Where to Celebrate Pride in Rhode Island
Join the festivities around the state in celebrating Pride Month.
While Pride is celebrated all year long, June is the pinnacle of Pride celebrations not only in the LBGTQ communities, but by allies all around. Check out ways that you can support and celebrate Pride by attending events, dining and shopping at LGBTQ-owned businesses or donating to charities.
Pride in the Park
On Saturday, June 6, join the Westerly Library as they celebrate Pride month with activities, gelato and music by DJ Gadget at Wilcox Park. The festivities will kick off at noon with an opening ceremony featuring a performance by the Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Kim Kuda. Learn more here.
North Kingstown Pride Parade
The fourth annual North Kingstown Pride parade will take place on Sunday, June 7. The parade will start at noon, stepping off from the Wickford Town Dock and making its way to Wickford Middle School where the festival will kick off around 1 p.m. Expect delicious bites from Hank’s Down South, Luca’s Ice Cream and the Bad Bird; fun entertainment by crushd lyme, Sauvignon Blanc and the Same Thing Project; and speeches by various local officials. Learn more here.
Queeriosity Birthday
Head to Kimi’s in Providence on Wednesday, June 10, to help Queeriosity celebrate its third birthday. In addition to hosting its regular rounds of trivia, the event will also host a raffle where a portion of the proceeds will go to Grid Gallery. instagram.com/queeriositypvd
South County Pride
The South County Pride Foundation was created by South Kingstown High School seniors Magnolia Longworth and Evan Travis, a senior project that surfaced from a Pride car parade in 2020. Due to its success, Longworth and Travis wanted to expand the event the following year, collaborating with the Wakefield Village Association for the first RiverFire of the season. This year, they will continue the annual celebration on Saturday, June 13, at the Contemporary Theater Company. While tehre will not be a parade this year, the festival will feature drag performances, live music, and plenty of vendors. facebook.com/southcountypride.
Queeraoke
On Thursday, June 18, head to Moniker in Providence for a “Born This Way: Lous and Proud”-themed Queeraoke session. Though not required, those who sign up are encouraged to perform a Pride-related anthem. instagram.com/queeraokepvd
10 Years of Pride at Black Sheep
A staple of the city’s “Fruit Loop,” Black Sheep is celebrating ten years of Pride this year with a pre-parade tea dance and a late night dance party. Hosted by the Black Sheep Babes, the tea party goes from 5-8 p.m. and will feature music by DJ Transcendence plus food from Bun Fun. The party will pick back up at 10 p.m. with HIJINXX until 2 a.m. Learn more here. 397 Westminster St., Providence, blacksheepri.com
Dyke and Trans People of Color March
Providence’s annual Dyke and Trans People of Color March is being held on Friday, June 19. Head to Donigian Park in Providence at 5:15 p.m. and join the march in honor of bodily autonomy and centering the BIPOC Queer community’s access to gender-affirming and reproductive care. The march will officially kick off at 6 p.m., followed by a collective ritual at 7 p.m. Learn more here. instagram.com/dtpocpvd
Rhode Island Pride PrideFest and Illuminated Night Parade
This year’s Pride Celebration and Illuminated Night Parade — the fiftieth annual — takes place Saturday, June 20, at 195 District Park in Providence. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., with the parade kicking off at 8 p.m. Learn more here. prideri.org
Newport PrideFest and Market
On Saturday, June 27, festivities include the Newport Pride Parade at 11 a.m. followed by the Newport Pride Festival and Market from noon to 5 p.m. The festival will feature artists, non-profits, musicians, drag performers, DJs, food trucks and more. newportprideri.org.
Big Queer Trivia
Promising to be bigger and gayer than ever, Big Queer Trivia will will be hosted by Sauvignon Blanc at RI Spirits in Pawtucket on Sunday, June 28, at 6 p.m. Tickets are available here. 40 Bayley St., Pawtucket, 401-856-4111, rhodeislandspirits.com
More Ways to Celebrate Pride
Stop by Rhode Island Spirits — home of the LGBTQ spirits brand, Rhodium — in Pawtucket and order their new vodka, Rhodium x Pride. the spirit is a collab between RI Spirits, RI Pride and the Providence Tourism Council with this year’s prideFest theme of “We Are the People” in mind. A portion of the proceeds from each bottle sale will benefit RI Pride and support the future of PrideFest. 40 Bayley St., Pawtucket, 401-856-4111, rhodeislandspirits.com
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This year, several local breweries have come together to form the first Rhode Island Pride Beer Trail. Visit the participating breweries, order their respective Pride-themed beers, get a stamp on your Pride Beer Trail card (available at the breweries) and be entered for a chance to win a prize! Portions of the sales of each beer will go to LGBTQ+ organizations. See below for the list of participating breweries, their beers and those they are benefitting.
Apponaug Brewing: Order the Aurora NEIPA in support of Haus of Codec
Lops Brewing: Order the Flock Together Pale Ale or Harmony Belgian Witbier in support of Haus of Codec
Moniker Brewery: Order the Tortweizen Berliner-Weisse in support of Haus of Codec
Origin Beer Project: Order the Out Loud Rice Lager with Lavender in support of the Trevor Project
Pivotal Brewing Company: Order the Pride and Joy Belgian Style Witbier in support of Youth Pride RI
Tilted Barn Brewery: Order the Welcome West Coast Pale Ale in support of Youth Pride RI
Trinity Brewhouse: Order the Pride-berry Blueberry Lager in support of Youth Pride RI
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Plus, if you want to keep the celebrations going, there are a number of local LGBTQ community groups that meet regularly all year round, including:
For the hop heads: Queers and Beers of RI
For the “southerners”: Queer South County
For the WLW: Rhode Island Sapphics
For the thrill-seekers: Queer Hikes , Queers Who Climb and Carabiner Run Club
For the sporty: Outloud Sports Providence and Renaissance City Softball League
For the gamers: Queer Providence Board Gamers
For the theatre kids at heart: Queeraoke PVD
For the bibliophiles: Providence Queer Book Club
For the cerebrals: QueeriosityPVD
For the entrepreneurs: Rhody Queer Owned
For the thrifty: Providence Pride Exchange
Looking for more ways to celebrate? Find a roundup of local LGBTQ+-owned businesses here.
