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 29
Pride Rooftop Drag Show
Braxton Covington, 7p
Celebrate the community, equality, and acceptance for all to kick off a fun-filled NKY Pride weekend. Hosted by Molly Mormen.
21+
May 31
Signs & Spouses
American Sign Museum, May 31, 6p
Celebrate 10 years of marriage equality with a vow-renewal ceremony officiated by Jim Obergefell. Event will include heavy apps, dessert, cash bar, music by MUSE and DJ Boywife, toasts and performances by other local celebrities, and emceed by Evan Millward.
Register here; YP tickets $50
Pride Night: Love is the Goal
FC Cincinnati v. DC United
TQL Stadium, 7:30p
June 1
NKY Pride
Goebel Park/Mainstrasse, 12–5p (after party at 5)
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.
Rooftop Brunch: Pride Edition
Rhinegeist, 10a–12p
Kick off Pride Month with rooftop views, brunch buffet, coffee, moimosas, beer, and cider.
Tickets
June 2
Inclusive Pride Flag Raised at Hamilton County Courthouse
10:30a
Inclusive Pride Flag Raised at City Hall
11:30a
June 5
Brady Block Parties: Pride Block Party
The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park, 6p (concert at 7:30)
Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride with the CSO! The Pride Block Party is FREE and all are welcome. Enjoy local vendors and giveaways, food trucks, activities and entertainment, as well as works by LGBTQ+ icons like Whitney Houston, ABBA and Britney Spears alongside orchestral overtures, opera arias, and women’s choir favorites.
Note: there is a clear bag policy at this venue
June 6
Pride at Findlay Market: Dance and DIY Night
Jane’s at Findlay Market, 5–8p
Family friendly event with live music and creative writing after party at COhatch. In collaboration with DANCEFIX. Part of Pride in OTR.
2nd Annual Trans Prom
Leapin Lizard Lounge, 7–1a
Dance the night away at Trans Pride Adult Prom: The Decades. Benefiting Transform Cincy, which provides free wardrobes, head to toe, for transgender and gender non conforming youth.
Tickets; 18+
Pride Night, Reds vs. D-Backs
Great American Ball Park, 7:10p
Tickets come with a specialized PRIDE hat—not sold in stores.
Tickets here
June 7
Pride in OTR: Street Faire
Main Street OTR, 11a–5p
Entertainment, food trucks, kids zone, beer by Sam Adams.
Hamilton Ohio Pride 2025
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
Pride Stride with DJ Hershe B
Sawyer Point Riverfront Rink, 7–10p
Hosted by Evelyn Everything.
June 8
5th Annual Wigs & Waffles
Rhinegeist Brewery, June 8, 10:30a–2:30p
The region’s largest drag brunch; all to benefit Greater Cincinnati LGBTQ+ causes. Your ticket includes a brunch buffet, open bar, drag show, and more.
Use promo code Lin10 to get 10% off your general admission tickets
Cincinnati Pride Flash Tattoo Event
Cincinnati Ballet, 11a–5p
A literal community art project
Batesville Pride
Liberty Park, 12–5p
Family friendly celebration with vendors, food, and activities for all.
Tea Dance
Fountain Square, 4–7p
Historically, tea dances have been organized on Sunday afternoons for the LGTBQ+ community to socialize without the fear of discrimination. Today, we continue that legacy in the company of our friends and allies to celebrate and strive for equality.
June 14
5th Annual Madeira Pride
Dawson Road, 3–8p
Family friendly activities, speakers, live music from 3 to 5 by Jet Pack Academy in partnership with the Madeira Chamber, a special beer selection from sponsor MPH Brewing, and various other vendors.
5th Annual Pride Night
Cincinnati Observatory, 5–8p
Local LGBTQ+ organizations, astronomer Dr Wes Ryler teaching about the science of rainbows, face painting, glitter bar, yoga, and more.
Tickets
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.
YPCC 2025 Gala: True Colors
Cincinnati Masonic Center, 8:30p
Celebrate music, pride, and community at True Colors, YPCC’s biggest concert and fundraising event of the season.
YPCC Cabaret and Dinner – 6p Featuring YPCC Singers
True Colors Concert – 8:30p Featuring Sapphira Cristál
After Party – 10:30p Featuring Vehicle
Tickets
Cincinnati Opera Presents: 2025 Pride Night
Music Hall
A celebration of LGBTQIA+ community, complete with drinks, dancing, laughs, and more surprises. Make a full night of it with tickets to Verdi’s Rigoletto or purchase a Pride Night attendee ticket and join us for the party starting at 10:30p.
Tickets
June 15
Pretty in Pride Drag Brunch
21c Museum Hotel, 10:15a
Performances from local queens, buffet brunch by Metropole, complimentary welcome mimosa, and dancing with DJ Aconst—all while supporting Transform Cincy, a local organization providing free wardrobes to transgender and gender non-conforming youth. Hosted by Molly Mormen and Brock Leah Spears.
Tickets
June 20
7th Annual Middletown Pride Festival
Downtown Middletown, 5–9p
Everyone and everyBODY is welcome to a night full of acceptance, love, and celebration.
Pride Roll Out
The Apex, 7–11p
Skating, live DJs (feat. DJ BoyWife), lights, vendors, and more.
$5; bring your own skates
Drag Bingo
Hi-Wire Brewing, 8–10p
Bingo, drag, photo booth, prizes, and more. A portion of proceeds will benefit Queen City Charities.
Free and open to the public; advance registration is appreciated
June 27
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, and queer vendor market in partnership with Midwestern Lesbian.
Pride Pulse
OTR StillHouse, 9p–1a
CincyVogue + DJ Rah D present: Pride Pulse, the Friday night dance party for Cincinnati Pride weekend, featuring guest DJs DJ Tone (Detroit) and Mr. Fantastic (Cincy).
Tickets
June 28
Day at the Museum Party/Ball
Taft Museum of Art, day party begins at 1p and ball begins at 3p
Music, fashion, performance, vendors, community, and cash prizes all day long. The Taft Museum of Art will be free to the public all Pride weekend long.
Free admission; ticket available here
Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival
Parade: Starts at 7th and Plum, 11a
Festival: Sawyer Point, 12–9p
Free admission
June 28–29
Pride Visbility Weekend
Findlay Market
A weekend celebrating love at Findlay Market! Enjoy live music from LGBTQIA+ and allied performers, DIY Tie Dye stations, giveaways, and activities from community organizations that support the LGBTQIA+ community.
Free admission
June 29
Dearborn County Pride
Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 1–5p
Music, local vendors, food, and family-friendly activities.
July 12
Lebanon Pride
Downtown Lebanon, 11a–10p
Vendors, artisans, food trucks, resource and educational booths, singers, dancers, bands, a Kids Zone, and a beer garden.
Free admission
September 5
Pride Night
Kings Island
Hosted by Cincinnati Pride.
Tickets
Goods and Apparel
Cincy Shirts
Handzy Shop + Studio
Summer Rainbow Tank – $74
Rainbow Bookends – $44.95
Color Bloom Earrings – $14
So Loved Print – $23
Blue Rainbow Tassel Earrings – $16
HOMAGE
The Oakley Soap Co
Bars that Benefit: Transform – Lime + Bergamot – $8
Bars that Benefit: Born this Way – Lemongrass – $8
View the entire Pride collection here
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 libraryies (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 – $17.99
Jacqueline Woodson (novel)
Big Gay Wedding – $19.99
Byron Lane (novel)
The Guncle (and sequel The Guncle Abroad)– $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.
[This post will be regularly updated as needed. Last update 5/29/25]
