Folks, grab your rainbow flags and your lawn chairs—it’s almost time for Gay Pride 2017!
On Sunday, September 17th, the city of Dallas will be hosting its 34th annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Whether you’re a proud member of the LGBTQ community or just an enthusiastic ally, this event is an amazing opportunity to have fun, meet new people, and celebrate love. Come as you are!
If you’ve never attended a Gay Pride event and are feeling a bit overwhelmed, please don’t fret. Here are three tips for making your experience a great one:
Arrive Early
This is good advice for any kind of parade or public celebration! You’ll want to be settled in long before the festivities start, because once the shebang is in full swing, finding a place to park your car and a good vantage point from which to watch the parade will be difficult (or even impossible). Our advice: get there during the a.m. hours, secure a good parking spot, and plan to eat brunch at a local restaurant. You’ll be able to start your morning out with a fun, casual meal that’ll put you in exactly the right mood to enjoy the rest of the day, and you’ll likely be done eating (and drinking) with plenty of time to find a place to stand before the main event.
Protect Your Skin and Stay Hydrated
This is Texas, not the northeast, which means that you can usually expect summer weather in September. If you’re planning to walk around the “gayborhood” and/or watch the parade, remember to put on sunscreen, wear a hat, or even take shelter under an overhang or tent. Drink plenty of water or sports beverages, too, especially if you notice that you’re sweating a lot. And for the record: chugging a bunch of delicious cocktails or slurping down a half-dozen Jell-o shots does not count as “staying hydrated!” Sunburns and heat stroke can ruin your whole afternoon—or week.
Be Careful When Nabbing Handouts
During the parade, it’s not uncommon for people on floats to toss little trinkets into the crowd: beaded necklaces, keychains, koozies, stress balls, t-shirts, etc. Local businesses get to hand out items emblazoned with their name and logo for advertising purposes, and spectators get to enjoy the challenge of catching free souvenirs. It’s a win-win, provided that everyone conducts themselves appropriately. Do not reach through or step over safety barriers in order to get your hands on a dropped or unclaimed item; doing so can be dangerous for both you and parade marchers/performers. Be careful when attempting to catch goodies, lest you accidentally smack someone in the face or neck with your flailing arms. And for Heaven’s sake, do not push, shove, or step on small children in your mad scramble to get a prize! Obtaining free stuff is usually pretty fun, but it’s not worth risking injury to yourself and others!
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Mattito’s has long done business in the Oak Lawn area, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll be participating in this year’s parade, as well. We hope to see Tex Mex eaters of all stripes on Sunday, either for brunch before the parade or just cheering us on as we make our way down the designated route. Look for us in spot number 56. If you’re lucky, you may just receive a surprise handout from our car!
We’ve said before that the true “spirit” of Tex Mex food is one of cheeriness and comfort; it’s the perfect cuisine to lift your spirits when you’re going through a rough patch in your life. That said, it seems only fitting to eat Tex Mex during an event that turns an entire neighborhood into one big party. So happy Gay Pride to all of our customers, no matter whom you love and how you identify. We’ll be there to celebrate with you on the 17th!
