Photo: Brittany Thornton
After some pandemic caution, Pride events are returning in a big way to Greater Cincinnati this month.
Greater Cincinnati organizations, shops and nightlife destinations will celebrate Pride Month in June with a bevy of commemorations and events. Here’s a small sampling.
Pride Flag Raising at City Hall
A ceremony, hosted by Cincinnati Pride in partnership with the City of Cincinnati, will honor LGBTQ+ citizens with the raising of the inclusive Pride flag, redesigned in 2018 by Daniel Quasar to represent more people. 3:30-4 p.m. June 1. 801 Plum St., Downtown, cincinnatipride.org. (Lauren Serge)
Pride Kick-Off Block Party at City Hall
Following the flag raising, Cincinnati Pride and city officials will host a Pride Kick-Off Block Party at City Hall. The party will feature music from DJ Bard as well as several drag performances. Food trucks will also will be on hand. 4-6:30 p.m. June 1. Free admission. 801 Plum St., Downtown, cincinnatipride.org. (LS)
Block Party After-Party at The Birdcage
Head to The Birdcage, an LGBTQ+ bar and lounge, to celebrate Pride Month with dancing and music. 7-11 p.m. June 1. 927 Race St., Downtown, cincinnatipride.org. (LS)
Rainbow Challah Bake at Mayerson Jewish Community Center
Participants in the rainbow challah bake will make and braid their own rainbow dough. The event will include singing and light refreshments, as well as crafts and a photo booth for kids ages 8 and up. Doors 5:30 p.m., event 6-8:30 p.m. June 1. $18 for non-members, $15 for members. Mayerson Jewish Community Center, 8485 Ridge Ave., Amberley, mayersonjcc.org. (Lindsay Wielonski).
Pride Film Series at The Esquire
The Esquire is hosting a series of LGBTQ+-centric films for Pride Month on Thursdays in June. Each week, Cincinnati Pride will partner with OutReels Cincinnati and Esquire Theatre to debut films throughout the month, including Saving Face, Mala Mala, I Carry You With Me (Te Llevo Conmigo) and Shortbus. Free tickets are available at the Esquire Box Office. 6:30-8:30 p.m Thursdays throughout June. Free admission. 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, esquiretheatre.com. (LS)
Over the Rainbow Pride Cabaret
The Queen City Cabaret will host a Pride-themed cabaret event in celebration of Pride Month at The Redmoor. On June 3, Sarah Folsom, Matthew Umphreys and several guest performers will entertain guests with music and comedy. The event will feature food and drinks and will raise funds for the nonprofit Transform Cincy, which provides transgender youth with free clothing that suits their preferred gender identity. Doors 6 p.m., show 7-9 p.m. June 3. Tickets $15-$120. The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout, theredmoor.com. (LS)
Pride Community Night at Great American Ball Park
During Pride Community Night, the Cincinnati Reds will celebrate Pride Month by recognizing local LGBTQ+organizations and citizens at the ballpark. There are several special ticket packages for the event, and the first 1,500 guests to purchase one will receive a Cincinnati Reds Pride hat. A portion of proceeds from special ticket packages will be donated to Cincinnati Pride. 6:40 p.m. June 3. Ticket package prices vary. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, reds.com. (LS)
Pride Night at Grainworks Brewing
Grainworks Brewing Company will host an “Absolutely Grainworks Pride Night” in honor of Pride Month. The party will include festivities such as a drag revue, dance party and costume contest. A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit PFLAG Cincinnati, a nonprofit organization that offers support, education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals, families and friends. 8 p.m.-midnight. June 4. Grainworks Brewing Company Taproom, 7790 Service Center Dr., West Chester, cincinnatipride.org. (LW).
Northern Kentucky Pride Parade and Festival
Northern Kentucky will celebrate Pride Month at MainStrasse and Goebel Park on June 5. The parade and festival will feature a variety of local LGBTQ+ organizations and community services. The parade will begin at the Covington Riverfront at 1 p.m. Noon-5 p.m. June 5. Free admission. 501 Philadelphia St., Covington, nkypridecenter.org. (LS)
Rainbow Shabbat at Sample Space
On June 10, Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial, ish and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati will collaborate to host Rainbow Shabbat. The event will “honor and celebrate Cincinnati Pride month and LGBTQ+ identity as an important part of the Jewish experience, and engage with the broader civic community,” according to the event’s Facebook event page. The event will be hosted by Miz Cracker, who was featured on "Rupaul’s Drag Race." All proceeds will benefit Transform Cincy, an organization that provides clothing to transgender and gender non-conforming youth. Tickets include Shabbat dinner, wine, a drink ticket and a performance. 7-10 p.m. June 10. Suggested donation of $36 per person. Sample Space, 140 Marian Spencer Way, Downtown, jewishcincy200.org. (LW).
Pride Prom at Hard Rock Casino
Midwestern Lesbian will host a Pride Prom at the Hard Rock Casino. Guests will enjoy performances by Kora Sline and PHDee. Reservations are required. 10 p.m. June 18. Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati 1000 Broadway St., Downtown, hardrockcasinocincinnati.com. (LW).
Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival
Cincinnati will celebrate 49 years of Cincinnati Pride this year. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at 7th St. and Plum and will end at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, the location for the Pride festival. The festival will include vendors as well as entertainment provided by Shea Diamond, Jordy, Alex Newell and Daya. 11 a.m. June 25. Free. 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, cincinnatipride.org. (LS)
Legally Blonde at Washington Park
Cincinnati Pride’s edition of the Summer Cinema series will feature Legally Blonde on June 22 at Washington Park. Food trucks and a bar will be available. Washington Park sells Coca-Cola products, beer, wine, seltzer and liquor from local businesses, according to the Cincinnati Pride website. 7:30 p.m. June 22. Movie starts at 9 p.m. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org. (LW).
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