Robbinsdale Man Spreads Love One Hug at a Time

Amid a sea of rainbow flags and thousands of smiling faces at the 10th annual Golden Valley Pride Festival, one booth at Brookview Park offered something that couldn’t be bought: a safe, affirming space and a heartfelt embrace.

“It’s a celebration of all things for all people,” said Pat Nailon, the Robbinsdale resident behind the festival’s “Free Hugs” booth.

For the 65-year-old, the simple act of offering a hug is about much more than a friendly greeting—it’s a mission to provide the support that many in the LGBTQ community may be missing.

Pat Nailon of Robbinsdale is the man behind this ‘Free Hugs’ booth at the Golden Valley Pride Festival.

From Disneyland to Pride Festivals

Nailon’s path to becoming a community fixture is as unique as his mission. He describes himself as an “average, straight, cis, devout Roman Catholic, father of an LGBT kid, and former drag queen.”

His inspiration to start the project in 2019 was rooted in his own life experience.

“Not having the best father myself, I knew how important it is to have somebody say, ‘I’m your dad now, I love you, I’m proud of you, and you’re exactly what you were meant to be,'” Nailon said.

He even draws on his professional background from his days working as the character, Goofy, at Disneyland to ensure the interactions are as impactful as possible.

Pat Nailon hugs a woman during the Golden Valley Pride Festival on June 13, 2026.

The Art of the Hug

Nailon has turned his booth into a structured effort, training his team of volunteers in a specific technique. He instructs them to hug “left cheek to left cheek” so that hearts are physically positioned as close together as possible.

“Hug them for as long as they need to be hugged,” Nailon explained. “Usually, if someone is saying ‘hi, how are you doing,’ a hug is like 1.5 seconds maybe. Hugs can go on five or 10 minutes when you’re in this kind of a situation.”

The reception from festival-goers has been overwhelming. For many, the experience is profoundly emotional.

“It’s not just the hug, but it’s also the feeling of being held and being loved, that’s really important,” said Priyal Deep, a festival attendee from Minneapolis who visited the booth.

 Volunteers like Julie Ralston-Aoki, a member of the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission, have joined the effort to serve as a bridge for those seeking comfort.

“Everybody is somebody’s kid, right?” said Ralston-Aoki. “If I can show somebody some love like a stand-in for a parent, I am really glad to do that.”

As Nailon prepares to bring his booth to other Pride festivals across Minnesota this summer—including events in Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Waconia—his goal remains constant: to replace fear and judgment with a universal sign of love.

For more information, or to volunteer at the Free Hugs booth this summer, you can go to website for Nailon’s nonprofit, The Patricence Foundation.

Golden Valley | Robbinsdale