(6.16) Good to have Greater City: Providence back up and running — Jef was having justifiable conniptions — and just in time to fill us in on Saturday’s PrideFest and Parade. Go here for info and map of the daytime events on South Water Street, and the evening’s Illuminated Parade which GC:PVD notes “. . . is back on its traditional route with the Reviewing Stand and play by play at PPAC.”

Grand Marshals this year are the Honorable Stephen J. Fortunato, and senior staff attorney at GLAD, Karen Loewy. I’ve seen the parade, it’s really a blast. Check out the 2012 Pride Guide calendar.

And speaking of organizations with website issues, AS220 has been down for a few days. But according to The Phoenix they will host the ‘Fuchsia is Now’ queer performance zone and dance party starting at 10pm.

Festival, noon to 8pm, South Water Street/Parade starts 8:30pm, Dorrance and Fountain Streets, Saturday, June 16

This is a two-parter so pay attention. First, South Water Street will be closed to traffic today from noon to 8pm for PrideFest 2011. Entertainment includes Motown singer Thelma Houston, Kid Akimbo, Sister Funk, Pamela Means and more.

Part Two: The evening culminates in the now famous Illuminated Night Parade — everybody dance now — which starts at Empire and Weybosset Streets. (Then you go north and bang a right onto Washington, walk a few blocks then bang another right on Dorrance, then hang a louie down to the Turk’s Head, where everybody goes “Holla!” and tells you where the party goes from there.) That parade is a lot of fun to watch.

PrideFest, South Water Street and Downtown, Saturday, June 18, more info and maps at RI Pride

It seems worth mentioning again that downtown Providence is going to be quite busy today with Pridefest.  It got a brief mention here by the correspondent most qualified to comment, but Matthew gets so caught up in the relative merits of the talent portion of the program (and how it might reflect on him) that he neglected to give the details of the day to people who may wish to attend (or avoid) the celebration. (They should let Matthew pick the music next year. It appears he is going to allow himself to enjoy ‘Deborah’ Gibson, if only for not being Tiffany.) Also on tap is the best coffee in the world from Blue State Coffee — say ‘hi’ to Rob and Mitchell. And on a personal note: I accidentally got caught up in the illuminated parade once and it turned out to be a blast! More events on Sunday. [RI Pride]

noon to 8:30pm, Saturday, party and music, Station Park across from the mall, parade starts 8:30pm