After the fireworks are over, Scott Reep and friends want you to pack your picnic baskets and bring them to Belle Isle on Sunday.

“There is more to being gay than going to a bar or a drag show,” he says. “There’s so much in Richmond. There’s so much in this community. Let’s go to a museum, let’s go to a park.”

With the monthly Roaming Party, Reep extends an open invitation to show people a different side of Richmond. Now in its second month, each event has two parts. The party starts out in a public setting then moves to a gay-owned and operated establishment. After this month’s Belle Isle picnic, the party continues at Barcode.

“I’m looking forward to introducing people to things they might have been around most of their lives.”

He wants the events to be fun for everybody and feels this will be an opportunity to for people that aren’t into the bar scene to socialize.

“I’m going to make it a point to do something different each month being out in the public eye,” he says. “The gay community is only part of a bigger community. The gay community is not separate. We’re just part of something bigger.”

He says while it’s a way to get the gay community in the public eye, this is not just another gay event.

“It’s an open invite to gay, straight, and transgendered. This is a community event for anyone that wants to have a good time.”

This month’s Roaming Party is Sunday, July 5 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Belle Isle, followed by an after-party at Barcode starting at 4 p.m. You can RSVP on Facebook.