June marks the start of summer as well as Pride Month!
Cities like São Paulo, Amsterdam, New York, and San Francisco have become famous for their annual Pride Parades, which are filled with music, dancing, and rainbow flags.
But revelry isn’t the only way for LGBTQ+ folks and allies to celebrate — there are all kinds of fun ways to weave the history and significance of pride into your events.
Here’s a look at some real Eventbrite creators whose Pride party ideas are making us proud in 2025. From Pride parties to educational and cultural events, there is plenty to celebrate, learn about, and do!
Celebrations
There’s no doubt that a parade is the most iconic kind of Pride Month activity. The first Pride parade was a civil rights protest, but these days most parades are a celebration of history and community.
Major cities like New York, Johannesburg, and Tel Aviv already host Pride parades, but there’s nothing to say a Pride parade can’t take place in a smaller town or neighborhood. Once the parade is over, consider planning a Pride party to cap off the day.
1. Put on your own parade
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Organizing your hometown’s official — or unofficial — Pride parade is an ambitious but ever-popular way to go. Seattle’s Pride parade takes over downtown and features 20 stages, a family-friendly block party, countless food stalls, DJs, gogos, performances, grandstand seating, and ADA seating.
The San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee, an Eventbrite creator, centers its events on comfort.
For its 2025 San Francisco Pride Enhanced Area Experience, revelers can enjoy a special space with a private bar, lounge area, and bathrooms adjacent to the event’s main stage.
This makes it more enjoyable for those who want convenience and comfort, and allows them to enjoy Pride in a more relaxed setting, away from the biggest crowds and the heat, without sacrificing the energy of the main event.
Similarly, they offer Pride Parade Grandstand Seating for people who want to take in the parade from a comfortable viewing area. This includes rows reserved for people with accessibility and ASL interpretation needs, making it truly inclusive.
Not everyone likes to be in the middle of a packed crowd, so offering an upgraded option makes your event more accessible to those who prefer comfort.
When planning a parade (and parade-related events), you’ll definitely need to coordinate with local officials for any street closures and necessary permits.
It’s also a good idea to work with local LGBTQ+ organizations to gain their support and participation. If your town doesn’t have a local branch, try contacting the regional or national office of organizations like Stonewall or the Human Rights Campaign.
2. Relive — or rewrite — memories at a Pride prom
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A Pride prom lets your attendees get nostalgic — but may also give them a chance to relive prom night in a more inclusive, accepting environment.
The theme of The Frederick Center’s pride prom in Frederick, MD, is Halloween: The Beast Within. The event is dress-to-impress (and to scare), and includes prizes for the best costume, best dressed, and best drag!
Meanwhile, the Otsego Pride Alliance is organizing Pride Prom 2025: Til Death Do Us Part. This event will coincide with a wedding at Pridefest in Oneonta, NY, and aims to offer a prom like no other, albeit on the darker side.
Encourage people to go to your prom with a partner or solo, and to dress to the nines. Then watch as they dance the night away to a DJ spinning classic beats. Be sure to provide refreshments and plenty of photo-ops.
3. Host a dance party
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There’s no better way to celebrate than with dancing. For example, Classy Connectionz Corp will take over La Vibra Lounge in New York City with its Pride Sneaker Gala. Guests are invited to show off their pride — and their style — in comfort.
With a dress code that requires suits, dresses, and sneakers, people will be able to party the night away with DJs, a special guest performance, and more, in their comfiest kicks.
To hold your own, all you need is a beat and a dance floor and you’re ready for a dance party. Having a Pride-themed event will attract a crowd, particularly if you team up with other local organizations that are also celebrating Pride.
Of course, you can skip the DJ and hire a band to provide live music. Up your event’s fun factor with lighting effects, snacks, and cocktails to keep people dancing well into the night.
Ready to create a live music experience?
4. Get out there with a Pride bar crawl
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Long after the parade is over, invite your community to go out on the town with a themed bar crawl.
