BY Lauren McCutcheon
May. 31, 2024
June is Pride Month everywhere, but here in Philly, home of Philadelphia Freedom, we do Pride especially well. LGBTQIA+ events and activities taking place across the city, from the Gayborhood to Fairmount Park, include parades and festivals, nightclub and block parties, and sports and arts events, for all ages and backgrounds.
New this year: Pride month begins on May 31, when Galaei and Visit Philadelphia bring a 400-foot rainbow flag from landmark to landmark throughout the city, from the Philadelphia Museum of Art at 9am to Center City at noon, Manayunk at 5:30pm and the Gayborhood come evening.
Figure: Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia.
LOVE A PARADE. This is the big one. Philadelphia Pride begins June 2 at 10:30 with the “Be You” march, 400-foot rainbow flag and all. The parade kicks off at 6th and Walnut streets, winds through Center City, and ends in the Gayborhood (13th and Locust). Free
Figure: Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia.
LOVE A STREET FESTIVAL. The Philadelphia Pride Festival begins where the parade ends, continuing on June 2 from noon to 7pm. Midtown Village’s streets close to vehicular traffic to make room for dozens of pay-as-you-go vendors, two performance stages, Bailar Con Amor representing Afro-Latinx pride, Kiki Alley repping Philly ballroom, a family zone, sober zone, wellness zone and a decompression zone from Disability Pride PA. Free to attend. Pay as you go. Midtown Village
Figure: Courtesy of the Philly Dyke March.
MARCH WITH DYKES. The annual Philly Dyke March feels more like a protest than a parade — a joyful, loud, inclusive protest. The event is proudly diverse, welcoming all abilities, ages, races, genders, incomes, orientations, with folks gathering on June 1 at 11am and marching at noon. Free. Louis Kahn Park, 11th and Pine streets
Figure: Evil Genius’s #LOVEISLOVE Block Party (and beer).
CELEBRATE LOVE BEING LOVE AT A BLOCK PARTY. On June 1 from noon to 6pm, Evil Genius brewery in Fishtown hosts an all-ages Love is Love Pride Block Party at their “Lab.” Listen for live music. Line up for a food truck, LGBTQ+ vendors, and, of course, beer. Free, 1727 Front Street
Figure: Queerapalooza. Photo courtesy of Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room.
PARTY ON PINE STREET. Iconic LGBTQIA+ bookstore Giovanni’s Room (named after the James Baldwin novel) hosts its annual QUEERAPALOOZA block party and music festival, June 8 from noon to 5pm. Expect nonstop drag performances, live queer bands, DJs, local artists, vendors and loads of street dancing. Free. 12th and Pine streets
Figure: The Boulet Brothers, photo by Scotty Kirby.
EXPERIENCE THE REIGNING DRAG SUPERMONSTER LIVE! On May 29 at 8pm, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: The Official Season 5 Tour comes to The Fillmore. The Boulet Brothers and Niohuru X are bringing the drag, filth, horror and glamor of their unique competition reality show to you live. $58-$190. 29 E. Allen Street
Figure: ComedySportz’s Pride night improv, The Queer Show.
BUST A GUT. ComedySportz hosts interactive Pride improv on Pride Month eve, May 31 from 7 to 8pm. The Queer Show features LGBTQIA comics in a 100-seat safe space with a BYOB policy. A portion of tickets sales goes to the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s Our Night Out. $20. Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom Street
Figure: Demi Gawdess. Courtesy of Red Rum Theater.
DRAG YOUR ASS. The Red Run Theater hosts It’s Not Personal, It’s Drag! on June 7 at 7pm, featuring loads of local queens lip-synching, dancing, and generally being fabulous. Your producers: Meg Cutting and Dominique Lee. Performers include Demi Gawdess, Balena Canto and Mister Right. Cash bar. $18-30. 601 Walnut Street
Figure: Conductor Marin Aslop, courtesy of Facebook.
SWELL WITH ORCHESTRA PRIDE. On June 25 at 4pm, Ensemble Arts (the Kimmel Center) gets its musical party started early in Commonwealth Plaza with pop-up performances by drag and musical artists.
At 7pm, Principal Guest Conductor Designate Marin Alsop joins RuPaul’s Drag Race star Sapphira Cristál and the Philadelphia Orchestra joins ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir, The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and Philadelphia Voices of Pride in Verizon Hall for a concert of music by Bernstein, Copland and other queer and allied composers. Free, but reservations required. 300 S. Broad Street
KICK OFF PRIDE POOLSIDE. W Philadelphia hosts a weekend of drink specials and performances May 31 to June 2 from 11am to 9pm featuring Planet B, Lauren Flax, and Justin Cudmore. Bring your friends and get a cabana, or just hang out for the day on their 7th floor luxury pool bar. $60-$600. 1439 Chestnut Street
Figure: The Franklin Institute’s Summer Ball.
