Celebrate Pride Month in New York: Parades, Parties, and Performances to Attend

On June 29, New York City will host its official Pride march starting at 11 a.m., centered around the strongly political theme “Rise Up: Pride in Protest.” Among the grand marshals is Karine Jean-Pierre, former press secretary for the Biden-Harris administration. Alongside the march, the annual PrideFest street fair, featuring food and activities suitable for all ages, will also take place.

The festivities begin the day before with pre-events such as a gathering at the South Street Seaport Museum with Youth Pride, and the NYC Dyke March, described by organizers as a “protest march, not a parade,” which will commence at Bryant Park at 5 p.m.

Pride celebrations extend beyond Manhattan with a series of parades and festivals across the region, including Staten Island on May 31; Asbury Park, New Jersey, Queens, and Westchester County on June 1; Long Island and Woodstock on June 8; Brooklyn on June 14; Hudson and the Bronx on June 21; and Harlem on June 28.

With numerous dance parties planned over the Pride weekend, attendees might consider taking the following Monday off to recover. Notable events include the Brut Party in Times Square on June 27, catering to the leather-and-harness community, and the 25th annual Alegria on June 29 at Avant Gardner in Brooklyn, which kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and culminates 24 hours later with Sunrise, a relaxed rooftop gathering to wind down.

Brooklyn’s Brick Theater, known for its multidisciplinary performing arts, is hosting several queer-focused performances throughout June. Highlights include T4T Fest from June 3 to 8, showcasing plays created by and for transgender artists, and the ninth annual Queer Butoh Festival from June 25 to 28, featuring international performers from countries such as Britain and Mexico.

Broadway Bares, the longstanding strip-and-sing fundraiser supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, returns with two shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Midtown on June 22. This year’s theme, inspired by The Wizard of Oz, is “Come Out, Come Out.” Ticket packages include access to a private cocktail party hosted by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.