Arts & Entertainment
Pride in the fall
The LGBTQ community and allies celebrate in towns across the region
Did you miss out on Capital Pride this year or want another chance to gather with the LGBTQ community and allies? Several area Pride celebrations are taking place in towns and cities in the area over the next few weeks.
Winchester Pride
Sept. 16-18
Winchester, Va.
Facebook | Website
Three days of events, including drag shows, a party and a festival are planned for the picturesque city in the Shenandoah Valley.
- The Golden Games – A Golden Girls Musical Game Show | Friday, Sept. 16 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Bright Box Theater | 15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | $25-$35 | Facebook | Eventbrite
- 50/50 TapHouse Presents: Drag Bingo | Friday, Sept. 16 | 9:30 p.m.-midnight | 50/50 Taphouse 29 West Cork Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | Free to play | Facebook
- Winchester Pride Festival | Saturday, Sept. 17 | 12-4 p.m. | Taylor Pavilion | 119 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | Free | Facebook
- The Golden Games – A Golden Girls Musical Game Show (Show 2) | Saturday, Sept. 17 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Bright Box Theater | 15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | $25-$35 | Facebook | Eventbrite
- Winchester Pride After Party | Saturday, Sept. 17 | 10 p.m. | Bright Box Theater | 15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | $10 | 18+ | Facebook
- Paladin Drag Brunch | Sunday, Sept. 18 | 11 a.m. | 181-A Warrior Drive, Stephens City, Va. 22655 Website
Cville Pride Street Fair & Fun Day
Sunday, Sept. 18
11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
IX Art Park
522 2nd Street, S.E. C
Charlottesville, Va. 22902
Free
Facebook
Join Cville Pride at IX Art Park for a mini festival with booths for local nonprofits, food trucks, drag performances, live music, crafts for kids, sweets and crafts from local artisans and more.
Virginia Pride
Sept. 23-25
Richmond, Va.
Facebook | Website
The Virginia Pridefest on Brown’s Island in Richmond is not to be missed: with headlining acts The Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia, Leikeli 47 and Rosé from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Also, check out the parties before and afterwards.
- Pride After Dark—Animal: The Official Pre-Pride Party | Friday, Sept. 23 | 8 p.m. | River City Roll | 939 Myers Street, Richmond, Va. 23230 | 21+ | $15 | Facebook | Tickets
- Pridefest 2022 | Saturday, Sept. 24 | 12-8 p.m. | Brown’s Island | Richmond, Va. 23219 | Facebook
- Rainbow Celebration: The Official Closing Party of VA Pride Weekend | Sunday, Sept. 25 | 5:30 p.m. | Bingo Beer Company | 2900 West Broad Street, Richmond, Va. 23230 | $5 | Website
Laurel Pride
Saturday, Oct. 8
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Granville Gude Park
8300 Mulberry Street (Pavilion A)
Laurel, Md.
Facebook
The City of Laurel, Md. hosts its first Pride celebration at Granville Gude Park on October 8 with entertainment, food and educational resources.
Shenandoah Valley Pride
Saturday, Oct. 8
1-5 p.m.
Court Square
Harrisonburg, Va.
Facebook
Harrisonburg is host once more to Shenandoah Valley Pride on October 8. There will be food trucks, vendors and entertainment for the whole family as well as a (21+) beer garden area.
Howard County Pride
Sunday, Oct. 9
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
10431 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, Md.
Facebook | Eventbrite
The Howard County LGBTQ+ community and allies celebrate with vendors, exhibitions, history, food trucks, and performances at Merriweather Park in Columbia, Md.
Pride Franklin County
Sunday, Oct. 9
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wilson College
Chambersburg, Pa.
Facebook | Website
Pride Franklin County returns with a fun, family-friendly, and welcoming atmosphere. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Entertainment will include live music, a DJ, dance performances, drag shows, and more throughout the day. Food truck vendors and beverage stands will be set up. There will be kids’ activities, art projects, fitness/wellness classes, yard games, vendors, swag, and more.
Staunton Pride
Sunday, Oct. 23
12-5 p.m.
Gypsy Hill Park
600 Churchville Avenue (Route 250)
Staunton, Va.
Facebook
Staunton Pride festival will be held in the bandstand area of Gypsy Hill Park. There will be performers, a beer garden, a vendor area, a health and wellness hub, and youth activities area.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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