There are plenty of ways to celebrate pride month and support LGBTQ+ people in your life and community this June. News4’s Tommy McFly reports.
Pride Month is back, and the D.C. area is gearing up for a huge month of joy, activism and community.
Six years after the Stonewall uprising in New York, D.C. held its first officially recognized Pride celebration in D.C.
Since "Gay Pride Day" on June 22, 1975, the District’s celebration of the full spectrum of love and identity has grown and welcomes up to a half-million people annually.
When Is D.C.'s Capital Pride Parade 2023?
Capital Pride’s big weekend happened June 9-11, but lots of events are planned throughout June. Check out the photos below:
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Be an Ally
Pride Month is a time to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community. In between hitting up the parties and parades, allies can step up in big and small ways.
Patronize queer-owned small businesses, educate yourself, share resources or donate to trusted organizations such as The DC Center for the LGBT Community or SMYAL.
Now, grab your rainbow gear and get ready for these Pride Month events across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Pride Month Events in D.C.
Shop Made in DC Proud Showcase
📅 Open throughout June
📍 Shop Made in DC Georgetown
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Stroll through the gallery and support 20+ local LGBTQ+ artists all month long. RSVP is recommended for the opening reception.
Washington Mystics Pride Night
📅 Fri., June 16, 7 p.m.
📍 Entertainment and Sports Arena (Southeast D.C.)
🔗 Details
District of PRIDE Showcase
📅 Thurs., June 29
📍 The Lincoln Theatre
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Pride Month Events in Maryland
Glen Echo Park Pride Family Day
📅 Sat., June 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
📍 Glen Echo
💲 Free; registration required
🔗 Details
Bring the kids for hands-on crafts, free carousel rides and rainbow desserts. The Puppet Co. will also offer discount tickets to "DinoRock presents Dinosaur Babies."
Rockville Pride
📅 Sat., June 24, 1-4 p.m.
📍 Rockville Town Square
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Enjoy live performances, information booths and children's activities and crafts at Rockville's family-friendly Pride celebration.
Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza
📅 Sun., June 25, noon to 6 p.m.
📍 Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Baltimore Pride
📅 June 17-25
🔗 Details
Baltimore is hosting tons of Pride events all month long, but the parade and block party are set for Sat., June 24.
Pride Month Events in Virginia
Out & About Festival
📅 June 24-25
📍 Wolf Trap's Filene Center (Vienna, Virginia)
🔗 Details
Brandi Carlile, Yola, Rufus Wainwright, Lucius and Celisse are among artists performing at Wolf Trap's festial spotlighting LGBTQ+ artists and allies.
Arlington Pride Weekend
📅 June 23-25
📍 Various locations
🔗 Details
Arlington's packed Pride weekend starts with The Inaugural Miss Arlington Pride Pageant on Friday. On Saturday, head to Rosslyn Gateway Park for the Pride Festival, then get ready for Sunday mimosas at The Inaugural Arlington Pride Drag Brunch.
Pride in the Vines
📅 Throughout June
📍 15 wineries Loudoun County
🔗 Details
Want to know what's up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.
Past Events
Pretty Boi Drag
📅 Fri., June 2; Sat., June 17; Sun., June 18, Thurs. June 22
🔗 Details
DC Pride Crawl
📅 Sat. June 3, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
📍 Dupont Circle
💲 $20 in advance; $40 day-of
🔗 Details
Tickets get you into bars including Ozio, Public Bar, Tokyo Pearl and The Madhatter, plus raffle entry and deals: $3 Bud Lights, $4 rail drinks and $4 pride shots.
Washington Spirit Pride Night
📅 Sat., June 3
📍 Audi Field
💲 $15+
🔗 Details
ART OUT LOUD: A Rooftop Pride Party
📅 Sat., June 3
📍 Selina Union Market
💲 $25-$45
🔗 Details
This party features music from Farah Flosscett, Alex Love and Les the DJ; live art and installations, plus a maker’s market curated by Femme Fatale DC
Tickets include complimentary cocktails from Disco Mary and Mexican food from Chef Christian Irabién’s Amparo.
Pride at the Mardi Gras Brunch
📅 Sun., June 4, noon
📍 Four Seasons Hotel
💲 $150+ per person
🔗 Details
Jujubee of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame will host the brunch, and Dr. Anthony Fauci will receive the inaugural Worthy Mentor Award. The cost of your ticket counts as a tax-deductible donation to Worthy Mentoring, organizers said.
