Locals celebrate at the Equality Fest in Biloxi over the weekend

Nearly 2,000 people and more than 200 vendors showed out to Equality Fest in Biloxi over the weekend to celebrate pride and identity acceptance.

The Gulf Coast Equality Council teamed up with Harrah’s and the Scarlet Pearl Casino to put on a celebration of diversity for the fifth year.

Each year, the festival creates a safe place for individuals to be themselves without fear of judgement.

Whether it was to celebrate pride or show support as an ally, guests had access to music, food, and a drag show at 4:30 that afternoon.

This year’s event was the largest yet with about 50 more vendors than last year. Gulf Coast Equality Council Board President Molly Kester said, “A lot of good vendors, a good chance to kick some things off on your Christmas shopping list, great food, just a lot of fun, loving people.”

Equality Fest Vendor Alex Borchardt said, “They should expect a lot of color, a lot of fun, a lot of people just being themselves in the best way possible. I feel as though this is a place where people can really be themselves, that on their 9 to 5 jobs maybe they can’t express themselves in the way they originally want to and who they are inside.”