We found one small town Pride festival in every red state. Yes, even there.
These grassroots celebrations are helping LGBTQ+ folks feel seen in the unlikeliest corners of America.
Mark
In a year when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in statehouses across the country, choosing to celebrate Pride in a small town takes more than glitter and good vibes—it takes guts. These aren’t just parades; they’re acts of resistance, resilience, and radical visibility in places where being out can still carry real risks.
In red states where drag bans, anti-trans legislation, and book censorship are making headlines, these festivals remind us that queer joy isn’t limited to big cities or blue coasts. It exists in church parking lots, rural parks, downtown squares, and makeshift stages—all built by local organizers who understand that visibility can be life-saving.
We found one small-town Pride festival in every red state. And each one reminds us that queer people are everywhere—and always have been. Here’s where Pride is blooming against the odds.
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Central Alabama Pride – Birmingham, Alabama
Celebrating its 47th year, Central Alabama Pride offers a two-week series of events designed to uplift and unite the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
Dates: June 1–15, 2025
Location: Various venues
Sunset Pride Parade: Saturday, June 14, 2025, commencing at 8:00 PM along 7th Avenue South in the Lakeview District.
PrideFest: Sunday, June 15, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Linn Park
Eureka Springs Pride – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
This four-day celebration in the Ozarks includes parades, drag shows, and community events. This year’s events include a headline performance by comedian Tig Notaro on June 14.
Dates: June 12–15, 2025
Location: Various venues throughout Eureka Springs, AR
Pride Parade: Saturday, June 14
CDA4Pride – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Organized by the North Idaho Pride Alliance, CDA4Pride is a month-long celebration featuring various events to promote inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community in the region.
Dates: June 7–28, 2025
Location: Various venues across Coeur d’Alene, ID
Pride in the Park festival: Saturday, June 7, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM at Coeur d’Alene City Park
Spencer Pride Festival – Spencer, Indiana
As Indiana’s largest rural Pride event, Spencer Pride offers a family-friendly atmosphere with live entertainment, vendors, and educational resources, all set in the town’s historic downtown square.
Date: October 4, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Downtown Spencer, IN
Johnson County Pride – Lenexa, Kansas
Held at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, this family-friendly event offers food, entertainment, and activities to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a free gathering that brings together families and allies in a supportive environment.
Date: October 4, 2025
Location: Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa, KS
Pikeville Pride – Pikeville, Kentucky
An all-volunteer, community-led group, Pikeville Pride aims to strengthen and highlight LGBTQ+ visibility in eastern Kentucky and central Appalachia. The festival includes live music, drag performances, and community engagement activities.
Date: September 27, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Appalachian Wireless Arena Plaza, Downtown Pikeville, KY
Baton Rouge Pride Fest – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge Pride Fest is one of the South’s largest family-friendly indoor LGBTQ+ celebrations. The festival features “The Rainbow Exchange,” a resource fair and “Queerative Market” showcasing local nonprofits, social-service organizations, and artisans.
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Location: Raising Cane’s River Center, 275 S River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA
It’s Pride Y’all – Jackson, Mississippi
As Mississippi’s largest Pride festival, It’s Pride Y’all features a parade, live entertainment, and various activities to unite and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Location: Downtown Jackson, MS
Mid-Missouri PrideFest – Columbia, Missouri
This family-friendly event includes live entertainment, food trucks, and over 125 vendors, promoting inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community in Mid-Missouri. (Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Dates: October 4–5, 2025
Location: North Village Arts District and surrounding streets near Rose Music Hall, Columbia, MO
Star City Pride – Lincoln, Nebraska
This two-day festival celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in Lincoln by featuring dozens of vendors, local entertainers, musical acts, and family-friendly activities.
Dates: June 13–14, 2025
Location: 17th Street between O & P Streets, Lincoln, NE
Details: The festival includes a Pride Parade around the Nebraska State Capitol on June 14 at 10:00 AM, followed by a day-long festival featuring live entertainment, vendors, and community activities.
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Fargo-Moorhead Pride – Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo-Moorhead Pride is one of the nation’s largest rural Pride celebrations, drawing attendees from North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Canada. The week-long festival features a variety of events, including a Family Fun Night, drag shows, a Pride Dance Party, a 5K Fun Run, community vendor fairs, and culminates with a vibrant Pride Parade through downtown Fargo.