Pubcrawls.com is hosting Pride Bar Crawls in various cities where the revelers can experience the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community in a fun and interactive way. The crawl is designed to be enjoyed at your own leisure, with a digital map provided to guide you through the best bars, pubs, and clubs in the city.
If you’re planning your own crawl, contact local bars to see about arranging drink specials or deals on appetizers.
You might be surprised how willing bar and pub owners are to offer specials when they know a sizable crowd is coming. Don’t forget to look out for your guests’ safety — plan a walkable (or crawl-able) route or encourage guests to take an Uber or Lyft.
💡Pro Tip: Partner with other businesses that will make it easier and more appealing for people to get to your event. Building lasting partnerships is a great way to gain support for your vision while increasing attendance.
According to creator Pioneer Works, you should approach initial conversations as a brainstorming activity. “Let them know you’re interested in exploring opportunities — and it’s OK if you don’t know what they are yet. That allows both sides to share ideas, rather than using a more-prescriptive approach, like, ‘Hey, here’s what we want to do,’ which can feel one-sided.”
That might include a babysitting app like UrbanSitter, car-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, parking apps and services like ParkWhiz, and hangover recovery brands like Liquid IV.
5. Host a drag performance or a cabaret
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A drag show or cabaret is a fantastic way to celebrate Pride as it offers a space for self-expression to truly thrive.
A well-executed show can create unforgettable moments and captivate audiences, and these types of performances honor Pride as they have deep roots in LGBTQ+ culture.
OASIS, an internationally acclaimed drag show nightclub and cabaret in San Francisco, leverages interest in major events, like the Oscars, to organize a drag show viewing party, which includes fun activities like games with prizes, drag entertainment and commentary, and a photo booth.
Be sure to promote your event heavily and consider unique ideas to encourage participation, like a best-dressed or come-as-your-favorite-movie-character contest, a lip-sync battle that includes audience members, and even an open-mic portion for newcomers.
Inspire with educational and cultural events
Thinking you might want your event to feature something more on the educational or cultural side?
If you consider the rich history and cultural contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, there are opportunities for Pride events related to human rights, literature and culture, and more.
6. Host a historical educational experience
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The fight for gay rights and marriage equality has come a long way, but the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality across the board is ongoing.
Triangle Walking Tours hosts regular walking tours in which folks can explore the Chapel Hill area and learn about the history of the local LGBT community, including landmark events like the first Pride march in North Carolina and the first openly gay elected official in the South. The tour also addresses the challenges faced by the community and its fight for equality.
If you’d like to teach your community about landmark events like New York’s Stonewall riots in 1969 or the fight for gay marriage in the US, host your own historical conference or learning event.
Or, look at the issues that face queer and trans communities in the modern day. Invite scholars or local organizers to talk about the past, present, and future of the Pride movement and inspire your community to continue driving change.
7. Create an immersive experience
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Celebrate Pride, queer art, expression, and radical inclusion with a multi-faceted event like Afterglow Pride: Galactic Gardens, organized by creator Comfort & Joy.
This night of queer cosmic magic will feature a full DJ line-up and a series of “immersive perks and neon delights,” such as a Pride show based on the fairytale Once Upon a Queer, face and body painting, professional photography, a miso station, and “waves of fresh fruit.”
To host your own immersive experience, consider adding a surprise element like an unannounced performance or an unexpected art reveal. You could also include interactive activities, like a message wall, a collaborative art station, or even a themed confession booth.
8. Organize a comedy show
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Comedy is a powerful tool for social change, allowing performers to share their experiences, challenge stereotypes, and bring people together through humor.
Eventbrite creator The Lincoln Lodge has a popular monthly event called Comedians That Are Gay, which features queer comedians and LGBTQIA+ stand-up comedy.
A Pride-themed comedy night can feature LGBTQ+ comedians or simply allies who want to use the platform to entertain while also sharing queer perspectives.
