Where to Celebrate Pride in the US This June

06.05.2024 - 21:47 / cntraveler.com

It’s already spring, which means summer is just around the corner. Not only does summer mean beach vacations and hot weather, but it also means celebrating Pride. The Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969, in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. Queer people fought back against the police, and the subsequent uprising lasted for six days. One year later, thousands marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what we now know was the first Pride parade in the United States.

Today, June is known as Pride Month—to honor those who came before us, to continue fighting for our rights, and to celebrate love in all forms. As a queer traveler, I love to plan my trips around Pride events all over the world. This summer, I hope to attend various celebrations throughout Europe, but I will certainly miss the fun of celebrating in major cities throughout the country. Here are the top Pride parades to enjoy in the US.

Head to Boston on June 8 this year for the largest Pride in new England.

Boston Pride for the People Festival and Parade will happen on June 8 this year. Boston Pride is the largest in New England, hosting more than 1 million people in 2023. The parade kicks off in Copley Square at 11 a.m. and finishes at Boston Common, where the festival will be held. City Hall Plaza will also host a block party for visitors who are 21 years old and up. All events are free to attend, which makes it accessible to anyone in the area wanting to celebrate.

The Stonewall Columbus Pride 2024 will be the weekend of June 14, with the theme Live Out Loud. What started as just 200 people in 1982 has ballooned into more than 700,000 people, making it a massive gathering for queer people and allies in Ohio and surrounding areas. This year, you can enjoy a Pride Festival, a resource fair, and a Pride March. At the festival, you’ll find over 200 vendors, performances, a community wellness area, and many other resources. The march will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Broad Street and High Street in Columbus.

Chicago Pride Parage is on June 30 this year, with festivities in Boystown the weekend prior.

The 53rd Annual Chicago Pride Parade will be on June 30. The theme is Pride is Power, and organizers chose this theme in response to anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the past year. More than one million people are expected to attend the parade, which starts in Uptown and ends in Lincoln Park.

You can attend the Chicago Pride Fest in Boystown the weekend before the parade. There, you’ll find three music stages, over 100 arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, drag shows, and more. There’s also Pride in the Park, an outdoor LGBTQ+ music festival. The lineup for 2024 hasn’t been