Dates: August 3–10, 2025
Location: Various venues across Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN
Oklahoma PrideFest – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma PrideFest
“Queer joy is the resistance”
Organized by the Oklahoma Pride Alliance, the 5th annual Oklahoma PrideFest, themed “Liberation is Love,” will feature a weekend of celebrations including a vibrant parade, live entertainment, vendor booths, and community activities.
Dates: Friday, June 27 – Sunday, June 29, 2025
Location: Scissortail Park, Downtown Oklahoma City, OK
Camden Pride – Camden, South Carolina
While specific event details are limited, Camden is known for its rich history and community events, providing a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ celebrations.
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: Main Street, Camden, SC
Details: The Youth Pride Parade travels along Main Street, culminating at the Amphitheater next to the library.
Sioux Falls Pride – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
South Dakota’s largest LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit nonprofit organization, Sioux Falls Pride hosts an annual Pride Festival and Parade each June, featuring live entertainment, vendors, and community engagement.
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Location: Downtown Sioux Falls, SD
Details: Parade begins at 10:00 AM on 8th Street from Dakota to Reid Street.
TriPride – Johnson City, Tennessee
TriPride is an annual LGBTQ+ parade and festival rotating between the cities of the Tri-Cities region in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, including Johnson City. The event celebrates diversity and fosters a sense of belonging and pride in the community.
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Location: Founders Park, Johnson City, TN
Details: Parade starts at 11:00 AM.
PRIDENTON – Denton, Texas
PRIDENTON is a nonprofit organization that hosts an annual Pride event in Denton, Texas, aiming to create a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community through various events and initiatives.
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Location: Downtown Denton Courthouse Lawn, 110 East Hickory Street, Denton, TX
Details: Pride Path sidewalk chalking event from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Ogden Pride Festival – Ogden, Utah
Celebrating its 11th year, the Ogden Pride Festival is a vibrant three-day event under the theme “Pride Cannot Be Silenced.” The festival features a Queer Prom for All, live entertainment, over 150 vendors, food trucks, and community resource booths, attracting more than 6,000 attendees.
Dates: August 1–3, 2025
Location: Ogden Amphitheater and Municipal Gardens, Ogden, UT
Lost River Pride Festival – Lost River, West Virginia
Celebrate Pride in the mountains at the Lost River Pride Festival 2025, featuring live music, art vendors, local food and drinks, community booths, and family-friendly activities. The festival transforms the Lost River Farmers Market into a vibrant hub of color, music, and connection.
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Lost River Farmers Market, 1189 Mill Gap Rd, Lost City, WV
Casper Pride – Casper, Wyoming
Casper Pride is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community in central Wyoming, hosting events like the annual PrideFest each June.
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Location: David Street Station, Casper, WY
Details: Festival from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Anchorage Pride Parade & Festival – Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage Pride Parade
Grab your flags and your wildest outfit!
Anchorage Pride is Alaska’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration, featuring a vibrant parade through downtown Anchorage followed by a family-friendly festival. The event includes local vendors, food trucks, live music, drag performances, and community activities, all under the theme “Joy & Resistance.”
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: Parade at 11:30 AM; Festival from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Delaney Park Strip, Anchorage, AK
Space Coast Pride – Melbourne, Florida
Space Coast Pride is a vibrant celebration held in Downtown Melbourne, featuring a parade, live entertainment, and numerous vendors. The event fosters inclusivity and community spirit, attracting attendees from across the region.
Date: September 28, 2025
Location: Downtown Melbourne, FL
Details: Parade kicks off at 11:00 AM from the Melbourne Auditorium, followed by a festival from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM along E. New Haven Avenue.
Missoula Pride – Missoula, Montana
Missoula Pride offers a wide array of community-oriented educational and entertainment opportunities, focusing on accessible, donation-based, and all-ages events.
Dates: June 20–22, 2025
Parade: Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Location: Downtown Missoula, MT
Blue Ridge Pride – Asheville, North Carolina
Blue Ridge Pride Festival
Community growing together
Blue Ridge Pride is a nonprofit organization in North Carolina that advocates, celebrates, educates, and serves the LGBTQIA+ community.
Dates: September 27, 2025
Location: Park Square Park, Asheville, NC
First Capital PRIDE – Chillicothe, Ohio
First Capital PRIDE Coalition is a nonprofit organization based in Chillicothe, Ohio, that supports and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community.
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: W 2nd Street between Walnut & Paint, Chillicothe, OH
Iowa City Pride – Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City Pride is Iowa’s original Pride organization, celebrating diversity since 1970 in downtown Iowa City.
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Downtown Iowa City, IA
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