to the wristband, consumers of alcohol MUST HAVE ID AT ALL TIMES. The Utah Pride Festival asks that participants enjoy alcohol responsibly, if at all. Alcohol will not be sold to intoxicated individuals. The Utah Pride Center and the festival sponsors remind and encourage participants to make arrangements for a designated driver. Additionally, the festival is conveniently located near public transportation. Volunteers and/or safety and security personnel will make arrangements for taxicabs to transport intoxicated individuals as requested. Intoxicated individuals will be asked to leave the festival grounds. The Utah Pride Center and its festival sponsors, including Bud Light and Absolute, remind festival attendees to exercise good judgment when consuming alcoholic beverages, and IF YOU DRINK, DON'T DRIVE!

Public Decency: The Utah Pride Center recognizes and values the diversity in lifestyles within our community. In particular, organizations have strived to create a family-oriented environment. The Utah Pride Center recognizes that many festival attendees are parents who wish to bring their children to the festival, however we also recognize that other individuals desire to freely express adult-themed content at the festival. The Utah Pride Center respects all individuals’ freedom of expression and association, while reminding participants that nudity is illegal. Behavior outside of the bounds of the law is not endorsed by the Utah Pride Center. The Utah Pride Center encourages all attendees to exercise good judgment and tact while demonstrating respect for one another. The Utah Pride Center encourages all attendees to refrain from public nudity and encourages parents to use their discretion to assess the age and sensitivity-level of their children in determining which events, areas, and times to bring their children. Attendees are expected to behave in a manner appropriate to a public event in the presence of children at all times.

ATM Services: Please remember that many of our vendors are not set up to accept credit cards or checks and may have a cash-only policy. With that in mind, ATM machines can be found at multiple locations on the festival grounds. There is a nominal fee to withdraw your cash from these on-site ATM machines.

Concession: We encourage you to take time to visit the more than 100 exhibitors participating in the festival and to support the businesses and organizations that support your community. Have fun shopping and meeting these wonderful people.

Parking: Parking at and around the festival grounds is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking fees and time limits may apply. Please be sure to look for notices and posted warnings when you park your car. The 2008 Utah Pride Festival encourages attendees to make use of the public transportation systems that serve the festival grounds. For those differently-abled, limited parking is available in the lots on and around Library Square. The organizers assume no responsibility for theft or damage to vehicles. You are responsible for securing and locking your vehicle while in attendance at festival events.

Food and Beverage: This year we have a large selection of food vendors offering a wide variety in food and snacks to please individual tastes. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks will be available at several locations on the festival grounds. Bottled water will also be sold and a number or free water fountains are located on the festival grounds. Please help us keep the grounds clean and green by dispensing of trash and recyclable items in appropriate containers.

Free HIV Testing: In cooperation with the Utah AIDS Foundation, the Utah Pride Center is pleased to announce that free HIV testing will be available at the festival.

Children's Area: The Utah Pride Center is pleased to announce the return of the children's area in the southwest corner of the park. This area is always free to any family, however THIS IS NOT A DAYCARE SERVICE. Parents are expected to remain with their children at all times. Children left unattended may be reported to law enforcement.

Lost and Found: Lost and Found facilities are located at the Pride Headquarters and Information booth located near the east stairs to the City and County building. After the festival, please call the Utah Pride Center at 539-8800 for information or to claim lost items.

First Aid: First aid and emergency care is provided courtesy of the American Red Cross. The first aid booth is located at the east entrance of the City and County building.

Sign Language Services: The festival will have professional American Sign Language translators available at the festival stage. The 2008 Utah Pride Festival is also wheelchair accessible. The Utah Pride Center hopes to make our events accessible for all people, regardless of ability. If you have special needs, please ask a volunteer or staff member for assistance, or call us in advance at 539-8800.

Pet Policy: Animal lovers are urged to leave their pets at home for their comfort and safety. Even the most socialized of animals can often become stressed, agitated, and overheated in the festival atmosphere. Also, please consider that some festival attendees might be uncomfortable in the presence of your family pets. If you bring your pets to the festival, please remember that you are responsible for them at all times. You will be expected to provide water, pick up after them, and keep them under control, so come prepared. Pets must remain leashed or caged at all times while at the festival.

Cameras and Video Equipment: Cameras and video recording devices may be used for PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. Members of the media and individuals and organizations wishing to document the festival must fill out a media application and check in with a designated Utah Pride Center staff member. In addition, recording of the performances of the professional entertainers at the festival is prohibited. Some entertainers’ contractual arrangements do not allow pictures or videotaping of their show and the festival will honor their legal obligations and contractual arrangements. Accordingly, when photographing at the festival, please ask for permission of the subject in advance to respect people’s wishes regarding having their likeness captured.