Ogunquit Pride 2023: Here’s everything you need to know

OGUNQUIT, Maine — Ogunquit Pride is back this year and is “bigger and better” with parties, dances, and even a show featuring the "best of burlesque and drag from Maine and beyond."

The five-day festival kicks off on Thursday, June 1, at 5:30 p.m. The opening ceremony, which will be attended by Maine’s former Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, will include a flag-raising at Veterans Park and the unveiling of a Pride crosswalk on Route 1.

MaineStreet, a local gay bar, will host a free Over the Rainbow BBQ at 6:30 p.m.

John Nickerson, one of the managers of MaineStreet, said he is looking forward to the flag-raising ceremony and cook-out as it "kicks things off."

“This is our third annual event in terms of how we’re doing it now… every year we try to buff out the schedule to make it bigger and better,” said Alice Pearce, the executive director of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce.

Pearce said many businesses will be participating including the Ogunquit Playhouse, Leavitt Theatre, Nikanos and The Front Porch.

“The primary reason we host Pride is to show that our community is welcoming to all,” she said. “We have many businesses in Ogunquit that are gay-owned and operated, and the LGBTQ+ community have been here for many years. We’re celebrating the legacy of the community and showing that it’s important to be welcoming and inclusive.”

Here’s a look at the special events taking place during Ogunquit Pride.

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Burlesque Beyond the Beach, Pride Dance Party

The Pride Weekend Kick-off Party gets things started on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Admiral’s Inn, followed by Burlesque Beyond the Beach at the Leavitt Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and Joe Posa as Joan Rivers and Pride Dance Party at MaineStreet, starting at 8 p.m.

Nell Henderson-Brown, events director at Leavitt Theater, said Burlesque Beyond the Beach will feature a special screening of the Lola Rocknrolla’s classic short film “Gay Fairy Tales.”

The 18-plus show is billed as a fun night that “brings the best of burlesque and drag from Maine and beyond to the beautiful Leavitt Theater.”

Tickets are $30 for general admission, $120 for a VIP table (covers admission for four people), and $180 for a deluxe VIP table (covers admission for six people). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the screening of “Gay Fairy Tales” is at 7:30 p.m., and burlesque begins at 8 p.m.

MaineStreet will be hosting a live performance of Joe Posa as Joan Rivers at 8 p.m., a Pride Dance Party with DJ Aga at 9 p.m. and karaoke at 9:30 p.m.

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Pride Picnic, drag shows and Glow Party

On Saturday, June 3, join the community at Picnic in the Park at Dorothea Jacobs Grant Common. The event starts at 11 a.m. and features Maine singers Lynn Deeves and Carole Wise, and DJ Jodi.

Live music will continue throughout the afternoon until 4 p.m. at Rotary Park in Perkins Cove brought to you by TaleSpinStudio, Ogunquit Rotary and Ogunquit Parks & Rec.

Leavitt Theater will host the showing of “How Rude!,” a documentary on the life of Ogunquit’s own Richard Perkins at 5:30 p.m. Perkins, who died earlier this year at the age of 92, was known as “a pillar in the community,” “a progressive restaurateur” and “one of the pioneers in the gay community,” according to Pearce.

The theatre will also host Life’s A Drag, a drag show with “New England’s fiercest entertainers,” at 7 p.m. The show is 21+ and tickets are $25.

MaineStreet events include an OG Tea Dance at 4 p.m., Joe Posa as Joan Rivers at 8 p.m., the Dueling Drag Divas (a vocal competition featuring Dolly Parton and Cher impersonators) at 9 p.m. and a Glow Party with international DJ Steve Sidewalk at 9:30 p.m.

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Drag Brunch, Ogunquit’s Got Talent and ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’

Sunday’s events kick off with a Drag Brunch at Nikanos at 173 Main Street featuring entertainment by Mizery McRae at noon, followed by a Pride reception before “Beautiful” at Ogunquit Playhouse at 1:15 p.m.

The Front Porch Piano Bar will feature show tunes pianist Jeff Mitchell at 2 p.m.

At MaineStreet, the Heels & Harness Pride Tea Dance will take place at 4 p.m. followed by Ogunquit’s Got Talent – a benefit for the Frannie Peabody Center, an STD testing service in Portland – at 7 p.m. Tickets for the benefit are $20.

Leavitt Theater will host a free showing of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at 5:30 p.m. The movie tells the story of the internationally ignored rock singer, Hedwig, and her search for stardom and love.

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Broadway Gives Back and free showing of 'The Birdcage'

On the final day, Monday, June 5, MaineStreet will host Broadway Gives Back featuring cast members from the Ogunquit Playhouse production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

Tickets to the event are $20 and 100% of the proceeds go to charity.

Leavitt Theater will be ending the festival with a free showing of “The Birdcage,” a 1996 LGBTQ+ comedy, at 6 p.m. followed by Drag King Show: “roMANce in the Air” at 9 p.m.

For the most up-to-date schedule with full details, visit https://www.ogunquit.org/ogunquit-pride/.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Ogunquit Pride 2023: Here’s everything you need to know