Out & About
Pride in the fall
LGBTQ community events held in cities and towns across region
Several communities in the region have opted to beat the heat of a June Pride celebration in favor of a cooler affair in the coming months. Here is our list of LGBTQ Pride events scheduled throughout September and October in cities across Virginia and Maryland.
Virginia Pridefest
September 14
12-8 p.m.
Richmond, Va.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
Richmond’s annual Virginia Pridefest will be held at Bon Secours Training Center (2401 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, Va. 23220) this year with vendors, activities and performances from entertainers including Crystal Waters, Robin S, Tank and the Bangas, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Kennedy Davenport. The event is free.
Following the festival, Godfreys (308 E. Grace Street) is hosting the “After Pride Beach Party” from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. with drag shows scheduled for 9 and 11 p.m. The cover for the afterparty is $5 at the door or $30 for VIP tickets on Eventbrite.
PRISM Pride Festival
September 14
12-4 p.m.
Waynesboro, Va.
Facebook
The Virginia town of Waynesboro is holding its very first Pride celebration downtown (19 N. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, Va. 22980) on Saturday. There will be vendors, a performance by Shagwüf, interactive downtown bingo and other activities.
Shenandoah Valley Pride
A performance at Shenandoah Valley Pride in 2023. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
September 21
1-5 p.m.
Harrisonburg, Va.
Website | Facebook
The 10th annual Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival will be held at Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Va. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Attendees can expect music, drag performances, vendor booths and more.
Winchester Pride
A scene from last year’s Winchester Pride at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
October 5
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Winchester, Va.
Website | Facebook
The sixth annual Winchester Pride festival is being held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (901 Amherst Street, Winchester, Va. 22601) on Saturday, October 5. The event is free.
An afterparty is scheduled for the evening at The Monument VA in downtown Winchester (186 N. Loudoun Street) with doors opening at 8 and a drag show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased here. The afterparty is 21+.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival
October 5
2 – 6 p.m.
Havre de Grace, Md.
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram
The sixth annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 5 in Havre de Grace, Md. at Concord Point Park (701 Concord Street). The event is free and family-friendly with live music, drag performances, food trucks, vendors and artists.
Laurel Pride
October 12
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Laurel, Md.
Website | Facebook
The third annual Laurel Pride will be held on Saturday, October 12 at Granville Guide Park (8300 Mulberry Street) in Laurel, Md.
SWVA Pride Fest
October 12
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Salem, Va.
Website
Southwest Virginia Pride (SWVA Pride) will be held at Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Boulevard) in Salem, Va. on Saturday, October 12. There will be live music, entertainment, vendors, a family zone and a petting zoo, among other attractions at the free event.
TriPride
October 12
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Bristol, Va.
Website | Eventbrite
The TriPride Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 12 at Cumberland Square Park (200 Lee Street) in Bristol, Va. The event is free, but tickets from Eventbrite are required for entry. There will be live performances, vendors, food trucks, health services and more as the “tri-cities” of Bristol (Va.), Kingsport and Johnson City (Tenn.) celebrate the LGBTQ community. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Pride Franklin County
October 13
12 – 5 p.m.
Chambersburg, Pa.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Pride Franklin County is being held at Wilson College (1015 Philadelphia Avenue) in Chambersburg, Pa. on Sunday, October 13.
Pride Southern Maryland
October 13
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lexington Park, Md.
Website | Facebook
The seventh annual Pride Southern Maryland will be held on Sunday, October 13 at Lexington Manor Passive Park (21675 South Coral Drive) in Lexington Park, Md. The event will feature live performances, drag, a dedicated kids zone, speakers, vendors, food trucks and more, according to organizers.
HoCo Pride
October 13
12 – 4 p.m.
Columbia, Md.
Website | Facebook
The fifth annual HoCo Pride — Howard County Pride — is scheduled for Sunday, October 13 at Marriweather Park at Symphony Woods (10431 Little Patuxent Parkway) in Columbia, Md. You can expect live performances, vendors, food trucks, community information and family-friendly fun at the park on Sunday.
Staunton Pride
October 26
12 – 5 p.m.
Staunton, Va.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Staunton Pride is scheduled for Saturday, October 26 at the GHP Bandstand Area (600 Chruchville Avenue) in Staunton, Va. Expect live performances, vendors and more.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.
Friday, June 5
“Center Aging: Pride Monthly Luncheon with Chair Yoga & Drag Bingo” will be at 12:00 p.m. at the DC LGBQ+ Community Center. Lunch will be provided. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
“Comedy Show for LGBTQ+ Prosperity” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This will be a funny, queer show produced by Grassroots Comedy to celebrate the DC LGBTQ+ Center and the beginning of Pride month. Across the country, LGBTQ+ people are losing access to care, protection, and support. These aren’t abstract policy changes – they are real people losing the resources they rely on to stay safe and well. And when that happens, many come to Washington, DC, a place long considered a site of refuge for these vulnerable populations. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, June 6
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, June 7
Pride Month Sound Bath Meditation will be at 10:30 a.m. at Atlas Salon DC. Pride Month sound bath meditation is an immersive morning of sound to slow down, reset, and rest in community while supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 8
Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit www.genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Tuesday, June 9
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.
Wednesday, June 10
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, June 11
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LBTQ+ Community Center. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Vote Kenyan McDuffie for D.C. mayor
Your queer D.C. voting guide
Blade reporters reflect on covering Pulse massacre 10 years ago
Rehoboth’s Pride on the Bay set for June 27
Blade editor inducted into D.C. Society of Professional Journalists Hall of Fame
Timothy Nelson on the premiere of his opera ‘Song of Sakuntala’
Controversial ‘Blue Film’ pushes past taboos for gripping drama
PHOTOS: ‘Soul Divas’
‘Mighty Real’ explores history of LGBTQ music
