June is Pride Month: a time to celebrate, honor, and advocate for the diverse queer community — in New York City and beyond.
Of course, with NYC being the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, the city goes all-out for Pride. All month long there are tons of Pride events and happenings in NYC, from outdoor concerts and plays, to educational art installations, to food specials that give back to non-profit organization centering the queer community, to of course, the iconic Pride March (which continues to be part virtual this year).
We’ve done our best to round up as many Pride events as we could find in NYC, but please feel to email us at hello@secretnyc.co with any other additions!
And of course, Happy Pride.
Marches, Concerts & Celebrations
1. The NYC Pride March
Where: ABC-7 and other online streaming locations; various Manhattan small businesses
What: NYC’s main Pride event — the March through Manhattan — won’t be back in full force this year, but will have more in-person elements along with its mostly virtual celebration. The March will take place on Sunday, June 27 and will include a broadcast special on ABC-7, followed by a virtual component on NYC Pride’s Facebook and Youtube that will “feature groups and organizations that would typically take to the streets for the annual NYC Pride March.” As for outdoor events, there will be “pop-ups” at local Manhattan businesses featuring work by queer NYC artists and designers — an interactive map will soon be available so you can plan your route. Read more here.
2. PrideFest
Where: Greenwich Village, exact street location TBD
What: The annual LGBTQI+ Street Fair is back in person this year, with tons of participating vendors. Taking place Sunday, June 27 at 11 a.m., you’ll get to enjoy music, food and free Pride gear as you walk through Greenwich Village. There will also be a virtual MarketFest if you’re not ready to join in person. Find out more here.
3. Pride Island
Where: Virtual
What: Pride Island is NYC’s high-energy Pride celebration with all the music and dancing you could want. This year it will be virtual, but feel free to “Dance Through the Decades, celebrating 35 years of dancing openly with the ones we love in whatever way feels comfortable to you.” See below for their flagship dance party taking place at The Greens in South Street Seaport, and help fund other free events like Youth Pride, Family Movie Night, The Rally, and many more by participating.
You can find the full range of events from NYC Pride here.
4. Queer Liberation March
Where: Starting in Bryant Park
What: The third annual Queer Liberation March, which is “a coalition of organizations & individuals fighting to reclaim the legacy of Stonewall in NYC,” will gather at Bryant Park on Pride Sunday, June 27 at 2:30 p.m., beginning to walk at 3 p.m. This is a People’s March, and all are invited to join, but please wear face masks. More info here.
5-6. Bronx LGBT Expo & Pride Festival
Where: 2134 Barnes Ave, Bronx
What: Bronx LGBT Center “Destination Tomorrow” will host the Bronx LGBT Expo on Thursday, June 17 from 1-4 p.m. that will feature a panel of speakers, local vendors, service agencies, and more. Then from 5-9 p.m., enjoy Harmonica Sunbeam and DJ Mike Cruz for a drag show, mini ball, comedy, food, craft vendors, and more. COVID vaccinations and HIV testing will also be available on-site. There will also be a Pride Festival on Saturday, June 19 from 1-6 p.m. on 139th St. between Brook Ave and Willis Ave. Find more info on both here.
7-12. Restart Stages at Lincoln Center
Where: Various locations on Lincoln Center’s campus, located at 150 West 65th St.
What: Lincoln Center’s initiative Restart Stages is bringing outdoor performances to its campus all summer long, and that includes a special Pride lineup for the end of June, featuring queer-led music, plays and more. Here are the details (as shared in their press release):
- June 21 at 7 p.m.: Staceyann Chinn, The Club at Hearst Plaza
- June 24 at 7 p.m.: National Queer Theater Presents: Criminal Queerness Festival <<when we write with ashes>>, The Club at Hearst Plaza
- June 24 at 8 p.m.: Treya Lam, The Restart Stage at Damrosch Park
- June 25 at 7:00 p.m.: National Queer Theater Presents: Criminal Queerness Festival This is Not a Memorized Script, This is a Well-Rehearsed Story
- June 25 at 8:00 p.m.: Egg Yolk, Taylor Mac Featuring The 24-Decade Gang with Matt Ray and Machine Dazzle
- June 26 at 7:00 p.m.: LatinXoxo, Conceived by Migguel Anggelo
Also at Lincoln Center: rainbow steps and lights.
