It's Pride Month! Here are 9+ ways to celebrate with events in the Louisville area
Pride Month, which celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community, is observed each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Celebrations in the Louisville area include pride parades, festivals, brunch, readings, and more. Here are almost a dozen ways you can celebrate this year:
6th Annual Southern Indiana Pride Festival
WHAT: The day will begin with a Kickoff Party with music by Brass DeVille at The 300 Spring Venue (300 Spring St., Jeffersonville at 1:30 p.m.). The festival features a vendor market, family fun zone (sponsored by The Center for Women and Families until 8 p.m.), food trucks, drag performances, beer garden (sponsored by The Alcove) and music by The Robbie Bartlett Band, The Light Fantastic Band, Your Second Favorite Band, DJ Slik and more.
WHERE: Big Four Station Park, Downtown Jeffersonville
WHEN: June 3, 4-11 p.m.
COST: Free
MORE INFORMATION: Southern Indiana Pride Festival is a family-friendly event until 9 p.m. After 9 p.m. for ages 18 and older. soinpridefest.org.
Louisville Pride 5K Run/Walk
WHAT: The 5K is a family-friendly event for people of all ages, athletic abilities, and skill levels. The virtual 5K is available for those who are unable to attend the in-person 5K. Run, walk, or push your way through the closed course. Participants will receive a pair of rainbow socks and a finisher’s medal.
WHERE: Iroquois Park,5216 New Cut Road
WHEN: June 11, 9 a.m.
COST: $20
MORE INFORMATION: Packet pick up June 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Louisville Pride Center, 1244 S. 3rd Street. If you are unable to pick up your packet, pick it up race morning on-site. louprideky.org/event/louisville-pride-5k-run-walk.
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Le Moo Drag Brunch
WHAT: Buffet-style brunch that includes French toast casserole, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, salad, Swedish meatballs, salad and more. Also a nationally recognized drag performance.
WHERE: 2300 Lexington Road
WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays through June, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $43 per person plus tax and gratuity. 502-458-8888; lemoorestaurant.com.
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Drag Revival: 2nd Annual Night of Drag Praise & Worship
WHAT: A night full of spiritual and faith-based music, musicals from local theaters, drag and LGBTQ performances, bake sale, and refreshments. Featuring multiple theater companies from around Louisville including Drag Daddy Productions, Sh'ma Theatre Company, The Chicken Coop Theatre Company, Redline Performing Arts, Time Slip Theatre, Centerstage, Mind's Eye Theater Company, Pandora Productions, drag performers and more. Host: Leah Halston.
WHERE: Highland Community Ministries,1228 E. Breckenridge St.
WHEN: June 15, 7-9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free, but reservations are requested. dragdaddyproductions.com.
Background: Kentucky churches are turning to drag queens to help heal religious trauma
LGBTQ+ Book Tasting
WHAT: Participants will look at a variety of LGBTQ+ books selected by book sommeliers.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 601 York St.
WHEN: June 15, 6:30-8 p.m.
COST: Free
MORE INFORMATION: 502-574-1611; lfpl.org.
Kentuckiana Pride Festival and Parade
WHAT: One of the largest LGBTQ+ events in Kentucky will celebrate the LGBTQ Community with a parade, vendor marketplace, food vendors, entertainment, kid and family activities, and more. The parade starts in the NuLu area at the corner of E. Market and Campbell streets and ends at the Big Four Lawn where the festival takes place until 10 p.m. Kids and family area with face painting, coloring sheets, corn hole, Plinko, prize wheel, and more. Performers at the festival include Vincint, Slayyyter, Brooke Eden, Morgxn, Chris Housman, The Daddy Sisters, Adam Thomas, Most Wanted and Voices of Kentuckiana.
WHERE: Big Four Lawn, Waterfront Park
WHEN: June 17, noon to 10 p.m. Parade starts at noon
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets: $10 general admission; $125 day of the festival and includes snack and meals provided throughout the day, dedicated VIP bar with 5 drink tickets, unlimited soda and water, shaded and air-conditioned tent with lounge furniture and tables. 502-649-4851; kypride.com.
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6th Annual Pride Crawl
WHAT: Drink and food specials, waived cover at all participating venues, free cover to drag show, crawl map, after party (Chill Bar) and more.
WHERE: Baxter's 942 Bar & Grill, 942 Baxter Ave.; Big Bar, 1202 Bardstown Road; Chill Bar, 1117 Bardstown Road; Flanagan’s Ale House, 934 Baxter Ave.; Goodfellas Pizzeria, 642 Baxter Ave., Suite 102; Highlands Tap Room, 1056 Bardstown; O’Shea’s Irish Pub, 956 Baxter Ave.
WHEN: June 17, 4-midnight. Check-in 4-6 p.m.; crawl, 4-10 p.m.; after-party, 10 p.m. to midnight
COST: Tickets start at $20
MORE INFORMATION: eventbrite.com.
Pop Out for Pride
WHAT: Saucy Santana in concert.
WHERE: Bourbon Hall, 116 W. Jefferson St.
WHEN: June 17, 10 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $50
MORE INFORMATION: eventbrite.com.
Dragtivity Pride Day!
WHAT: Celebrate Pride with Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky and Carmichael's Bookstore. A day of performances, book readings, arts and crafts, and a book signing from the performers.
WHERE: Carmichael's Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Ave.
WHEN: June 25, noon to 5 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $10
MORE INFORMATION: dqstky.org
Background: Here are LGBTQ-related bills Kentucky lawmakers have introduced, and what's on the horizon
Skating Pride Party
WHAT: Celebrate Pride with Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky and Champs Roller Dome. A day of performances, skating, arts and crafts, games and more.
WHERE: Champ’s Rollerdrome Louisville, 9851 La Grange Road
WHEN: June 26, 6-8 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $8. dqstky.org.
Did we miss an event? Send a note to Features News Clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Events to celebrate Pride Month in Louisville 2023