KhushDC Pride Picnic
📅 Sun., June 4
📍 Meridian Hill Park
💲 Free
DC Different Drummers Jazz Concert
📅 Sun., June 4, 3:30 p.m.
📍 MLK Library
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Washington Nationals Night OUT
📅 Tues., June 6
📍 Nationals Park
💲 $17-$84
🔗 Details
Reston Pride
📅 Sat., June 3, noon to 6 p.m.
📍 Lake Anne Plaza
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Alexandria Sixth Annual LGBTQ+ Pride Month Fair
📅 Sat., June 3
📍 City Hall and Market Square (301 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia)
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Music, art, face painting, food and resources including free, confidential health services will be available, alongside a drag queen story hour, spoken word performance and an improv workshop.
Culpeper Pride Festival
📅 Sun., June 4, noon to 5 p.m.
📍 Mountain Run Winery
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Enjoy live music and a family-friendly drag show, find resources and community groups and listen to guest speakers
It’s free to attend, but registration is requested and donations to Culpeper Pride are welcomed.
Mountain Run Winery says proceeds from the event will go toward LGBTQIA+ causes including The Trevor Project and starting a youth pride club.
The after-party — a drag show featuring the Queens of Culpeper — costs $10.
Drag Duels Show
📅 Fri., June 2; Sat., June 3 and Fri., June 16
📍 Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Enjoy live entertainment — with a fierce drag competition as the headlining event — plus an artists' pop-up, adult beverage garden, health screenings and more.
Prince George's County Inaugural Pride Walk
📅 Sun., June 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
📍 National Harbor
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Prince George's County’s inaugural pride walk and festival will have music by TRYFE, vendors and resources at National Harbor.
Takoma Pride Day
📅 Sun., June 11
📍 The Streetery near 6929 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details
This family-focused Pride Month celebration includes a parade for kids and a street fair with face painting, chalk art and drag queen storytime.
RIOT! The Capital Pride Official Opening Party
📅 Fri. June 9
📍 Echostage (Northeast D.C.)
💲 $35+
🔗 Details
Pride started as a riot, so of course, Capital Pride’s big weekend kicks off with a rebellious dance party led by a star-studded lineup of drag performers including Alaska Thunder----, Tatiana from “RuPaul's Drag Race,” Pussy Noir, KC B. Yoncé and JaxKnifeComplex.
Capital Pride Parade
📅 Saturday, June 10, 3-7:30 pm.
📍 Logan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods (parade route map)
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Thousands of members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies will turn out to watch floats, performers and organizations (including NBC4 and Telemundo 44!) march along the 1.5-mile route.
Plans for announcement stands, ADA-accessible areas and a family zone are expected to be released soon.
If you want to start the party early, check out the Crack of Noon Pride Parade Brunch.
Capital Pride Block Party
📅 Sat., June 10, noon to 10 p.m.
📍 17th Street between P and Q streets NW
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
🚇 The closest Metro stop is Dupont Circle. Farragut West is about a 13-minute walk away.
Before or after the parade, 17th Street is the place to be for all-day entertainment, food and two beverage gardens for the 21+ crowd.
The Pride Block Party will kick off with DJs from noon to 3 p.m., followed by local entertainers into the night.
The Capital Pride Beverage Garden will have a view of the Pride Parade from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., organizers say.
After-party options include:
- Capital Trans Pride Pool Party at Penthouse Pool and Lounge (free, RSVP required)
- Revolution, the Official Capital Pride Saturday Party at WEG (1235 W St NE)
Capital Pride Concert
📅 Sun., June 11, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
📍 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free, VIP and PIT upgrades available
🚇 The closest Metro stops include Judiciary Square, Federal Center SW and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter.
Idina Menzel, Hayley Kiyoko, Rina Sawayama, Monét X Change, Debbie Gibson and Shanice will headline the one-day music festival with three stages of entertainment.
Headliners will perform until 8 p.m., then you can dance away the last hours of the weekend with DJ Tracy Young at the Sunset Dance Party until 10 p.m.
The festival is free and open to the public, but you can purchase PIT ($45+) and VIP ($230+) passes for up-close viewing and other perks.
