LGBTQ-owned businesses and LGTBQ-friendly things to do don’t just provide safe spaces for the community—they cultivate inclusion and belonging.
Below is a comprehensive list of several Pride events around Cincinnati as well as places to get Pride goods and apparel locally and LGBTQ+ book recommendations. There is also a link to area LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
Events
May 30
Pride Rooftop Drag Show
Braxton Covington, 7p
Celebrate the community, equality, and acceptance for all to kick off a fun-filled NKY Pride weekend. All proceeds raised from their Pride t-shirts will be poured back into supporting NKY Pride and, for every pint of Watermelon Birdie sold, $1 will be contributed to NKY Pride.
21+
June 1
Hamilton Ohio Pride 2024
Marcum Park, 12–7p
Celebrate love and diversity through gatherings, support networks, and the arts. Parade Drag performers, DJs, live music, and activities for all ages.
Details:
Pride March at Rotary Park – 11am
Pride Festival at Marcum Park – noon to 7pm
Vintage Pride Kickoff
OTR Stillhouse at Knox Joseph Distillery, 1p
Kick off Pride month with a full day of vintage vendors, afternoon tea, live music, drag, and more.
Sun, Stars, and Pride
Cincinnati Observatory, 4–8p
Learn from their local partners and connect with others in the LGBTQ+ community. There will be family-friendly activities, food trucks, talks, solar viewing, and more.
Tickets
June 2
15th Annual NKY Pride
Mainstrasse Village, 12–5p
Y’all Means All: celebrate Pride in NKY with a parade starting at noon, festival from 12 to 5, and after party starting at 5. Festival includes a full stage lineup of local performers, 100+ vendors, and family friendly activities at Goebel Park.
June 5
PRIDEGEIST Celebration and Clothing Drive
Rhinegeist, 4–8p
Release of their annual Pride beer, Miss Major, Drag Bingo with Queen City Charities, Streetpops’ limited-edition rainbow lemonade popsicles, The Oakley Soap Co. pop-up, clothing drive hosted by Transform Cincy, and more. Clothing drive contributors will receive a coupon redeemable for a $1 pint.
June 6
Brady Block Parties: Pride Block Party
The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park, 6p (concert at 7:30)
Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride with the CSO! Our Pride Block Party is FREE and all are welcome. Enjoy local vendors and giveaways, food trucks, activities and entertainment from DJ Rah D prior to a concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra featuring classically trained opera singer Monét X Change of RuPaul’s Drag Race and our very own Cincinnati Men’s Chorus.
June 7
Pride Night, Reds vs. Cubs
Great American Ball Park, 7:10p
Tickets come with a specialized PRIDE hat—not sold in stores.
Tickets here
June 8
ArtisanFest513 Pride Market
Washington Park, 10a–4p
Support love, equity, and inclusion while shopping small in the 513!
Westwood Second Saturdays: Pride
Westwood Town Hall, 5–10p
DJ, drag queens, local food and drinks (DORA-friendly!), and interactive entertainment that is inclusive and welcome to all.
June 9
Wigs & Waffles
Rhinegeist Brewery, 10:30a–2:30p
Join Queen City Charities, which offers solutions to some of the most significant challenges facing Greater Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ population, for Wig’s & Waffles, the area’s largest drag brunch. General Admission tickets include brunch buffet, drag show, and open bar.
Second Sunday on Main: Pride on Main
Main Street OTR, 12–5p
Vibrant arts and music programming, diverse vendor market, and biergarten lounge while promoting the small businesses of Main Street.
Wigs & Waffles After Party
Rhinegeist Rooftop, 2:30–6:00p
Free and open to the public, with music courtesy of DJ Boywife. Portion of proceeds to benefit Queen City Charities.
June 12
Pride Night at Florence Y’alls
Florence Y’alls vs. Windy City Thunderbolts
Thomas More Stadium, 4p
The team will be in specialty Pride jerseys that will be up for auction during the game
June 13
Rockin’ the Roebling with Queen City Charities
Schmidlapp Event Lawn, 7–10p
QCC will be selling Split the Pot tickets.
June 15
Loud & Queer
Five Points Alley (Walnut Hills), 5–8p
Cincinnati’s first-ever teen Pride Fest—an all ages sober event complete with live music, crafts, and youth vendors.
