It’s almost June, and you know what that means. Indy Pride is back, and there’s no better time to celebrate and commemorate the LGBTQ+ community. From festivals to fundraisers and beyond, we’ve compiled a list of all the events you won’t want to miss.
🌈 Parade and festival
This year’s Pride Parade will fill the streets with color, music, dancing, and giveaways from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. Plan ahead: Sections of Mass Ave and Delaware Street will be closed for the parade, and parking garages in the area are scarce. Wear comfortable footwear and be prepared to put the bass in your walk.
The Pride Festival will follow directly after the parade, rocking Military Park (601 W. New York St.) from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. It’s about a mile to a mile and a half between locations, so you can either walk or brave the traffic to get closer to the festival. In contrast to the parade, the festival grounds are surrounded by parking lots + garages, but expect to pay upwards of $25 for parking.
The festival grounds will be packed with everything you need to party all day long, including a food court, free hydration stations, bars, vendors, DJs, and an all-star entertainment lineup. View the performance schedule.
🌈 Other Pride events
- Pet Pride | Saturday, June 1 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Riverside Park, 2420 E. Riverside Dr. | Pet parents, local animal shelters, Indy-based vendors, non-profit organizations, and the community gather for an afternoon of play, music, and food truck fare.
- Interfaith Celebration | Sunday, June 2 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Riverside Park, 2420 E. Riverside Dr. | Share your faith journey or simply support the stories + experiences of others in this safe space for folks of all faiths and spiritualities.
- Community Picnic & Bat n’ Rouge | Sunday, June 2 | 12-4 p.m. | Riverside Park, 2420 E. Riverside Dr. | Enjoy a free picnic provided by Jug’s Catering, followed by a softball game to raise funds for local HIV/AIDS service organizations.
- Deaf Pride | Monday, June 3 | 6 p.m.-11 p.m. | Tinker House, 1101 E. 16th St. | All are welcome to attend this event where LGBTQ+ Deaf community members come together to be their authentic selves + celebrate Deaf culture.
- Pride Community Music Night | Wednesday, June 5 | 7 p.m. | Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W. 46th St. | Enjoy inspiring, upbeat music from the Pride of Indy Bands and the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus.
- Girl Pride Presents: A Sapphic Celebration | Thursday, June 6 | 8-11 p.m. | The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave. | This celebration of the expansive identity of the femme spirit will include drag, burlesque, live music, spoken word, and special headliner + Grammy award winner Daya.
- Indy Bi+ Pride | Thursday, June 13 | 7-10 p.m. | 10 East Arts Hub, 3137 E. 10th St. | Join bisexual and pansexual community members for a night of community building and connection (more details to come).
- Indy Pride Drive-In Movie Night | Friday, June 21 | 7:30-11 p.m. | Tibb’s Drive-In Theatre, 480 S. Tibbs Ave. | Enjoy a family-friendly evening of movies, with multiple features available for a single price.
Mass Ave. comes alive during Pride.
Photo via @larsmillermedia
🌈 How to get involved
We love a party, but Pride is also the perfect time to give back. Celebrate by volunteering at the Indy Pride Festival or with a donation.
Here are a few other local groups that could use your support:
- Central Indiana LGBTQ+ Young Adult Group | Help create an ongoing safe space for young adults that does not revolve exclusively around drinking and nightlife.
- GenderNexus | Make a contribution to ensure that transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid people in Indiana have access to gender-affirming healthcare, counseling, and a safe community.
- Indiana Youth Group | Purchase items from the group’s Amazon wishlist to support activities like game nights, gardening days, writing workshops, cooking classes, and much more.
- Shelly’s Voice | Help to teach and empower young activists by making a direct donation or volunteering to join the board of directors.
- Damien Center | Support the center’s mission of empowering those affected by HIV/AIDS + preventing the spread of HIV in our community by donating food pantry items, furniture, and silent auction items, or sign up to volunteer at an event.
- PFlag Indianapolis | PFlag is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
