Pride Parades everywhere honor the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, the scene of a police raid over liquor licensing at The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. While raids on gay bars were carried out with some regularity, the Stonewall incident sparked several days of protests in the surrounding neighborhood.
About Stonewall
In 1969, the fight for gay rights was not new. However, Stonewall became a galvanizing force for LGBT activism. The uprising is regarded as the start of the gay rights movement to reverse the criminalization and harassment of the lesbian and gay community.
In 1999 the U.S. National Park Service placed the Stonewall Inn on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2016, the site was established as the Stonewall National Park Monument, which included the Stonewall Inn, nearby Christopher Park, and the surrounding streets and sidewalks in Greenwich Village where the protests occurred. Read more about the Stonewall Riots at History.com and Stonewall Riots at Socialist Alternative.
Today, Pride parades and festivals continue to foster public awareness on current diversity issues, as well as provide resources to support equal rights and community for all.
Seattle & Tacoma Pride Signature Events
Seattle Pride has celebrated the Northwest’s LGBTQ rights movement since its first coming out in the Puget Sound region in 1974. Seattle Pride coordinates advocacy and allyship efforts year-round, in addition to signature events during Pride Month in June.
- June 4, 2023. Seattle Pride in the Park, produced by Seattle Pride®, kicks off Pride Month. This annual LGBTQIA+ celebration features performances, a dance-focused stage, alcohol garden (21+), food trucks, local nonprofit booths, queer vendors, and more. The free event also includes plenty of family friendly fare – including Drag Queen Storytime with Cookie Couture – and a youth space designed and hosted by youth in a collaborative internship between Seattle’s LGBTQ Center and Seattle Pride. More info: Seattle Pride in the Park | Events | Seattle Pride and Seattle Pride
- June 25, 2023. 10AM Westlake pre-show. 11AM parade starts. Annual Pride Parade along 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle. The annual Seattle Pride Parade is a free, fun, community-wide celebration advancing awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues and promoting mutual respect and equal human rights for all. It marches along 4th Ave with some of Seattle’s most beloved community groups, civic leaders, brands, and businesses. The Parade is all about inclusiveness – so all ages gather along the route to watch the festivities. More info: seattlepridemonth | Seattle Pride
- Sunday, June 25, 2023, Noon – 8pm. PrideFest at Seattle Center immediately following the downtown Pride Parade. Three stages, three beverage gardens, over one hundred artists, over a hundred exhibitors including festival food vendors….and as always: FREE!
Capitol Hill Pride March & Rally. Not a Parade but a Rally to remember Stonewall. Welcomes thousands of visitors, youth, families and friends into the area. No fees, no fences, no age restrictions, just Pride and standing up for equal rights. The annual event will feature Speakers, Artists and music.
- June 24, 2023: Capitol Hill Pride March (not a parade) & Rally at Cal Anderson Park. During this time when there seems to be challenges to LGBTQAI+ rights, it is more important than ever to express ourselves and stand up for equality.
Tacoma Pride presents events, including their signature Tacoma Pride Festival (TPF) in July. Although June is “Pride Month”, TPF coordinates with other Pride festivals around the South Sound, so people have many options throughout Pride Season.
- June 30, 2023, 9:30 am–10:30 am. Pride Flag Raising above the Tacoma Dome. Tacoma Pride invites you to join Rainbow Center and watch the Inclusive Pride Flag being raised above the iconic Tacoma Dome. This event will take place in Parking Lot G of the Tacoma Dome and be joined by local officials, community leaders and members, with a special performance from Cheer Tacoma.
- July 8, 2023, 12-6 pm. Pride Celebration Street Festival. Celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Tacoma at an all-ages event that will include a mainstage, hosted by Alma Tacoma, with queer and BIPOC entertainment, a beer garden, Makers Market and so much more!
- July 14, 2023, 8-11 pm. Movie “Hairspray” in People’s Park (900 MLK Jr Way, Tacoma, WA 98405). This all-ages event is in partnership with The Grand Cinema and MetroParks Tacoma. Grab take-out from one of the local restaurants in the area to enjoy during the film.
- More info: Upcoming Events – Tacoma Pride
More Washington State Pride events
Listed below are more Pride organizations around Puget Sound (and beyond) that host annual Pride festivals and other events.
- Alki Beach PRIDE. Aug 20, 2023. Free community event.
- Anacortes Pride hosts a parade & picnic on June 17, 2023. Parade in downtown Anacortes followed by a Pride Picnic at Causland Park.
- Bainbridge Pride hosts its annual festival, July 15, 2023, at Bainbridge Island Waterfront Park.
- Pride In Bellingham July 8-9, 2023. Saturday Family Picnic and Pride Dance. Sunday Parade Parade from Waypoint Park through the middle of Downtown Bellingham ending at the Festival in Depot Market Square for a Festival.
- Burien Pride 3 fun filled days June 2-4, 2023. Friday 5p to 11p / Burien Pride Street Dance. Saturday 10a to 10p / Festival / Music / Kids Area. Sunday 10a to 2p / Drag Queen Bingo and a Pancake Breakfast.
- Kirkland Urban Wear Your Pride June 16th, 2023 @ 4-6pm. Celebrate PRIDE at this festive, family friendly parade around the promenade, live entertainment, a dazzling interactive installation, and activities sponsored by local organizations and businesses.
- Kitsap Pride Festival July 22, 2023 at Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Food vendors, improved youth and teen spaces, entertainment, local vendors, and LGBTQ+ community.
- Olympic Pride in Port Townsend. June 10, 2023, 11-6 at Pope Marine Park. Celebrate with music, food, crafts, and entertainment.
- Renton Pride. June 2, 2023, 5:30 PM – 8:00. At the Renton Pavilion Events Center, the event is free, family-friendly, all ages, and features local LGBTQIA+ artisans, vendors, and organizations.
- Pacific Northwest Black Pride. August 9-13, 2023 at POCAAN (4437 Rainier Ave S, Seattle. Four eventful days of fostering inclusion and advancing equity within the Black LGBTQIA+ community of the greater Pacific Northwest area.
- Wenatchee Pride June 3, 2023, 11a-9p at Memorial Park. It is about celebrating as a community of LGBTQ+ families and straight allies with live entertainment, youth activities, food, beer garden, and vendors.
- White Center Pride on Instagram. June 3, 11AM at 16th Roxbury for the Pride Street Festival.
- White Center Brown PRIDE Art Show | Facebook June 3, 2023 from 5pm-7pm. Opening reception of the Brown PRIDE Art Show runs Jun 3-25, Thurs-Sun, 12-6pm and features 7 of Seattle’s top Latinx Queer artists.
Calendar of upcoming community festivals
Most Seattle-Tacoma and surrounding cities host Pride events in June and July. Listed below are community festivals, including Pride events, around the Puget Sound region for the next 90 days.