13. New York City Opera Outdoor Concert at Bryant Park
Where: Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Midtown
What: On Friday June 18 at 7 p.m., Bryant Park’s “Picnic Performances” will continue with a special LGBTQ Pride Concert from the New York City Opera. Opera and musical theater selections will be sung by a quartet of stars from City Opera’s Pride Series, plus they will close with a special new arrangement of the finale from Stonewall, Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s opera which was commissioned by NYCO and given its world premiere in 2019. Ticket reservations are required (free), plus proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. See more here.
14-16. The Greens at Pier 17
Where: 89 South St, Seaport District
What: NYC’s favorite rooftop green space The Greens, offering rentable “mini backyards” to city-slicking New Yorkers, has a slew of programming planned for Pride Month. First, throughout the month of June they will be donating a portion of each mini lawn reservation fee to the Ali Forney Center, which works to “protect LGBTQIA+ youth from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.” Events-wise, they have:
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Drag Brunch Presented by Bubly: On Saturday, June 19th, The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17 is hosting its first ever Drag Brunch presented by Bubly. From 12 – 2 p.m., four of New York City’s beloved drag queens—Lagoona Blue, Elektra Lite, Kiki Ball-Change, and Castrata—will put on a live drag performance accompanied by DJ 2Face. More info here.
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NYC Pride’s Pride Island Watch Party at The Greens: In collaboration with NYC Pride to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Pride Island, the organization’s premier fundraising event, The Greens is hosting this year’s Official Watch Party on The Rooftop at Pier 17 on June 27th from 5:30 – 10 p.m. The digital programming will include a live set by DJ Joe Gauthreaux and a special appearance from drag queen Nicky Doll as they “Dance Through the Decades.” Find out more here.
Art Installations & Museum Exhibits
17. “Safe/Haven: Gay Life in 1950s Cherry Grove,” New-York Historical Society
Where: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side
What: This free outdoor exhibit takes place in the New-York Historical Society’s courtyard, and highlights the safe space LGBTQ+ New Yorkers found in the town of Cherry Grove on Fire Island during summers in the Stonewall era. The exhibit “explores the gay and lesbian community that flourished during the 1950s in Cherry Grove through some 70 enlarged photographs and additional ephemera from the unique holdings of the Cherry Grove Archives Collection.” Though free, timed reservations are required.
18. “The First Rainbow”
Where: Christopher Park, 38-64 Christopher St., Greenwich Village
What: At this “QR to AR (augmented reality)” experience at one of the most historic locations for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, visitors scan a code (no app needed) and can view colorful rainbow and vintage markers educating them on the historic nature of the park as the birthplace of Pride right from their phone.
19. “Not Another Second”
Where: The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, 21 Clark St.
What: This exhibit at luxury senior living community The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights tells the story of 12 LGBTQ+ seniors, who began living their true, authentic selves later in their lives. The exhibit uses augmented reality technology so viewers can be fully immersed in the lives of these elders who stayed resilient in face of discrimination, allowing for a truly emotional and empathetic experience. Free public and socially distanced viewings take place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; reservations can be made online here.
20. LGBTQ “Yarn Bombing” in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island
Where:
What: Historic Richmond Town has partnered with the Pride Center of Staten Island to create a yarn bombing at the village site. In observance of LGBTQ Pride, knitted and crocheted works in the Rainbow and Trans Pride motifs will be affixed to the lampposts along Center St and Court Place. The yarn bombing will be viewable for free on the Historic Richmond Town grounds, open dawn to dusk, 7 days a week. More info here.
21. Queer Art (1950’s – 2021)
Where: Carlton Fine Arts Ltd., 543 Madison Ave, Midtown
What: Presented by Carlton Fine Arts Ltd., this new exhibition in honor of Pride Month features works from iconic LGBTQ+ artists such as Keith Haring, Heather Fazzino, and Andy Warhol. Some exhibition highlights include Superhero Super Gay and Love is Flowing by Linjie Deng and Warhol’s The Witch from 1981. All works will be on display through July 1st.
Exhibition hours are Mondays – Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Fridays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturdays: Closed; Sundays: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and by appointment. Call 212-593-2800 or email info@carltonfa.com for an appointment.