June 20
Drag Bingo
Hi-Wire Brewing, 7–10p
Bingo, drag, photo booth, prizes, and more. A portion of proceeds will benefit Queen City Charities.
Free and open to the public
June 21
6th Annual Middletown Pride Festival
Downtown Middletown, 5–9p
Everyone and everyBODY is welcome to a night full of acceptance, love, and celebration.
Cincinnati Magazine’s Pride Party
Court Street Plaza, 5–8p
Kick off Pride weekend in Cincinnati with members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community for a celebratory cocktail party featuring live entertainment, interactive fun and games, swag bag, unlimited NA beverages, Pride Marketplace with LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and more.
June 22
Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival
Parade: Starts at 7th and Plum, 11a
Festival: Sawyer Point, 12–9p
Pride Sober Zone Drag Show
Pavilion 2 at Yeatman’s Cove
12–9p
Mixologists will be on site to provide a variety of NA cocktails while drag artists perform and DJ Bard spins.
Pride mARTket
Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1–7p
Shop local handmade goods and artwork, health resources available onsite, cocktails and drinks for purchase, free photobooth, pride weekend celebration, and more.
Pride Roll Out
Riverfront Rink at Sawyer Point, 2–5p
All wheels welcome, featuring live DJs, vendors, food truck, bring your own skates or borrow theirs.
Pride Bar Crawl
4p–midnight
Exclusive drink specials, food specials at partner venues, and several participating bars. A portion of process will be donated to local Cincinnati Black Pride and The Trevor Project.
Pride After Party with Queen City Charities
Rhinegeist Rooftop, time TBD
Music courtesy of DJ Boywife. A portion of proceeds will benefit QCC.
Free and open to the public
June 25
4th Annual Pride 2024 Happy Hour
Higher Gravity, 5–7p
Celebrate Pride and benefit Equality Ohio.
June 28
Pride at the Market
Findlay Market, 5–8p
An evening celebrating love. The Market has partnered with community organizations that support the LGBTQIA+ community while you enjoy performances from local artists.
Cincinnati Opera Presents Pride Night
Music Hall | Wilks Studio, 6:30p
Electric glow dance part fusing opera, drag, and all things glam. A celebration of LGBTQIA+ visibility and artistry featuring an “Opera is a Drag” retelling of La Traviata presented by Cincinnati Opera Young Professionals (COYP).
Goods and Apparel
Cincy Shirts
Ellebrux
Confetti Cat Earrings – $16
Handzy Shop + Studio
Multi Stripe Organic Pinafore Dress (kids) – $35
Rainbow Check Ceramic Mug – $24.50
Rainbow Daisy Earrings – $16
HOMAGE
The Oakley Soap Co
Bars that Benefit: Transform – Lime + Bergamot – $8
Bars that Benefit: Born this Way – Lemongrass – $8
Originalitees
Books
Reading books about Pride, the Community, and written by LGBTQ+ authors is a great way to support and show solidarity. Here is a shortlist of books available to purchase through local bookstores, as recommended by @woodsomc.
I suggest supporting independent bookstores and our local library (you can download ebooks and audiobooks through the Libby app). You can also purchase books through local indie bookstores via Bookshop.org.
Jack (Not Jackie) – $17.99
Erica Silverman (children’s book)
Bookery
The Celebrants – $18
Steven Rowley (novel)
Love Makes A Family – $11.99
Sophie Beer (children’s book)
Downbound Books
Another Brooklyn – $16.99
Jacqueline Woodson (novel)
Big Gay Wedding – $19.99
Byron Lane (novel)
The Guncle – $18
Steven Rowley (novel)
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish – $17.99
Lil Miss Hot Mess (children’s Book)
Julián is a Mermaid – $8.99
Jessica Love (children’s book)
The Prettiest Star – $16
Carter Sickels (novel, local)
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag – $18.99
Rob Sanders (children’s book)
Small Businesses
The number of LGBTQ-owned businesses is growing and and their impact on our neighborhoods and our local economies is undeniable. And not only are LGBTQ+-owned businesses a safe space for the Community, they foster inclusion and celebrate belonging.
Click here for a list of several places around Cincinnati where we can show our support of the LGBTQ+ community and the small businesses that help make our city unique.
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