HAVE A SUMMER BALL. On May 31 from 7:30pm to midnight, the Franklin Institute offers quite the pre-Pride party, transforming the museum’s Science After Hours into a major Summer Ball featuring a light-up runway for drag performances, a dot-of-midnight balloon drop, science-y stuff and all the dancing. Must be 21 or older. $40. 222 N. 20th Street
PLAY PING PONG; WATCH BURLESQUE AND DRAG. Center City’s SPIN has invited drag artists Iris Spectre and Morgan Ashe, burlesque performer Rita Brujeria and performance-artist Ed Charm to entertain during an evening of dance, music and table tennis, May 31 from 8 to 11pm. Free. 211 S. 15th Street
Figure: PHS Pop-Up Garden on South Street courtesy Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
PARTY WITH THE WOMEN. Women / trans party host Sip City Mixer kicks off June with Pride on the Water, June 1 from 5 to 11pm. The private party welcomes women / trans / enby to the massive waterfront Liberty Point at 211 S. Columbus Boulevard. Price TBA. On June 6, the org hosts Trans Pride at Tattooed Mom’s at 530 South Street. June 13, the party moves to the PHS Pop-Up Garden at 1435 South Street. And June 20, Rittenhouse’s Stir Lounge hosts Bi / Pan Pride at 1705 Chancellor Street. Admission prices vary.
Figure: PRIDE Promenade at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
PARTY EARLY AND OFTEN. Cavanaugh’s River Deck gets things started early on June 1 from 3 to 8pm. The SWEAT Philly Pride Edition overlooks the Delaware River and includes an appearance by Big Sexy, with music from DJ Papo, Rebel Foster, and Na$h and dancing by Jayne Doe and Sexiiitia. $15-$20. 417 N. Columbus Boulvard
THEN RALLY FOR THE AFTER PARTY. TMEP and Sweetheat Miami present the “official SWEAT Pride Afterparty” on June 1 from 10pm to 2am at the Fringe Bar. Trinity Comedy hosts; DJs Honey and Killa Court spin; you drink, dance and eat on Delaware Ave. $20-$25. 140 N. Columbus Boulevard
Figure: Sway at Moshulu. Photo by Boys of Summer Philly.
BOARD THE ULTIMATE PARTY BOAT. Sway Philly hosts Pride Philly’s official kickoff on June 2 at 10pm to 2am (on June 3) with a massive, major, Pride Boat Party on the Moshulu. The tall ship will outdo itself on live, pop-up performances, four dance floors, more bars than that, and room for 1,500 of all of your age 21-and-up LGBTQ+ besties. $15-$100. 401 S. Columbus Boulevard
Figure: Our Night Out from the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund.
CELEBRATE OUR NIGHT OUT. On June 20 from 6 to 9pm, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund takes over Liberté lounge at the Sofitel for an early evening party spinning pride anthems and benefitting Philadelphia Asian & Queer. $5-$10 in advance. 120 S. 17th Street
ENJOY SOME WEDNESDAY PRIDE. CIC, the international flexible office host and designer with a location in West Philly, hosts an early happy hour Pride party on June 26 from 1 to 4pm, featuring a smattering of vendors and performers on The Lawn. Free. 3701 Filbert Street
Figure: Another event a John F. Collins Park.
CLOSE OUT PRIDE … OUTSIDE. Lil’ John F. Collins Park, a pocket gem just off Chestnut Street, hosts Pride’s closing party on June 27 from 5 to 7pm conjunction with Sofitel and with an “en rose” theme. Think pink. The Drag Mafia will be there. $25. 1707 Chestnut Street
Figure: Philly Pride Run. Photo by Hon. Daniel J. Anders.
RUN A PRIDE-FILLED 5K (OR ONE-MILER). The scenic Navy Yard hosts the Philly Pride Run on June 8 from 8:30 to 10:30am. All proceeds support The William Way LGBT Community Center. Register for the 5K ($65) or the one-mile fun run ($25) by June 1. No race day registration. S. Broad Street and Intrepid Avenue
PLAY GAY BINGO. Fun anytime — not just during Pride — GayBINGO turns drag performers into callers, confirmers and improv comedians for a game night that’s more camp than church hall. The theme: Real Housewives of GayBINGO Girls Trip. The cause: AIDS Fund. Congregation Rodeph Shalom hosts on June 8 at 7pm. Admission: $36-$50. 615 N. Broad Street
Figure: Pride Night at the Phillies.
