June is LGBTQ Pride Month, which was originally created to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in New York City in 1969, a major turning point in the gay liberation movement in the United States. Now, Pride Month has evolved into both a celebration of sexual and gender identities as well as a call-to-action for further visibility and political rights for the LGBTQIA+ communities.
There are Pride marches, parades, festivals and parties planned all across Pennsylvania, from small towns to big cities. It’s exciting to see Pride in PA grow and flourish year after year!
Here are 17 ways to celebrate Pride in PA this summer:
Erie Pride on the Bay 2024: Sponsored by NWPA Pride Alliance, this event will take place on June 29, 2024, at its new location in Liberty Park with gates opening at 12 p.m. and free shuttles running 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. from the Intermodal Transportation Center and the Thomas C. Hoffman Bayfront Hub at 12th and Lincoln Ave. Head to the Erie Insurance Mainstage for kickoff at 1 p.m. with performances including local drag performers and info tables and vendors to peruse. The Adagio Health Health and Wellness Zone will feature HIV/STI and other health providers. Food will be available from loca food trucks in the Central Outreach Picnic Area. Erie Pride Parade and Pride Fest is family friendly and free.
Pittsburgh Pride 2024: This three-day celebration from May 31 to June 2 takes place across Pittsburgh Downtown, Northside and Bloomfield. The amazing lineup kicks off at 2 p.m. Friday in Allegheny Commons West with the first of the weekend’s 30+ performing acts. Saturday’s parade steps off at noon 11th Street and Liberty Avenue, winding its way through downtown and across the Andy Warhol Bridge, continuing on Sandusky Street, and proceeding to Allegheny Commons Park West for celebrations. Sunday is a closing block party in Bloomfield, near Trace Brewing.
Pride Festival of Central PA: This Pride Fest, which is celebrating its 32nd year, doesn’t take place until a bit later in the summer: Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Commonwealth of PA Capitol Complex Ground at Soldier’s Grove in Harrisburg. The festival, which is a $10 suggested donation, will feature entertainment, speakers, a family zone, music and food with a mission to celebrate diversity and while supporting the local economy.
State College Pride 2024: Head to downtown State College on Saturday, June 8, for State College Pride presented by Centre LGBT+. A parade kicks off at 10 a.m. with a festival in Sydney Friedman Park to follow at noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy food trucks, live music, a puppet performance, and dance party, plus various after-party events.
Gettysburg Pride: The 8th Annual Gettysburg Pride Fest runs from May 31 through June 2, with a packed schedule of events, including dance parties, “pride chat” community info sessions and drag performances. One highlight includes the Pride march on Saturday, June 1, which happens on Lincoln Square and ends with a free popsicle party and live entertainment. The weekend closes out with a drag brunch at Lincoln Social Food Market.
York County Pride: The signature event of Rainbow Rose Center, York County pride is a day-long event on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at All Trans Memorial Hall, 334 Carlisle Ave. You’ll find live entertainment, speakers, interactive children’s activities, and plenty of retail vendors for shopping. It’s free and open to all ages.
Lancaster Pride Festival: For the first time, Lancaster Pride is expanding from inside the Convention Center to outdoors on Vine and Queen streets with the theme “Our Streets Are Open to All.” The festival on Saturday, June 15, runs noon to 7 p.m. with headliner Aquaria, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and loads of activities, food vendors, and live performances. While the indoor portion is ticketed, the street festival is free to the public.
Delaware County Pride Festival and Pride Parade: There are two ways to celebrate Pride in Delco! The first is the second annual Pride Parade in downtown Media on Saturday, June 1, which begins at noon and goes until 2 p.m. The parade will run down State Street and include local organizations, marching bands and businesses. Following the parade, there will be a Pride on State celebration all afternoon and evening, with local businesses providing space for LGBTQIA+ youth and adults to celebrate and socialize.
On Saturday, June 8, the 4th Annual Delco Pridefest will go down at the Upper Darby Township Municipal Building between 1 and 6 p.m. There will be family-friendly activities, vendors, music, a DJ, dancing, face painting, nail painting and other fun activities! A $5 donation is suggested for tickets.
Berks Pride Fest: Formerly the Reading Pride Festival, this event starts with a parade on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 815 Washington Street that’s followed by a festival held in Jim Dietrich Park on Sunday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with nearly 200 vendors, food trucks and performers. There are two stages for live music, special kids and teen areas, a sober space, and a whole lot more.
Lehigh Valley Pride: This late summer event, held on Sunday, August 18, has the theme “We Deserve PRIDE.” It runs from 2 – 7 p.m. with over 300 vendors, artists and community organizers. Lehigh Valley Pride is held at The SteelStacks in Bethlehem. It’s free and accessible with ASL interpreters, ADA restrooms, alcohol-free experiences, and sensory-friendly and spiritual spaces.
PrideFest Chester County: The LGBT Equity Alliance of Chester County presents the 3rd Annual Chester County Pride Festival on Saturday, June 8, from noon to 5 p.m. on Bridge Street in Phoenixville. The family-friendly event will feature food, music, vendors, family activities, giveaways and so much more!
Bucks-Mont PRIDE: The Welcome Project‘s Sexuality And Gender Acceptance program will host the 4th annual Bucks-Mont PRIDE Festival at the Abington Art Center on Saturday, June 30, from noon to 5 p.m. There will be performances by the Positive Movement Drumline, The Dead Friends Club, BRAZN, puppeteer Chad Parsons and VinChelle. There’ll be food trucks, info from community resources and family-friendly activities. Bucks-Mont PRIDE is a free, indoor/outdoor event.
Doylestown Pride: This Pride Festival returns for its 5th year of a week’s worth of inclusive celebrations, from June 15 through 23, 2024. Events include film screenings, drag brunch, illustration workships and other pop-up events, as well as a Pride Block party on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on E. State St. between Pine and Main. Attendees can expect live music performances, dozens of local vendors, food and other activities.
Philly Pride 365 “Be You” March and Festival: This year’s Philly Pride 325 events, presented by Galaei, are on Sunday, June 1 from noon to 7 p.m.. The march through Center City starts at 6th and Walnut streets at 10:30 a.m. and features a 400 foot long flag. It ends in the Gayborhood with a vibrant, multi-block festival featuring 200+ small businesses with food trucks, artists, live music and more.
Pocono Pride Festival: This growing festival takes place on Sunday, June 2, at Courthouse Square in Stroudsburg. The Pocono Pride Festival will offer the community music, live entertainment from local drag queens and kings and DJs, crafts, children’s activities, a teen space, food trucks and more. Resource tables will be set up to provide tools and information. There are adjunct events throughout the area all weekend long, like a 90s themed drag show, pre-pride campout, and a Pride Mass at Christ Episcopal Church in Stroudsburg.
Berwick Pride Festival: We love a small-town Pride! This Pride Fest in Berwick (a borough in Columbia County) is the 3rd annual, hosted by Intoxicology Department, a bar on W. 2nd St. It’s taking place on Saturday, June 1 from 12 – 8 p.m., and will include vendors, bands, open mic, a scavenger hunt, karaoke, guest speakers and more.
NEPA Pridefest: The Rainbow Alliance presents the 2024 NEPA Pridefest, bearing the theme “Love Out Loud”, on Sunday, June 23. The parade kicks off a noon, starting at the corner of South and South Main Streets in Wilkes-Barre, culminating with a PrideFest Celebration on Public Square with drag performers, community performances, vendors and more until 4 p.m.
