Pride Month artwalk: Signs point to a big evening in downtown Mobile
Over the last several years, the June artwalk has emerged as one of the city's biggest.
Mason Reed 
Downtown Mobile is set for a high-energy Friday as the city prepares for one of its most anticipated events of the year. When Irvington native and The Voice Season 29 winner Alexia Jayy takes the stage in Cathedral Square at approximately 6:30 p.m. to perform the National Anthem, she will be singing to a massive, bustling crowd.
A June Celebration
This Friday, June 12, marks the monthly artwalk, which takes on extra significance during June as it celebrates National Pride Month. In recent years, the Pride-themed artwalk has evolved into the biggest and most festive installment of the event series.
Sydney Cramer, program and advocacy manager at the Mobile Arts Council, notes that June and October consistently draw the largest turnouts. While October relies on the draw of fall weather and Halloween, June is anchored by Pride. Encouraging weather forecasts following a rained-out May event suggest this Friday will be a major success.
The scale of the event is reflected in the vendor count. According to Cramer, the Arts and Crafts Market currently has nearly 40 vendors signed up—nearing the 43-slot capacity—which is the highest turnout for the year.
Events and Entertainment
The festivities are spread across several hubs. Alongside the Dauphin Street Art Market near Cathedral Square, The Frenchmen gallery will host the Frenchmen Market in Bienville Square. Additionally, Conception Street will feature vendors as part of Alive With Pride, a month-long campaign supported by organizations including Rainbow Pride of Mobile and Prism United.
Following Alexia Jayy’s anthem performance, Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis is scheduled to issue a proclamation. The evening also features a Kids Zone on Claiborne Street and a second-line parade starting at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Conti and Conception streets.
The parade will loop around Bienville Square, leading into a drag show and community speaking session at the end of the night. Furthermore, the Alive With Pride Stage Celebration, running from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in front of the Flip Side Bar & Patio, will host performances by artists such as Corey Harvard, Cody Copeland, UnenvyPorsche, and Kristy Lee.
Community and Growth
The event highlights the growing momentum in downtown Mobile. New B-Bob’s owner Matthew Bees, who took over the local institution earlier this year, expressed enthusiasm for the city's upward trajectory, citing new infrastructure like the airport, arena, and Amtrak developments.
Note: Following initial publication, reports surfaced regarding the potential closure of B-Bob’s, as it was not operating as planned on Thursday evening. 205focus.com has removed specific event details previously attributed to the venue pending further information.
For the latest updates regarding artwalk, follow www.facebook.com/LODAartwalk.