TAKE YOU OUT TO A BALLGAME. The Phillies host Pride Night at the ballpark — and the Fightins face the Padres, June 17 at 5:40pm. When our boys hit a homer, the giant Liberty Bell turns rainbow colors. Tickets from $25. Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way
Figure: From the Philadelphia Union.
JOIN THE UNION. For pride night at Philadelphia’s Major League Soccer on June 22 at 7:30pm, the Union take on Charlotte FC. Look for fabulous rainbow kits, colorful pre-match fun, and, as always, the best fan songs this side of the Atlantic. Tickets: $43-$103. Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester
Figure: FCM Hospitality’s rainbow of pride cocktails.
DRINK THE RAINBOW. FCM Hospitality, owner of a dozen bars, including Walnut Garden, Morgan’s Pier, the Dolphin Tavern, Rosy’s Taco Bar, Harper’s Garden, Concourse Dance Bar — and operator of Parks on Tap concessions has come up with 11 $12 cocktails, one per venue, each repping a color of the Pride flag, each contributing $1 to William Way and the Attic Youth Center, June 1 through 30. Various locations
Figure: Brittany Lynn (right) at Drag Tea at the Sofitel.
SIP SOME DRAG TEA. The Sofitel hotel’s Chez Colette brings in Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia for two afternoons of Drag Tea on June 8 and 22 from 2 to 4pm. Reservations (and mimosas) recommended. $65-$75. 120 S. 17th Street
Figure: Pride Brunch at Patchwork at the Hyatt Centric.
DO BINGO AND BRUNCH AND SHOP. The Hyatt Centric Center City hosts its Pride Market (featuring LGBTQIA vendors such as Hylyte Skateboards, Inner Light Aura, F+ V Design Studio, Triton Soap and New + Wesley Images) and two sessions of Bingo Brunch at Patchwork with host Adele Computer on June 22 from 11am to 5pm; brunch at noon and 2pm. Market and bingo are free; brunch is pay-as-you-go. 1620 Chancellor Street
WIN A $500 GIFT CARD BY VOGUING AND CATWALKING. Kids ages 5-17 can take part in an indoor parade and compete for a serious prize in the Fashion District’s family-friendly Pride kickoff on June 1 from noon to 4pm. Free. 901 Market Street
Figure: Family Pride Day. Courtesy of The Franklin Institute.
PRIDE WITH A SIDE … OF SCIENCE. On the Franklin Institute’s Family Pride Day, June 1 from noon to 4pm, drag stars Allyria Everlasting and Eric Jaffe demo science experiments. Giddy Up Philly gives line dancing lessons. Galaei’s SPLAT program, supporting QTBIPOC youth, meets families. Admission: $25 ages 12-65, $23 military and ages 65 and up, $21 ages 3-11, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free under age 2. 222 N. 20th Street
Figure: Pride Skate. Courtesy of Center City District.
SKATE THE RAINBOW. Dilworth Park’s outdoor roller rink — the one in front of City Hall — takes its multicolored theme up a notch on June 1, from 6 to 8pm. Pride Skate serves up drag queens, classic anthems, and snacks. Reservations available. $10 adults, $8 ages 10 and under; roller skate rental: $6. 1 S. 15th Street
Figure: Cover of No He or She, I’m Me, illustrated by Kah Yangni
FIND PRIDE IN ART. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosts a Shine Your Light Family Festival on June 2 from 10am to 3pm. Kids can play with neon and glow-in-the-dark materials inspired by queer photographer David Lebe’s light drawings, chill in an on-theme sensory area, take part in a banned book story time, and contribute to artist and illustrator Kah Yangni‘s multi-layered drawings. Pay-what-you-wish. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Figure: Pride at the Please Touch Museum.
TEACH LITTLE KIDS PRIDE. The Please Touch Museum hosts its Pride celebration June 8 from 9am to 4:30pm. Expect story time, disco, yoga, puppet-making, mural painting and music lessons with Miles Crabtree from Ants on a Log. Admission: $22; $2 ACCESS cardholder. 4231 Avenue of the Republic
Figure: Courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo.
PRIDE WITH ANIMALS. The Philadelphia Zoo gets into the spirit for its Pride Day. June 9 from 9:30am to 5pm, the former botanical garden and its animal residents gets decorated in rainbows to host local LGBTQIA+ orgs and wildlife chats about LGBTQIA+ relationships in the animal kingdom. Admission: $25 ages 12 and up, $20 ages 2-11, free under age 2. 3400 W. Girard Avenue
MORE ON LGBTQIA+ LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA
Ideas We Should Steal Festival
Real Estate Development for Good
Civic Health with Connor Barwin
Criminal Justice with Malcolm Jenkins
