Most of us do not have huge parades to look forward to for Pride, unfortunately. No leathermen and dykes on bikes for us as we settle for the local Pride with a mediocre band and informational tables. Pride is typically in mid-June, commemorating the March on Stonewall in New York City in 1969. The ubiquitous rainbow flag first appeared at San Francisco’s Pride celebration in 1978. Pride parades and celebrations today range from good clean fun to festive, loud and a bit raunchy. The environment of Pride celebrations depends upon the city, the organizers and the overall climate.
If you are looking for dates and locations for Pride events this year, take a look below at some of our suggestions. You’ll find that many cities of any size plan a parade or celebration for Pride. If your city isn’t listed, check with your local gay and lesbian support organization to see if anything is planned. Perhaps next year you could offer to assist in planning if your area isn’t having a Pride celebration this year.
Where are the biggest and best Pride events? Not surprisingly, some of the biggest and best are also the oldest. New York City is home to a major Pride parade each year, as is San Francisco. Baltimore, Boston and L.A. all host large and boisterous Pride celebrations. Washington D.C., Chicago, and San Diego are also home to major Pride parades and festivities. Some cities offer concurrent Dyke Marches, so if this is of interest, you may want to keep it in mind if you plan to travel to take in one of the big Pride celebrations. Family themed activities are an option at some celebrations, and childcare may even be available in some cases. Do keep in mind that some of these Pride events, especially San Francisco, may fill local hotels so book well in advance if you plan to travel for Pride.
If you have never been to Pride, you may wonder what to expect. While each city’s community has its own personality and thus a unique Pride experience, there are some generalities. Las Vegas hosts a nighttime Pride Parade, while San Francisco is home to a multi day Pride celebration. Most cities of size, from St. Louis to Austin offer great and fun Pride Parades and festivities. Pride isn’t just for people looking to hook up, although that’s apt to be an option if you’re single, but is also a great way to participate in your community, celebrate LGBT history, and enjoy simply being one of the crowd for a while.
Here is a preview of the Summer Pride Parades coming your way:
- June 20 – Oklahoma City, OK
- June 21 – Providence, RI
- June 22 – Pittsburg, PA
- June 28 – Seattle, WA
- July 4-6 – Atlanta, GA
- July 5 – London, England
- July 6 -Madrid, Spain
- July 27 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aug 3- Europride
- Aug 15 -Manchester Pride (cool website)
- Aug 23- Jersey City, NJ
- Sept 1 – New Orleans (Southern Decadence)
- Sept 13 – Rehoboth Beach, DE
- Sept 21 – Dallas, TX
- Oct 12 – Orlando, FL
- Nov 1-2 -Palm Springs, CA