Pittsburgh’s 52nd Year of Pride
Written by Madeline Milchman
Pride month is nearly upon us and Pittsburgh is not shy of a celebration. The weekend of Friday May 30th through Sunday June 1st commemorates Pride in Pittsburgh at this year's annual Pittsburgh Pride Festival. The weekend includes a 3-day lineup of musicians, dancers, drag performers, speakers and more, ending with a march and parade.
This is the city’s 52nd year celebrating pride. The first celebration took place in 1973 to celebrate and honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots. It began with about 50 participants in Market Square, and 3 miles later, as the march finished in Schenley Park, the crowd doubled in size. Pride in Pittsburgh has grown immensely since the city’s first celebration, with last year’s 2024 festival having over 260,000 people in attendance.
While this year's festival schedule is not yet public, we do know some of the headliners. Pride celebrators can look forward to free concerts from J Howell, William, Lil Mo, and David Archuleta.
The weekend begins with the Pride Prom hosted at the Courtyard by Marriott University Center on Friday, May 30th from 6-10pm. This 18+, red carpet event includes drag performances, live entertainment, dinner, dessert, and dancing. Tickets are available here.
Following Prom, is The Emerald City Kiki Ball at the QMNTY center from 10pm-2am on Friday. Hosted by Icon Ronica and Icon Muk Mulan, the night includes contests ranging from lip syncing performances to fashion competitions. Over $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded in four different categories, including Sex Siren, Face, Performance, and Realness.
-Photo by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash-
Finally, the main event, the march and parade will take place on Sunday, June 1st. Lineup begins at 10am in the Strip District on Liberty Avenue between 11th and 6th Street. The review stage at the intersection of Liberty Ave and Grant Street will introduce speakers at 11:30, then marchers depart at 12pm. The route starts down Liberty Ave, before turning right onto Seventh Street and crossing the Andy Warhol Bridge into the North Shore. It then turns left onto South Commons street and continues until it reaches Allegheny Commons Park West. To join the march, register here.
If you prefer to watch rather than join the marchers, the best places for viewing include Liberty Avenue, Downtown, The Andy Warhol Bridge, and West Commons Park, where the march finishes.
DNA wishes every member of the LGBTQIA+ community a happy pride month!
