Capital Pride / Photo by Rob Boeger

From Sea to Shining Sea: Pride Celebrations are Back Across the Country

As the opportunity for gatherings becomes safer due to the U.S. vaccine rollout, Pride events are starting to pick back up after largely being canceled for the past year. Though travel restrictions may make it hard to cross borders for Pride, you can attend these events without going too far. Many of them can even be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home, with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic bringing about expanded virtual elements. Wherever you may be and whatever your comfort level with in-person events, there is ample opportunity to celebrate and show your Pride this month and beyond!

Check out these events to see what’s available to attend both from home and across the country:

Boston, Mass.: June 4–13

The 50th anniversary of Boston Pride has been met with challenging circumstances, including the need to move many events online and postpone in-person elements due to city and state guidelines. Though there is not yet a rescheduled date released for the parade, Bostonians near and far can attend events such as a flag-raising ceremony and a Pride lights ceremony online. Learn more at bostonpride.org.

Los Angeles, Calif.: June 11–12, 26

Christopher Street West/LA Pride organized the world’s first permitted gay rights march over 50 years ago in 1970, and now, in a year like no other, it’s still going strong. Alongside a broadcast Pride event on June 12, LA Pride will sponsor two exciting in-person ticketed events: a Pride Night at Dodgers Stadium and an LGBTQ+ Movie Night at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Learn more at lapride.org.

San Francisco, Calif.: June 11–12; October 10

Year after year, San Francisco hosts the largest Pride festival in the country. Though the Pride Expo slated for the month of June was canceled, SF Pride will be hosting a movie night at Oracle Park showcasing In The Heights and Everybody’s Talking about Jamie on June 11 and 12 as well as a Black Liberation Event at the African American Art and Culture Complex on June 18. And there is more to come! In October, SF Pride will hold its inaugural National Coming Out Day festival in the Castro. Learn more at sfpride.org.

Washington, D.C.: June 11–13

Rated the best Pride in the country by In My Area, D.C.’s Pride is not going anywhere this year: the Capital Pride Alliance offers both in-person and virtual events this June. In place of a typical parade, Capital Pride will debut the “Colorful Pridemobile Parade” on June 12, featuring the DC Pride-staple Pridemobile trolley as well as automobiles decorated by organizations and businesses. The yearly Capital Pride Honors will be a hybrid event, with a limited number of tickets on sale for in-person attendance and a livestream for those who can’t make it to watch from home. Learn more at capitalpride.org.

New York City, N.Y.: June 17–27

There’s no better place to attend Pride than the very city of its origin. Including everything from movie nights to a virtual human rights conference, NYC Pride has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a range of virtual and in-person experiences throughout the month of June. Rounding out the exciting in-person events is PrideFest, an annual LGBTQ street fair, which is in its 27th year. And culminating events on June 27 include the NYC Pride Broadcast special as well as a virtual March experience that features some of the organizations that would typically march in a physical parade. Learn more at nycpride.org.

Columbus, Ohio: June 19

Forty years after the first Columbus Pride march, typical events have been curbed by COVID-19 guidance and requirements, and yet, Stonewall Columbus Pride still has a plethora of exciting things in store. In addition to a virtual Pride livestreamed event on June 19, there will be Pride-related events throughout the month, including a virtual Stonewall Pride 5K and Pride Bike Ride. Learn more at stonewallcolumbus.org.

Chicago, Ill.: June 26–27; October 3

The Windy City has a lot to offer in terms of exciting in-person events. Though Chicago’s Pride events typically all occur during Pride month, Chicago Pride is changing shape this year in order to prioritize being able to gather in person. It has set a date of October 3 for a one-time-only postponed parade and plans to safely host Pride in the Park events in Chicago’s Grant Park in June. Learn more at chicagopride.gopride.com/info.cfm.

Denver, Colo.: June 26–27

Denver is serving the Rocky Mountain region with a mix of virtual and in-person events to celebrate the occasion. The parade will be completely virtual as a livestream featuring “units” submitted by the organizations and businesses that would normally march, but the yearly Denver Pride 5K will have both virtual and in-person ways to participate. And people will be welcome to gather safely at certain designated venues dubbed “Pride hubs” around the city. Learn more at denverpride.org.

Seattle, Wash.: June 26–27

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seattle will be having a completely virtual 2021 Pride, with an online event featuring speakers and performers. Even though it’s completely online, the event is sure to be far from dull. Big Freedia, also known as the Queen of Bounce Music, is set to headline the virtual event. Learn more at seattlepride.org.

Austin, Texas: August 14

Austin’s annual Pride Festival and Parade is scheduled to take place in person later this summer. Featuring live music and fun family-friendly events like drag queen story times, the Pride Festival will take over Fiesta Gardens on August 14, with a Pride Parade to take place the same day, traversing the streets of the Texas capital. Learn more at austinpride.org.

Orlando, Fla.: October 9

The local professional soccer teams are not the only Pride active in Orlando this year! Come Out With Pride, Orlando’s Pride organization, plans on a completely in-person parade in October of this year. Additionally, the city will be hosting the National Trans Visibility March and anticipates thousands of transgender and nonbinary individuals in attendance. Learn more at comeoutwithpride.org.