MALONE — After first being held last year, an LGBTQ Pride celebration is scheduled to return to the Kelly Pavilion in the Malone Village Memorial Park this weekend.

Fallon Nichols, who is helping to organize the celebration, said events are planned from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Last year’s Small Town Pride event was held later in the summer.

“We held it in August last year only because we had started planning at the end of May. June wasn’t possible for us last year,” Nichols said. “We heard suggestions from those that attended last year and they asked if we could do it during Pride Month.”

Nichols said the event received positive feedback last year.

“Last year’s event was absolutely amazing, there’s no other way to put it. The amount of support we were given was truly amazing and heartwarming, from the individuals who attended, the feedback we heard,” Nichols said. “We are very grateful for the support we are receiving from the community.”

Nichols said she is looking forward to this weekend.

“Our hope for this year’s event is to draw more individuals that may have been hesitant for the first time,” Nichols said. “So that they can have that place where they can just be themselves.”

Speakers, activities and music are all part of the plan for Saturday.

“We have a lot going on Saturday,” Nichols said, adding that local musicians, artists and vendors will be on hand for the event.

Additionally, Nichols said approximately 30 information booths will be at the event.

“They’re from local and surrounding community agencies,” Nichols said.

Nichols said the event will feature multiple free activities as well.

“We have lots of free activities for the youth and families, including bounce houses,” Nichols said.

Belly Buttons the Clown, and Alyx the Magician, of Vermont, will also be at the Kelly Pavilion.

“She (Alyx) is nationally known, she travels all over the United States,” Nichols said. “She grew up in northern Vermont, and she is actually volunteering her time, which is really cool.”

Carnival games will also be a part of the day’s schedule. International Border Company is helping with those games.

“They are free carnival games for the kids and that comes with prizes and chances for other giveaways,” Nichols said. “Lots of free stuff for our youth and families.”

Nichols credited a local teenager, Garrett Smith, with coming up with the idea for hosting Malone’s first Pride event last August.

Small Town Pride recently partnered with the Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance, an education and support group for LGBTQ people and allies.

“We are going to remain our own entity and still do our own thing but also collaborate together,” Nichols said. “They are a nonprofit and have a 501(c)(3) and we are too small to be able to do that, but because we are getting bigger we wanted to make sure we were doing things right, so we partnered with them.”

Nichols said the group’s official title is now Small Town Pride-ANCGA.