Masterman's Pride Fest

As dreadful final exams loom and Philadelphia’s weather heats up, the end of the school year at Masterman can feel overwhelming. But amid this period of stress, there are many activities for fun, one being Masterman’s Annual Pride Fest, which is coming up on June 4th.

Since its creation in 2022, Pride at Masterman has grown immensely. What started as a small celebration in the gym has now upscaled to a festival on the rooftop featuring booths, vendors, and even live performances from bands. Last year, students were seen getting their faces painted, eating cotton candy, and dancing to performances from various groups. The lineup showcased performances from the bands These Lambs Are Not From Heaven, Livewire, The Kits, and the Teacher Band, many of which will be returning this year.

This year, Masterman’s Pride Fest is growing even more. Pride’s theme this year is “Fabric of Freedom”, and many of its activities will revolve around this theme. For example, “Masterman’s Bazaar,” which is Masterman’s first thrifting event with the mission of “recirculating the clothing of Masterman.” Meanwhile, Pride will continue student-run vendors with the addition of a booth run by the Attic Youth Center.  The celebration will also see the addition of two new 9th-grade bands, a rock band which goes by the name “Dizzy”, “Drumroll Please” and KDC. Cyrus Fisher (‘25), one of the student organizers for this year’s event, added, “One new performance I’m really excited about is the drag performer we have coming. Everyone’s going to love her!” 

While Pride is a fun break from school, it has a deeper importance. Ms. Waber, Masterman English teacher and sponsor of QSA, shared Pride at Masterman is “a time for celebration, visibility, and advocacy, marking progress,” and with the theme this year being ““Fabric of Freedom,”she hopes to “represent the interconnectedness and unity of the LGBTQIA+ community.” As QSA prepares to host another Pride Fest, they hope it creates joy and belonging, and serves as a platform for education and awareness, and a call to action to urge our school community to continue to celebrate our diversity and stand up against ongoing injustices and discrimination.