Since it is Pride month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, numerous events are happening throughout the country. Maybe it is your first pride, or your tenth; maybe you are a part of the community or an ally. Either way, celebrating Pride is a form of expression that everyone deserves. From parades to theme park celebrations, you are going to want to check these six Pride events.
Pride Events
New York Pride: June 29, 2025
New York Pride is a large event, possibly even one of the largest Pride festivals in the US. This year, it is going to be June 29th, in New York City, New York. PrideFest and the parade will start in the morning, with Youth Pride the day before. The first New York Pride parade happened in 1970, and it has come a long way, but the popularity hasn’t wavered. The streets are packed to the brim as a parade goes through the city. Drag queen performers dance along the parade as cars of various companies show off their Pride. Food trucks can be seen during PrideFest as music booms around and performers dance. Not only that, but both the parade and PrideFest are free to attend!
While this Pride event is fun and huge, and one that many celebrities even attend, but still has a large significance. Stonewall, an uprising that occurred on June 28th, 1969, in New York, was a series of protests that occurred between the LGBTQ+ community and the police. It was the most memorable rebellion in the community, and the New York Pride march commemorates the Stonewall Uprising.
Chicago Pride: June 29, 2025
Chicago Pride is arguably one of the biggest Pride events in the Midwest. This year, the parade will be held on June 29th in Chicago, Illinois. The weekend before the parade, June 21st-22nd, Chicago’s Pride Fest will occur. Chicago’s first Pride parade was in 1970, and it remains a large celebration. The festival will be full of live music, drag performances, and food trucks, as people embrace who they are. Chicago Pride is another event that is free to attend, however, there are donation options.
Chicago Pride has a strong history as well. Chicago became one of the first to have a U.S gay rights organization. It was started in 1924 by a man named Henry Gerber, and his house remains a pivotal landmark for the LGBTQ+ community.
San Francisco Pride: June 28-29, 2025
San Francisco Pride is another big Pride event on the West Coast. The main parade takes place on June 29 in San Francisco, California. A few more events will happen during San Francisco Pride, such as a concert on June 27th and a fashion show on June 24th. It is yet another city that started Pride parades in 1970. The parade lasts two days as civilians, vendors, and companies march through the streets. The San Francisco Pride is said to be the second-largest Pride event in the country, following New York Pride.
San Francisco itself has a large Pride presence, as LGBTQ+ history runs deep within the city. They followed their fellow communities across the country in marching a year after Stonewall, to show their respect to the community. It is also home to Henry Milk, an elected official who sat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977 and was one of the first openly gay men to hold a government position in the USA. It is still as welcoming as it was then.
Seattle Pride: June 29, 2025
This year, Seattle Pride will be held on June 29th. The event will include a pre-show that starts early in the morning to send off the march, which is the main event. The march will go through downtown Seattle, Washington State, and the event will consist of drag queens, fashion shows, live music, and food. It is also another free event! Despite their first Pride starting in 1974, slightly later than the others, Seattle has been known for its welcoming atmosphere to the LGBTQ+ community and continues to bring in hundreds of thousands of people.
Although Seattle has always been welcoming, the people dealt with their fair share of gay bars being taken by police and discrimination throughout the 1900s. Seattle created a Dorian Society in 1967, a counseling organization to bring advocacy and awareness to the community. The counseling organization is still running today and helping anyone in need.
San Antonio Pride: June 28, 2025.
San Antonio’s “Pride Bigger than Texas” Pride event will take place on June 28th in San Antonio, Texas. It is a large event, and one with festivities that last all day. There will be a large festival where vendors from all over attend, and live music takes place on numerous stages. There is also a large parade that has significantly grown over the years. The parade is also free to attend! However, special events during the festival may cost money.
San Antonio has a rich history of Pride. From drag queens in the early 1900s to the devastating AIDS epidemic, they fought long and hard to keep Pride going. The first Pride march was in 1976 and contained only 35 people. It was a few years after a gay bar raid that rocked the town, as the owner was a well-loved activist. However, the well-known festival that we know today first happened in 1982, along with the parade.
Disney After Dark: Pride Nite: June 16 & 18, 2025
Maybe you are looking for a more magical Pride event. Well, look no further! Disneyland California is having two Disney After Dark: Pride Nite. The first will be June 16th, and the second will be June 18th. Disney After Dark is a fun theme Disney does where the park is open after hours and has themes. During this event, all rides will be open, and there will be unique fireworks and meet-and-greets. There will also be a special Pride character parade during it. Everything from food to merchandise will be decked out for Pride.
Worthy Mentions!
Washington DC WorldPride: May 17 – June 8, 2025
When this article gets published, this event will have already passed. However, it is an important Pride event that is happening and should still be talked about. WorldPride this year is the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC. It’s not only a celebration, but also a movement. Alongside concerts, parades, and festivals, there will also be conferences, marches, and rallies. WorldPride goes past the celebration and uses the voices of thousands to fight for what is right.
Universal Studios: Pride is Universal: TBD
Another worthy mention is Universal Studios Hollywood: Pride is Universal. The reason this is listed here is that at the time of writing this, the dates… are not yet posted. However, they have released their Pride collection, so there is speculation that they are holding their Pride event again this year. In the past, Universal Studios Hollywood has opened up the parks after dark. They do similar things as Disney, with open rides and special merch, and meet and greets. They include live music as well as drag queen performances. It is yet another fun place to spend Pride.
Whether you go to your city’s Pride event or you are traveling to a theme park and want to celebrate there, the options are endless. Everyone deserves to feel safe and proud of who they are, and these events are created to make spaces like that. Remember to celebrate safely, and Happy Pride!
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