Pride in the Park is celebrating the 47th year of Salem Pride on Saturday, continuing its trend of growth with a record number of food vendors and performances.

“It’s a great opportunity for a lot of people to support other queer people and to just come together and feel welcome and wanted,” said Salem Capital Pride President Zachery Cardoso.

Salem Capital Pride puts on the event each year. They first took the festivities to Mill Race Park in August 2001, according to a Statesman Journal article from the time. That event saw 150 people.

Last year’s Pride in the Park drew in thousands more than the year before, according to Cardoso. He said a record number of booths, activities and services attracted the larger crowd.

Pride in the Park is held in September, instead of Pride Month in

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