![From babies to grandparents, community members of all ages showed up in rainbows for Whatcom Youth Pride on Saturday, June 1 in downtown Bellingham.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/01-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![The Whatcom Youth Pride parade began on the corner of Halleck and Cornwall streets and featured a marching band playing "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/02-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Members of the Whatcom Prevention Coalition hold signage along the parade route.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Spectators hold flags and wait for the parade to pass by.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/04-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Kade Grossarth, a Whatcom Youth Pride board member, holds a pride flag as the parade loops through downtown Bellingham.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/06-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-682x1024.jpg)
![Parade members hold a flag stating "love wins" as they pass by a mural by Gretchen Leggitt in downtown Bellingham.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/07-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![A sign reads "That's my kid!" at Whatcom Youth Pride. Many parents marched alongside their children during the event to show support.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/08-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Spectators hold signage in front of a PeaceHealth tent in downtown Bellingham.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/05-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Spectators wave gay and bisexual pride flags on the sidelines of Whatcom Youth Pride.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/09-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Lettered Streets residents hold a sign as the marching band passes by.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/11-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![A dog wearing pride flags stands on the sidelines of Whatcom Youth Pride.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/10-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-682x1024.jpg)
![Michelle Harmeier, founder of the Bellingham Queer Collective (BQC), cheers on the Whatcom Youth Pride parade from the sidelines. BQC was one of several community organizations to "adopt a block" during the event.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/12-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Tukayote Helianthus holds a flag reading "you are loved" during the parade.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/14-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Young people march back in the direction of Bellingham High School.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/13-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-682x1024.jpg)
![The parade loop finishes at Bellingham High School for a resource fair, youth art market and performances.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/15-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![Youth art hangs at the Bellingham High School resource fair following the parade.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/16-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-682x1024.jpg)
![Whatcom County Library System was one of more than 35 community organizations to table the resource fair at Bellingham High School.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/17-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
![A chalk message in the Bellingham High School parking lot reads "you are valid and never alone."](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/18-whatcomyouthpride-240601-CL-1024x682.jpg)
Hundreds of community members showed up for Whatcom Youth Pride — one of the only pride parades and festivals directed at LGBTQ+ youth — on Saturday, June 1 in downtown Bellingham. Though young people are the heart of the event, community members of all ages are invited to cheer them on.
Whatcom Youth Pride, which began in 2019, is coordinated by volunteers including teachers, school staff, parents and community allies. Average attendance is around 1,500, and more than 35 organizations tabled booths at a festival directly following the event.
The Whatcom Youth Pride parade began at 11 a.m. at Bellingham High School and looped through downtown. Marchers and spectators then traveled back to the high school for an art market, performances, food trucks and a resource fair. Organizations in attendance included Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, Wild Whatcom, PLFAG Bellingham/Whatcom County and more. Info: whatcomyouthpride.com.