🏳️🌈 new york weekend guide: pride edition
Pride week in New York is like a four-day bender planned by an over-caffeinated event coordinator. From Thursday’s Knockdown Center kickoff to album drops, lip-sync battles, and glittery brunches, the city is determined to make sure your calendar is packed tighter than Cuomo’s fist when he had to concede to Mamdani.
By Friday, you’ll be bouncing between Pride cocktails, outdoor concerts, and jazz so sultry it could steam up your phone screen. LadyLand Festival brings out the big names, Hedda Lettuce brings the laughs, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a century of tiny trees for anyone who needs a break from the dance floor.
Sunday wraps it all up with rooftop parties, roller-skate after-parties, and brunches. Good luck keeping up!
P.S. The main event: The NYC Pride March steps off on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. from 26th Street & 5th Avenue, winding through Manhattan and ending in Greenwich Village. Expect over 700 floats, a sea of rainbow flags, all set to the theme of “Reflect. Empower. Unite.”
Yourssss,
Thursday, June 26
Knockdown Center throws a four-day Pride blowout beginning Thursday, spotlighting top queer artists with stacked lineups, outdoor sets, and all-night energy. From Thursday’s Pitchfork and Them kickoff to Horse Meat Disco’s Friday takeover, Saturday’s Get Wrecked and Carry marathon, and Sunday’s Eris Drew and Octo Octa finale.
After a decade of packed houses and unforgettable performances in Los Angeles, "Learn the Words, Bitch!" makes its NYC debut at C’mon Everybody on Thursday. This high-energy lip-sync competition, hosted by Silver Lake staple Tony Soto, is open to all.
Prepare to unleash your inner queen at Pride at the Pink Pony Club. Featuring live performances by Lady Camden and Madison Rose, plus dazzling sets from Boywife, Hope 808, and P_A_T, this is your sanctuary to strut, dance, and make all your wildest gay dreams come true.
🎸 Live at the Archway: Chanpan
Don’t miss Chanpan’s electrifying new album showcase at Live at the Archway on Thursday in Dumbo. This is your chance to experience Chanpan’s latest release in an unforgettable setting.
Friday, June 27
🍸 Gayletter Pride Cocktail at The Lobby Bar
Celebrate Pride with Gayletter at The Lobby Bar on Friday from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy a limited-edition Pride cocktail and watch artist Chris Lloyd create live sketch portraits capturing the spirit of NYC Pride in an intimate, unforgettable evening.
👩❤️💋👩 TSQ LIVE + Pride Summer Friday: ZEE MACHINE & Madison Rose
Turn up the energy in Times Square for Pride on Friday with genre and gender-bending sensation Zee Machine, who’ll light up the Broadway plaza at 6 p.m. It’s a free, can’t-miss outdoor concert spotlighting Zee Machine’s electrifying talent straight (ha) from LA to the streets of NYC.
Immerse yourself in the sultry, rebellious spirit of early 20th-century blues with the Red Pavilion Jazz Band as they revive the era’s forbidden anthems. Experience provocative songs that once shocked society: tackling taboo topics like race, sex, drugs, and booze, with melodies so steamy they’d make even a flapper blush.
👨❤️👨 Pride at Aqua: Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage Equality
Aqua NYC lights up the Flatiron with an epic Pride bash from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sip Pride-inspired cocktails (20% of proceeds benefit Lambda Legal), dance to a live DJ, and enjoy surprise appearances as you toast to equality.
🧚♀️ LadyLand Festival
LadyLand Festival returns bigger than ever on Friday and Saturday at Brooklyn’s Under The K Bridge, celebrating the best queer talent and gay icons from around the world. This two-day Pride bash features three stages, over 40 artists including Cardi B, FKA Twigs, COBRAH, Sukihana, and Danny Tenaglia.
🥬 Hedda Lettuce Interactive Summer Movie Series
Get ready for a hilarious summer with drag comedy legend Hedda Lettuce at Village East Cinema! Starting on Friday and continuing through July 11, 18, and 25, join four interactive movie nights blending Rocky Horror-style fun with sharp, witty commentary. Celebrate Pride Month with a special screening of Mommie Dearest on Friday night.
Saturday, June 28
🎭 Adult Film Presents: Cowboy Mouth
Buckle up for a night of raw theater and rock 'n' roll as ADULT FILM presents Sam Shepard’s Cowboy Mouth in Ridgewood on Saturday at 8 p.m. Step inside a wild, cluttered world of hubcaps, guitars, and seedy charm where Slim and Cavale spin a spellbinding story. Location revealed 24 hours before showtime.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden marks 100 years of bonsai mastery. From now until October 19, explore one of the world’s oldest and largest public bonsai collections with expanded displays. The event includes never-before-seen “tiny trees” and outdoor exhibits. Enjoy special tours, workshops, and interactive exhibits, plus Japanese-inspired bites and exclusive bonsai merch.
Sunday, June 29
On Parade Sunday, BLACKBARN Restaurant transforms into the Pink Pony Club for a glitter-soaked Pride brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate their 10th anniversary with two hours of bottomless Schramsberg Rosé & Brut, a menu packed with brunch favorites, and nonstop Pride anthems from Chappell Roan to Beyoncé.
Close out your Pride week in style at the 13th annual Daydream party on Sunday, featuring NYC nightlife legends Lady Bunny, Amanda Lepore, and Aquaria. From 2 to 10 p.m., enjoy live DJ sets, cocktails, appetizers, and bottle service—all with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.
🛼 Xanadu & Company XIV Present: Pride After-party
Roll into Pride magic at the Wonderlanadu Pride Skate After-party! On Sunday, catch Company XIV’s dazzling “Queen of Hearts” at Théâtre XIV at 6 p.m., then follow the cast to Xanadu Roller Arts for a wild, Wonderland-inspired skate party from 8 p.m. to midnight. Expect DJ Misbehaviour, pop-up performances by the Mad Hatter and White Rabbit, all in the heart of Bushwick.