22. “Love Archive” by the Museum of the City of New York
Where: Online
What: Museum of the City of New York and Urban Archive are working together to map where New York City’s LGBTQ+ community has “lived, loved, and gathered,” to showcase the colorful LGBTQ+ community’s history in NYC. The project is crowdsourced and photo submissions can be sent in to be added to Urban Archive’s #LoveArchive map and for a chance to be featured on LinkNYC kiosks all month long. Learn more and see examples of submissions here.
Food & Drink
23. Pride Pudding at Magnolia Bakery
Where: Various locations around NYC; see here.
What: All month long NYC staple Magnolia Bakery is featuring “Pride Pudding,” their signature banana pudding layered with rainbow confetti cake. They’ve committed to donating at least $10,000 from sales of the pudding to the non-profit StartOut, which supports LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Enjoy it through June 30.
24. Pride Rolls at Brooklyn Kolache
Where: Greenwich Village & Bed-Study
What: This staple Bed-Stuy bakery now has a location in Greenwich Village, and throughout June,they are offering Pride Rolls (orange rolls made with kolache dough, frosting and rainbow glitter) and donating 100% of profits to the Ali Forney Center, a non-profit dedicated to helping homeless LGBTQ youth.
25. Rainbow Vanilla Cupcakes at By Chloe
Where: Various locations, see here.
What: A portion of proceeds from vegan favorite By Chloe’s Pride Vanilla Rainbow Cupcakes supports The Okra Project, which “seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them.”
26. “We Are The World Cocktail” at ilili
Where: 236 5th Ave, NoMad
What: Ilili is donating $2 to LebMash, an “organization of healthcare professionals that aims to achieve equity in health with a focus on sexual health and the health of marginalized groups such as (LGBT) individuals,” for every order of their “We Are the World” cocktail.
27. Mimosa Pride Flight at Malibu Farm
Where: Pier 17, 89 South St.
What: Available during weekend brunch throughout the month of June, Malibu Farm’s rainbow flight includes four mimosa flavors—beet, orange, carrot, and kale—all prepared with fresh fruit and vegetable juices and prosecco ($48). On the final weekend of June, Malibu Farm will be donating a portion of each Mimosa Pride Flight sale to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, an organization that raises money for AIDS related causes in the U.S.
28. Pride N’ True Dairy Dip at Mister Dips
Where: Pier 17, 89 South St.
What: To celebrate Pride, comfort food favorite Mister Dips introduced the “Pride N’ True Dairy Dip,” its seasonal soft serve “cone of the month” composed of vanilla custard, cake batter, and all the colors of the rainbow, which will be available through June 30. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each cone will support The Trevor Project.
Walking Tours
29. The Greenwich Village Gay Rights Walking Tour
Where: Greenwich Village; meet at Astor Place in front of Cooper Union
What: Celebrate the month of Pride this June at this Gay Rights Walking Tour in Greenwich Village. Explore the iconic LGBTQ landmarks while learning about the events that led to the StoneWall Inn uprising and start of the Gay Rights Movement. Visit neighborhood institutions that created sanctuaries and discover the strategies used to fight back against discrimination that inspired the revolutionary times of the ’60s.
30. Self-Guided Pride Tours of NYC with the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project
Where: Various parts of NYC; see full map here.
What: The NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project has painstakingly created a user-friendly map containing hundreds of sites across NYC important to LGBTQ history. Choose from categories like “Transgender History,” “Gay-Owned Businesses,” “Communities of Color,” and “Activism Outside of Manhattan.” Find them here.
31. Learning the History of Queens Pride with NYC Parks
Where: Meet at 34th Avenue between 77th and 78th St. in Travers Park, Queens
What: On Saturday, June 26 at 11 a.m., join NYC Park’s Urban Park Rangers on a walking tour of the Queens Pride Parade route, discussing its history along with its significance to NYC’s parks. Register here.
32. Pride Birding with NYC Parks
Where: Van Cortlandt Nature Center in Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx
What: Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with the Urban Park Rangers on Saturday, June 26 at 10 a.m. On this fun and inclusive adventure, enjoy a hike about all things birding, from color identification to conservation. All friends and allies are welcome. Read more here.
featured image source: Shutterstock