Set for the second year in Henry W. Maier Festival Park (also known as "the Summerfest grounds"), PrideFest 1997 was hosting entertainment on four stages, presentations and lectures in two activity areas, the Miller Lite Volleyball Tournament, the Pride Parade, a religious ceremony on Sunday, a mass wedding/commitment ceremony, and a fireworks show. In addition, over 100 vendors sold merchandise or promoted the services of their organizations.

A huge piece of canvas was raised to create PrideFest's largest dance tent ever, covering over 600 people at any one time. At the Miller Stage, friends, family members and lovers danced to the music of tribute band, "Bjorn Again," leaving the festival with a sense of fulfillment. More than once people hesitated to exit through the gates from the fantasy-land come true. It was a family reunion for 12,278 people.

The Board of Directors for 1997 Pride was (in the order they were listed in the Pride records):

• Jane Baudelaire
• Ted Berg
• Jill Clark
• Susan Cook
• Rick Finger
• Mike Hall
• Chris Klein
• Mike Lisowski
• Bob Moore
• John Prentice
• Dan Ratkowski
• Sheldon Schur
• Lori Sitzwohl
• Del Slowik
• David Todd