Introducing: THE Queer Weekend
When you visit a Richmond Makers Market, you are entering a magical zone where the jams are pumping, the drinks are cold, and the company is inspiring. Makers will talk to you about their craft, gush about their favorite market neighbors, and show you the passion that’s driving them. You can feel the sense of community around you as friends share their finds while enjoying entertainment, food, and drink specials. This is not a place to buy stuff. RVA Makers Market is a place to connect.
For the last few years Richmond Makers Market has hosted pride markets in June and September. We have always made space for makers based on a combo of skill, growth, and vibe. We are not exclusively a queer market, it just so happens that by cultivating an open and safe environment, we connect with humans that align in our spaces. Our spaces are queer because everyone deserves a place where they feel like they belong.
We expanded our pride markets to Big Gay Weekend(s) in 2021 by popular demand. The 2-day festivals have been consistently incredible celebrations of love and self.
When I saw there was a new monthly event starting this year, called Big Gay Market, my first thought was this is perplexing, but I waited to see if there was any confusion about the names, and beginning in February, we saw that the similar language was causing our old events to show up in search results above current and future events for Big Gay Market. Vendors came to us asking about applications or to ask about the venue and so it became clear that continuing to call our PRIDE-fests, “Big Gay Weekend” was going to cause a lot of unnecessary confusion.
Big Gay Weekend was kindof a throwaway name. It was a working title and it stuck. I took it from Big Gay Ice Cream, so while I have been using it for a while, I'm not sad to see it go. I got to draw a pretty rainbow and pick out new fonts to talk about our evolution from Big Gay Weekend to THE Queer Weekend.
Why THE Queer Weekend? Queer is all inclusive. Queer doesn’t require you define your gayness. It’s ok if you don’t know yet. It’s ok if you aren’t ready yet. Queer is as simple or complex as you need it to be. Queer means I don't have to explain. Queer is all of us. One label, infinite meanings. Queer is confidence. Queer is identifying my people outside of gender or sexual preference. THE Queer Weekend is a way to celebrate all that is queer with all who love us.
Bringing us to what you can expect for future THE Queer Weekend with RVA Makers Market.
On June 1st and 2nd we launch our name at our 2nd BLOCK PARTY in Manchester. In partnership with Basic City Beer and Legend, we will take over both sides of Perry Street at 6th Street with dozens of outdoor makers, live music, performances, food trucks, drink specials, and activities along with the usual Basic City game room packed with makers and those last glimpses of skyline views from the Legend patio.
While the future of our collaborations in the fall and holiday season with Legend is up to the realestate gods, bi-annual THE Queer Weekends will be bigger and gayer forever and ever.
