9 Pride Month events to celebrate in Springfield
Pride Month is celebrated each year throughout the month of June across the country with citywide parades and festivals. This year, Springfieldians can enjoy a variety of Pride-related events all month long.
Itty Bitty Teensy Weensy Tiny Little Pride Drag Show
When: Friday, June 17 at 5 p.m. until Saturday, June 18 at 1:30 a.m.
Where: Martha's Vineyard, 219 W. Olive St.
Itty Bitty Teensy Weensy Tiny Little Pride Drag Show is the kickoff event to Martha's Vineyard's Pride weekend festivities. Pre-show performances begin at 8 p.m., followed by a comedy show at 9:30 p.m. and the main show at 10:45 p.m.
Purchase entry at door.
Martha's PRIDE 2022
When: Saturday, June 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Martha's Vineyard, 219 W. Olive St.
Martha's Vineyard's daylong Pride event is this weekend, featuring performances on two stages, indoors and outdoors. Guests can enjoy karaoke, live music, comedy shows and drag queen performances. Admission is $15 for ages 18-20 and $10 for ages 21 and up.
Purchase tickets at the door.
Mix Celebrates Pride
When: Saturday, June 18 at 10 p.m.
Where: Mix Ultralounge, 1221 E. Saint Louis St.
Mix Ultralounge is hosting its annual Pride party this weekend, featuring performances from Katriana Dupree, Alexia St Croix, Manna Steticcc Highland, Tiffany Starr, Agave Gloss and Luna Thicc-Mornett. Entry is free.
Pride Party Night
When: Saturday, June 18 at 10 p.m.
Where: Nathan P Murphy's, 218 S. Campbell Ave.
Pride Party Night at Nathan P Murphy's is hosted by The Reveal Cabaret, a variety troupe. The show will include drag, burlesque and live music. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Entry is $10.
'Q'ueer Enoteca PRIDE Playlist Social
When: Friday, June 24 from 7-11 p.m.
Where: Q Enoteca, 308 W. Commercial St.
Q Enoteca is hosting Foxy Pours, a women-owned cocktail pop-up business, for a night of music and Pride-inspired beverages. Tickets are $20, which includes the first cocktail. All cocktails are $5.
Purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/3b04qF9
Bless Pride Edition
When: Saturday, June 25 at 9 p.m.
Where: Odyssey Lounge, 322 South Ave.
Bless is the Outland Complex's new, monthly drag show and dance party. Bless' Pride event will feature drag performances from Beaux Deluxe, Jimmy Anti, Daegen Michelle, Eileen Understaalz and Tania Carrington. Presale tickets are $10 and tickets at the door are $15.
Purchase tickets here: bit.ly/3b1OL8A
Pride Drag Brunch
When: Sunday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Springfield Brewing Company's The Cellar, 507 W. Walnut St.
Springfield Brewing Company is celebrating with a Pride Drag Brunch with performances from Ether, Daegen Michelle, Jimmy Anti, Kiwi Kindrick and Umami Origami. Meet and greets with the queens will follow the show. Admission is $30, which includes a reserved seat and food. Brunch drinks, cocktails and beer are available for purchase.
Purchase tickets here: bit.ly/3xMU5pd
Pride Brunch, benefiting Springfield Black Tie
When: Sunday, June 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 820 E. Walnut St.
Springfield Black Tie is the largest LGBTQIA+ fundraiser in southwest Missouri, held each November. This month's Pride brunch, which includes a brunch buffet, Bloody Mary bar, mimosas and a jewelry drawing, will benefit the event. Tickets are $100 per guest.
Purchase tickets here: bit.ly/3Hpb1p5
Pride in the Park
When: Saturday, July 9 from noon-4 p.m.
Where: Phelps Grove Park, 950 E. Bennett St.
Hosted by Ozarks Pridefest in early July, Pride in the Park is a family-friendly event that will feature live music, food trucks and games. Guests can enjoy music from The Cranberries tribute band Dear Dolores from 12-1 p.m. and pop musician I.V. King from 2-4 p.m.
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When and why was Pride month established?
June was officially declared "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month" in the United States by former President Bill Clinton in 2000. But before Pride was about celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, it was a protest.
On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York.
According to the History Channel, Stonewall Inn was known for welcoming drag queens, runaways and homeless gay youth. And the raid on June 28 wasn't a new occurrence. The New York Police Department had stormed the bar several times prior.
Upset by the constant harassment and discrimination, patrons and local residents began to spend more time at the bar, rather than leaving the establishment, which upset police.
Fights began to break out, which would be the start of the Stonewall Riots, ongoing protests through July 3, 1969.
A year later, on June 28, 1970, thousands of people marched from Stonewall Inn to Central Park chanting, "Say it loud, gay is proud." The day was called "Christopher Street Liberation Day," as Christopher Street is the street Stonewall Inn is on. This would be the start of modern-day Pride.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: It's Pride Month. 9 events to celebrate in Springfield this June, July
