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With Pride Month in full swing in the city, there are plenty of events to get in the spirit, but there’s one in particular that will also really make you sweat.
According to a release, Come Alive 215 and Meet Philadelphia have joined forces to present one of the most unique outdoor events for Philly Gay Pride Month. Come Alive 215 x Meet Philadelphia Pride Workout, Drag Show and Picnic Brunch brings together a morning of movement, celebration, charity and community on Saturday, June 12, from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hot off of winning Best of Philly for 2020 Best Virtual Workout and exercise class, fitness gurus Kim Harari and Shannon Brennan will bring their electric, contagious and community-driven fitness experience to the lawn at Park Towne Place, at 2200 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
What participants can expect from the event is 45 minutes chock full of movement programed for all fitness levels followed by a colorful drag brunch and a picturesque picnic with some local flavors incorporated from Michael Solomonov of Zahav, Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Abe Fisher and Goldie. Other bites include complimentary food and drinks from NY Bagel Butler, Red Bull, Crystal Head Vodka, Super Coffee, The Wellness Refinery, Bean2Bean Coffee Co., and food trucks with vegan options as well.
On the entertainment side, participants can expect to get moving in a different way with performances from Vinchelle, Iris Spectre and Poochie, and live beats by DJ Kat Bancer.
“We think that it is extremely important to bring the community together, and what better way to do it than the Come Alive 215 way,” said Harari in a statement. “We get to sweat together, laugh together, eat together, and shop together all for a great cause.”
Swag bags will be provided by Athleta, with additional giveaways provided by local Philly businesses.
The dynamic fitness duo leading this particular event believe movement and fitness should be fun, inclusive and relative to each individual and their personal goals. As the release states, their mission is to show the community that fitness can be an avenue to create a better emotion and connection to those around them. These goals are exactly what the duo had in mind when they decided to host their largest event ever and make it part of the city’s inclusive Philly Gay Pride month celebration. Harari also identifies as a lesbian and this makes the event even more special to her. Together, the duo are giving back to local charities as their way of making a larger difference.
“Our mission from the start of Come Alive 215 was to bring the Philadelphia community together,” said Brennan in a statement. “We believe that fitness has the magic ability to cultivate a sense of community and belonging. Pride is something that is near and dear to us as one of our founders, Kim Harari, is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. With the Pride Parade being canceled this year, we decided to step in and create an event that could celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia, while also using the funds to donate to a local, LGBTQ+ organization.”
Come Alive 215 was initially created to present unique and electric outdoor workout experiences. The organization started doing outdoor workouts on a smaller scale, and in the winter of 2020, Kim and Shannon launched the first Come Alive 215 event. Then, when the pandemic came full swing both Harrari and Brennan were focused on getting people moving any way they could virtually, and eventually, their efforts went viral.
The outdoor workout will lead off the day with a combination of strength exercises, plyometrics, and a touch of shadowboxing. The class is open for all—no experience necessary and all experience levels are welcome. Harari said, “Everyone has an inner-fighter within them. Let’s tap into yours.” For the day’s run of show, participants should be on the lawn and ready to register for early bird at 9:15 a.m., with general admission check-in at 9:30 a.m. The workout begins at 10 a.m., with the drag show and picnic brunch at 11:15 a.m. Tickets run for $65 and for preparation, Come Alive 215 asks that each participant bring themselves just as is along side a yoga mat, water bottle, gym towel, blanket to picnic on, and “lots of love.”
According to the release, this exciting morning of movement, celebration and community not only will get attendees off their feet with 300 new friends in the great outdoors, but the organizers want to make a difference — both to individuals but also to some great charity partners. For this event, Come Alive 215 will donate a portion of ticket proceeds to William Way LGBT Community Center and The Attic Youth Center.
Harari said, “There are a lot of really great LGBTQ+ organizations in the city and it was very hard to choose who to support. We truly wanted to support them all. We donated to William Way last year for our Virtual Pride event. We decided to continue supporting the William Way organization because we believe strongly in the support they are providing to the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia. We believe that a strong community has the ability to help people feel like they are accepted and supported. This is something that everyone should have a right to feel. William Way does just that by providing a community resource center for the pride community.”
Brennan added, “Much like William Way, The Attic Youth Center also provides a safe, inclusive space for the Youth of Philadelphia. We are happy to support an organization whose mission is to help LGBTQ+ youth members feel welcome, understood and accepted.”
For more information visit, comealive215.com
