MILWAUKEE — Thousands of people attended the 36th annual PrideFest this weekend in Milwaukee.

Among the many who celebrated were first-time attendees, Maria Graham and her fiancé, Jada Carter.

Graham recently came out, and she said she couldn’t have been happier to be there.

“Being able to be myself and expressive and just to be free is just the most like overwhelming feeling,” Graham said.

The couple celebrated love and their newfound freedom.

“It’s just being able to be open and out and to be able to walk with my fiancé everywhere and love her everywhere like anybody else,” Carter said.

“It’s just such an amazing feeling,” Graham added. “I mean, just to see how happy everybody is.”

Throughout this weekend, there were more than 400 performers across five stages. Many people dressed up in vibrant, colorful outfits.

“We just enjoy having people just kind of look at us,” Scott Everson said, who dressed up as a cat with some friends. “Get pictures of us and just generally, I don’t know, feel all bubbly.”

Luke Olson, vice president of Milwaukee PrideFest, said Saturday is usually the biggest day. He said his year lived up to the hype.

“It’s on track to be our biggest Saturday ever, so yeah, we’re having a good festival so far,” Olson said.

Most importantly, Olson said, the festival is a space for self-acceptance.

“For a lot of folks in our community, PrideFest is the only time they get all year where they can just come in a space and truly be their authentic selves,” Olson said. “You can feel that joy and that energy and that happiness among the guests at the festival every year. It’s my favorite part to look forward to.”

“We spread love, positivity to everybody,” Carter said. “Love who you love.”