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7 Best Pride Festivals in the US

By on September 22, 2019

  1. New York

    Host: Heritage of Pride

    When: Events spanned from June 1st – 30th, culminating in the famous NYC March on Sunday. They included activities like the NYC Pride’s Human Rights Conference, a Tour & Toast, historical sites walk and the bike race NYC Pride Ride.

    Fun fact: This year, New York was the host city for the LGBTQ celebration, World Pride. It was the first time World Pride was held in the US.

  2. Los Angeles

    Host: Christopher Street West Association

    When: The annual music pride festival was all weekend from June 7th – 9th, with the parade rounding out the event Sunday morning

    Fun fact: This year’s headliners for the musical portion included Meghan Trainor, Years & Years, Ashanti, Pabllo Vittar, MNEK joined by a diverse array of LGBTQ+ and ally performances across our two main Festival stages: Park Stage and Plaza Stage.

  3. San Francisco

    Host: San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee

    When: June 29th – 30th

    Fun Fact: Taking place where Harvey Milk once stood and addressed Pride-goers more than thirty years ago, the current San Francisco Gay Pride ceremonies are now said to be “one of the last remaining pride events that can truly be called a rite of passage”.

  4. Washington D.C.

    Host: Capital Pride Alliance

    When: May 31st – June 9th, with events such as Riot! Opening Party on June 6th, the Parade on June 8th, with the festival and sunset dance party on June 9th.

    Fun Fact: The fourth-largest gay pride event in the country, Capital Pride events and the Capital Pride Festival is a nine-day celebration.

  5. Chicago

    Host: Chicago Pride Committee

    When: Pridefest from June 22nd – 23rd, Pride Parade June 30th.

    Fun Fact: Unlike most cities, Chicago’s PrideFest and Pride Parade famously take place a week apart from each other, with the two-day PrideFest acting as a precursor to the Parade the following weekend.

  6. Seattle

    Host: Seattle Pride Committee

    When: PrideFest Capitol Hill is June 29th and PrideFest Seattle Center & the Seattle Parade are June 30th.

    Fun Fact: Seattle celebrated our very first Pride Week in 1974 — five years after trans and gay rights activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, among others, led the Stonewall riots in New York City and helped spark the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Although Seattle’s first Pride celebration was small, it was early, happening four years after inaugural Pride marches in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

  7. Atlanta

    Host: Atlanta Pride Committee

    When: October 11th – 13th with events such as the Official Atlanta Pride Kickoff Party at Georgia Aquarium on October 11th, the HRC Atlanta Pride Brunch on October 13th, and Atlanta Pride Parade on October 13th.

    Fun Fact: The Southeast’s largest Pride Festival, and one of the city’s biggest annual events, Atlanta Pride attracts more than 300,000 participants. Unlike most Pride events that take place in June, Atlanta’s coincides with October’s National Coming Out Day.

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