Today marks the start of Pride Month!
Every year, the streets of New York City–and beyond–are flooded with rainbow flags, sparkling costumes, and joyous dancing. It’s all in celebration of radical inclusion, equal love, and gay rights.
It all started in New York City with the Stonewall Riots of 1969, one of the most pivotal events in LGBTQ culture. Following the riots outside the Stonewall Inn, the first official NYC march (then called Christopher Street Liberation Day) became an annual event of marginalized people standing up for their rights.
While crowds pack the streets to catch a glimpse of world-famous musicians, drag queens, and parade floats, these festivals and parades stand as landmark events where everyone can come as they are.
Pride parades happen in so many locations across the U.S. (and the world), so the best Pride to attend is probably the one closest to you, filled with your own community! But if you’re hoping to visit some of the biggest and the best, we’ve compiled a few top Pride celebrations that you can’t miss.
New York City Pride, New York
The Pride festival that started them all, New York City Pride is (unsurprisingly) one of the largest in the world. Millions of visitors and participants flock to the city for Pride Month in June each year. The New York City Pride Parade ventures right past the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street, where the infamous Stonewall Riots took place in 1969. If you want a particularly significant experience, this is certainly it!
June is Pride Month, with the NYC Pride March on June 27
Brooklyn Pride, New York
While Pride may have gotten its start in Manhattan, Brooklyn can sure throw a party, too. It’s a bit of a different flavor here thanks to fewer sponsorships and corporate events than big sis NYC Pride. Things feel more organic, so to speak, and performers often have a more experimental, artistic vibe. Aside from exciting and hip nightlife, Brooklyn Pride visitors are treated to the Twilight Parade, the Multi-Cultural Festival, and the Pride 5K.
2021 Brooklyn Pride: Jun 7-13, with both in-person and virtual events.
Sioux Falls Pride, South Dakota
South Dakota may be known for various national parks, but it might be time to check out Sioux Falls Pride! This particular pride celebration has grown exponentially in recent years, from just a few hundred attendees to over 8,000. Visitors and participants say everyone is warm and welcoming, plus its an opportunity to see performers from Middle America. Check out a parade and a festival full of vendors, food, performances, and more.
2021 Sioux Falls Pride: June 26
PrideFest Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Like Sioux Falls Pride, PrideFest Milwaukee is another fantastic celebration in a place you might not expect to find a strong LGBTQ community. Sure, we expect grand things in places like NYC, but the Midwest has definitely got it going on for Pride. PrideFest Milwaukee proves time and again to be one of the best Pride events in the U.S. Attendees are treated to tons of performers across multiple stages, food, karaoke, vendors, workshops, film screenings, and more.
Unfortunately, PrideFest Milwaukee isn’t happening in 2021, but will be back to rock the rainbow later in the year.
San Francisco Pride, California
San Francisco Pride is often deemed one of the best in the state of California, which is impressive, considering it’s up against the likes of San Diego and LA. But then again, San Francisco Pride has been going on ever since the very first march in 1970, and the size rivals that of NYC. Expect to have a magical time here, with a huge parade, several stages, vendors, movie premieres, and hordes of LGBTQ people and allies ready to celebrate. This year marks the 51st annual Pride festival.
2021 San Francisco Pride: events will take place throughout the month of June, including a Pride Movie Night June 11-12
Atlanta Pride, Georgia
Unlike many other Pride events around the country, Atlanta Pride happens later in the year. Set in October, this celebration is meant to commemorate National Coming Out Day, which is on October 11. You’ll find this Southern city is deeply inclusive. Along with the typical Pride parade, Atlanta celebrates everyone with the accompanying annual Bi & Pan March, Dyke March, and Trans March. Of course, just like other celebrations, Atlanta brings live entertainment and celebrations that last well into the night.
2021 dates have not been announced yet.
