River Falls, WI -- Back by popular demand for a second year, the Saint Croix Valley will come alive with Pride during the Queer Crawl, June 16–22, 2025. The brainchild of UW River Falls graduate, Savanna “Beau” Fair, the Queer Crawl provides visitors and locals with a road map to the local businesses and festivals that proudly welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community. “With so much negativity in the world, we are thrilled to bring fun and rainbows to our beautiful Saint Croix Valley.”

In conjunction with Hudson, Wisconsin’s third annual Valley Wide Pride Festival on Saturday, June 21, the Queer Crawl expands Pride activities over the weekend to include engagement throughout the Saint Croix River Valley from Franconia to Afton during the third week of June. 

With cities such as River Falls, Wisconsin embracing Pride in a big way, the Queer Crawl highlights that communities outside of the major population centers are welcoming to LGBTQ+ people. River Falls Pride supporters raised money to erect two billboards for the month of June celebrating Pride and the Queer Crawl—one will be located just north of town near on Highway 35 near the furniture store for those heading southbound from Hudson, and one just south of the roundabout on 65 for those heading northbound from Prescott. “The billboards are an opportunity to celebrate that our community truly embraces all people regardless of who they love,” said Fair.

Some people have questioned why organizers would use the term “queer” for this event, but Fair explains it this way: “‘Queer’ used to be a slur that people used to ostracize and hurt people. In recent years, the LGBTQ+ community has embraced ‘queer’ as an inclusive term, someone who does not identify as a particular gender or sexual orientation. Anyone can identify as queer. It just means that you’re a part of our big, beautiful community. 

In Wisconsin, Minnesota, and across the country, many towns and communities host “Beer Crawls” where bars and restaurants invite people to have a beer at multiple establishments. “We wanted to include everyone, so the Queer Crawl is made up of family-friendly festivals, small businesses, and fun activities in addition to o]ers by the bars and restaurants,” said Fair.

Check out the website at www.saintcroixpride.com for the events and o]ers that make up the Queer Crawl. Area businesses are encouraged to participate by creating their own events and offers.

A limited number of Queer Crawl buttons are being produced for the event and are available at the sites listed on the website while supplies last.