Pride Month is not only a vibrant celebration of identity and love but also a powerful reminder of the strides made and battles fought by the LGBTQ+ community.
As cities around the globe burst into the colors of the rainbow this June, event organizers have the opportunity to create unique and unforgettable experiences that bring queer people from all backgrounds together.
So, whether you’re planning your first Pride Month event or looking to elevate an existing celebration, here’s how you can honor the power, progress, and passion of Pride.
Party Outside The Box
As Eventbrite’s 2024 Music and Nightlife Event Trends report found, there’s a growing appetite for day parties and events that finish before midnight, which is something to consider if you’re planning a party.
Take Woodstock Pride in New York, for example, which adds an extra twist by throwing it back to the 1950s and 1960s with a Pride Tea Dance event. Taking place from 2 to 6pm on June 8, it pays homage to the legendary events that provided a safe space for the community in the past.
In Liverpool, UK, Funny Boyz is catering for both early birds and night owls with their longest Pride Party—which starts at 10am on June 27 and wraps things up at 4am the following morning—allowing attendees to come and go as they please, along with performances from RuPaul’s Drag Race queens and tribute acts throughout the 18-hour bash.
“Funny Boyz is a safe space for all to come and celebrate the incredible art of drag,” says performer Miss Grace. “We aim high and want to make people feel as though they are in Disneyland or even a dream, working closely with amazing artists based across the globe and members of the LGBTQ+ community to create truly unforgettable experiences.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate pride. With Drag being illegal in some states, it’s time to stand up for our rights and fight for what we believe.”
Of course, a drag brunch is also a guaranteed way to draw in the punters during the daytime, but an extra USP will help your event stand out from the crowd—just like the Pride Bingo event at Staten Island’s The Burrito Bar in New York on June 2, which includes five hilarious games of bingo, performances, and bottomless cocktails.
Alternatively, you could push the boat out—quite literally—just like New York’s It’s F**king Pride Party Cruise. Throughout weekends in June, ticket holders will set sail under the Brooklyn Bridge and along the New York skyline while getting to dance “under a rainbow starburst of colored lights”.
“Proudly independent from corporate sponsorship, this cruise belongs to the community,” organizer John Cella says. “It’s a space where individuals of all backgrounds can come together to revel in the beauty of Pride.”
However, an increasing number of Gen-Zers are seeking experiences that don’t involve boozing. According to Eventbrite’s TRNDS 2024 report, 54% of 21- to 35-year-olds would find an event offering zero-proof and low-alcohol drink options appealing, and these kinds of events grew globally by 73% on our platform between January and September 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.
Draw inspiration from Ecstatic Disco’s Sober Wellness Raves this Pride season. Held throughout the year at London’s iconic Ministry of Sound venue, things kick off at 3pm, and there’s a chance to join a yoga session, socialize, have chai, and soak up the vibe before the plug gets pulled at 8:30pm.
But Pride Is More Than A Party
We should never forget that Pride is a protest, and is rooted in the marches and riots led by the generations that came before us, as they fought for the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
Many major cities across the globe have their own unique stories to tell about the LGBT+ movement, so consider hosting guided tours that recount pivotal moments of local queer history. Such examples include LGBT Hero’s Queer History Walk in London, the People’s History Museum’s LGBTQIA+ Guided Tour of Manchester, and Australia’s Discovery of Oxford Street in Sydney, led by drag queen Wonder Mama.
Jaime Starr, Collections Assistant at People’s History Museum says: “The guides won’t just be highlighting objects that are explicitly labelled as queer. We will be discussing societal history, the ways LGBTQIA+ people have and haven’t been recognized—both by society and by the heritage industry. We will also be exploring the way language has changed over time, and starting conversations with our tour participants about how we label people and objects—what are we comfortable and confident applying labels to and why?
“This tour will give people the tools to think about queerness as an integrated and irremovable part of the fabric of British socio-political history, rather than a separate extra category.”
Workshops are also a great chance to explore the rich heritage of queer communities and Pride’s origins. For example, New Orleans’ Black Pride is hosting the Black Queer Legacy Summit on June 7, featuring insightful workshops and panels, networking opportunities, and vibrant exhibits celebrating the legacy of the Black queer community, who were at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Community-led organization Blossom in Guildford, UK, also offers a series of workshops throughout the year that delve into global queer history.
Connecting With The Community
Pride Month is also an ideal time for people to make new connections and friendships, so think about creating inclusive and welcoming spaces that encourage participation from all parts of the community.
In New York, Queer Ballroom is putting on a four-week intensive course from June 4 where attendees can learn dances like Swing, ChaCha, Rumba Tango, Foxtrot, and Salsa—and they are even offering a first free sample class for new students.
“The series is very beginner-friendly and aims to teach the fundamentals of partner dancing in different styles while building a community,” says three-time world champion same-sex ballroom dancer Robbie Tristan, who leads the classes.
Similarly, Move Manchester recently hosted a special over 50s LGBTQ+ dance workshop as part of the LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Aging program, which aimed to “infuse conversation, poetry, and contemporary dance together”.
Art is another brilliant way to bring people together and, at London’s LGBTQ+ Community Centre, they are aiming to “create a brave and vulnerable space for us to connect” with their Queer Drag Life Drawing Classes featuring LGBTQ+ models on June 27.
Laugh Loud And Proud
Long-running NYC comedy show Gaylarious is hosting its Pride Laugh Festival on June 18, featuring LGBTQ+ comedians and allies from TV, Broadway, radio, and clubs.
“Our goal is to celebrate diversity in our line-up and foster laughter, understanding, and acceptance among all audience members, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” says Hugh Hysell from Gaylarious. “It sounds hokey, but I believe that through humor, we all can let our walls down, laugh, and live a better life.”
In the words of RuPaul herself, can I get an Amen up in here?