When organizing an event like this, it’s important to have a reliable host who can keep energy levels up between acts. And when it comes to tickets, consider giveaways to generate buzz as well as tiered pricing, such as early bird discounts or VIP seating with perks.
Connect and give back
Pride is more than just a celebration; it also presents a great opportunity to uplift the community and give back.
Organizing events focused on connection and support — from charity fundraisers and volunteer-driven initiatives to benefit performances — adds depth and purpose to Pride celebrations.
When you blend fun with philanthropy, you can strengthen the sense of community while also ensuring that Pride leaves a positive and lasting mark far beyond the festivities.
9. Give back to the community
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Even with recent civil rights victories, LGBTQ+ communities continue to face discrimination, hardship, and violence.
Make a contribution to your community and raise awareness of important issues with a benefit or fundraising event.
It’s important to also “acknowledge the state of the world. Be real. Don’t pretend everything is OK; if you do, no one will buy into your message,” according to DEI Strategist Randi Bryant. So underscore the importance of raising money to support the community.
For example, Boylesque, in Ypsilanti, MI, hosts regular Drag Brunch and Bingo events that raise funds to support local pride celebrations.
These popular events feature bingo games hosted by drag queens, a selection of prizes, and delicious brunch options. They’re a great way to promote diversity and inclusion while raising money for worthy causes.
Want help hosting a fundraising event?
10. Showcase local artists and makers
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Organizing a market is an excellent way to provide a platform for local queer artists, designers and makers to showcase their work, grow their businesses, and celebrate their creativity while also supporting the community economically.
Creator Under The Umbrella Bookstore and Cafe organizes a popular community event called Always Queer Makers Market — thematic pop-ups that feature all-queer vendors from the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
There are many ways to create a unique experience in your vendor booths, such as including interactive craft workshops led by queer creators, creating Meet the Maker panels where vendors can share their stories, and incorporating live entertainment like drag performances or musicians to create an engaging atmosphere.
11. Foster connections through speed dating
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While many Pride events revolve around large parties and gatherings, speed dating offers a more intimate setting where people can meet new friends, or potential partners, in a warm, welcoming environment.
It’s also an excellent opportunity for people looking beyond nightlife and dating apps to make a real, human connection. Events like these allow people to connect with like-minded individuals, and while everyone won’t mesh romantically, friendship is also a worthy objective.
Creator Hugh Hysell organizes events such as Gay Speed Dating for Professionals in NYC and Gay Desert Guide has their Gay Men of Color (and Their Admirers) Speed Dating for people looking for love or who just want to expand their social circle.
To warm up the crowd, consider hosting a mini-mixer prior to the main event to help people feel more relaxed before their one-on-one dates.
You can also offer people a swag bag to take home with small LGBTQ+-themed gifts, discounts at local queer businesses, or fun keepsakes to make the event feel even more special and memorable.
12. Get outside and explore
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Since Pride takes place in June, it’s prime time to get outside. Give your community a chance to enjoy the outdoors with their friends and family away from all the noise and glitter of a Pride parade.
Creator Pridelines hosts an event called Queers on Wheels, designed to foster connections within the LGBTQ+ community while roller skating, rollerblading, skateboarding, and biking. Participants gather together and explore various locations throughout Miami on wheels, promoting social interaction and physical activity.
For your own event, ask participants to wear a costume or dress up in Pride colors, or partner with a charity and collect donations or pledges as participants ride for a good cause.
Plan an event you’re proud of
There are a ton of Pride Month activity ideas out there. Choose one that makes sense for your community and target audience, and look for opportunities to pair with local sponsors or organizations to expand your reach.
The first step is to find the perfect venue, then plan your theme, your activities, and invite your guests.
Whatever format you choose, Eventbrite makes it easy to organize your event. You can sell tickets and track registrations, and market smarter with Eventbrite’s suite of marketing tools.
