Celebrate Pride Month On and Off Campus
Boston University and the City of Boston are hosting festivals, parades, and more celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community
Photo via iStock/SCM Jeans
Celebrate Pride Month On and Off Campus
Boston University and the City of Boston are hosting festivals, parades, and more celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community
Every June, cities around the world burst into color as communities come together to celebrate Pride Month—a time to honor the history, struggles, and triumphs of the LGBTQIA+ community. From flag raisings to drag brunches and beach bashes, June is packed with ways to show your Pride in Boston.
We’ve compiled a dozen events organized by Boston University and the City of Boston that celebrate Pride Month—check them out below.
Pride Kickoff and Flag Raising Ceremony: June 2
To start Pride Month loud and proud, the City of Boston is hosting a Pride Kickoff and Flag Raising Celebration at City Hall Square on Monday, June 2, from noon to 1:30 pm. Whether it’s your first Pride or your 50th, this can’t-miss event honors the LGBTQIA+ community in the heart of Boston.
Photo via iStock/NATALIA DE LA RUBIA
College of Arts & Sciences LGBTQIA+ Pride Reception: June 3
If you’re a staff or faculty member at the BU College of Arts & Sciences, listen up! Arts & Sciences Dean Stan Sclaroff invites the CAS LGBTQIA+ community to a Pride Reception on Tuesday, June 3, from 3:30 to 5 pm at the CAS Dean’s Residence, sponsored by CAS and LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff.
Photo by Cydney Scott
Pride Soirée: June 4
BU staff and faculty, this one’s for you! The Pride Soirée, on Wednesday, June 4, from 5 to 7 pm, hosted by the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff and LGBTQIA+ Faculty & Staff Community Network, will have hors d’oeuvres, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages. The event is happening on the Charles River Campus, and the location will be provided in the registration confirmation.
Photo by Cydney Scott
MFA First Fridays Pride: June 6
Check out the Boston Museum of Fine Arts celebration of Pride on Friday, June 6, from 6 to 9 pm, as part of its First Friday program. In partnership with artist Colby Drasher, the event will include art-making, live performances, and music. Tickets are free for museum members and $27 for the general public and include general admission to the MFA.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi
Pride Night at Fenway Park: June 9
Take yourself out to the ball game—Pride style! The Red Sox annual Pride Night at Fenway Park is Monday, June 9, at 7:10 pm, as the Sox face the Tampa Bay Rays. Join thousands of fans in a night dedicated to celebrating Boston’s LGBTQ+ community. VIP packages will include a Red Sox Pride hat and a limited-edition Red Sox jersey in Pride colors.
Photo courtesy of Fenway Park
Boston Pride For The People Celebration: June 14
This is the big one. New England’s largest Pride event, the Boston Pride For The People Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 14. The event includes a parade from Copley Square to the Boston Common, an all-day festival—and a 21+ block party on City Hall Plaza—and it’s entirely volunteer-led. “Our theme, ‘Here to Stay,’ is a bold declaration of LGBTQIA+ resilience and pride in the face of growing hostility,” says Adrianna Boulin, president of Boston Pride For The People. The event aspires to educate, empower, celebrate, and commemorate the history of the LGBTQ+ community.
Photo via Getty Images/JOSEPH PREZIOSO
Road of Rainbows Pride 5K: June 14
Ready to race with Pride? Lace up your sneakers for the fifth annual Road of Rainbows Pride 5K, held by the nonprofit Boston Theater Company, on Saturday, June 14, beginning at 10 am at Brewer Fountain on the Boston Common. Road of Rainbows is an inclusive event that welcomes all genders and is geared toward LGBTQ+ people and supporters. Registration is $40 and the event also offers subsidized $30 and true cost $55 options. Interested in volunteering? Sign up here.
Photo courtesy of Road of Rainbows
Weekly Drag Brunch at Summer Shack: Saturdays & Sundays
Looking for something to do during the weekends? Cambridge’s Summer Shack, 149 Alewife Brook Pkwy., has got you covered. The restaurant hosts weekly drag brunches—each with a different theme. The Pride-themed Drag Brunch will be held on Saturday, June 14, with performances at 11 am and 2 pm. Tickets are $22.
Photo by Ana Cruz/Unsplash
Alumni Pride Month Meet-Up Boston: June 17
Are you a BU alum interested in connecting with other alumni this month? Look no further. Join LGBTQIA+ alumni, allies, and friends at dbar, 1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, on Tuesday, June 17, for Boston’s local Pride Meet-Up. Not local? No problem! There are other meet-ups being held across the country; find a list here. This event is open to all BU alumni and is sponsored by Alumni & Friends and the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff.
Photo by Cydney Scott
Boston’s Big Queer Picnic: June 28
Boston’s third annual Big Queer Picnic will be held Saturday, June 28, from 1 to 4 pm, at Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common. It’s entirely free—just bring a blanket, your friends, and food to share! In case of rain, the event will be Sunday, June 29.
Photo by chris robert on Unsplash
Revere Beach Pride Celebration: June 29
Want to celebrate Pride Month with a beautiful view? Join the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters at the 4th Annual Pride Celebration at Revere Beach. The free event is Sunday, June 29, from 1 to 7 pm, at Waterfront Square. And you won’t want to miss it—there’s something for everyone: a live DJ, drag performances, dancing, kids’ face painting, and tons of vendors for shopping. Too hot? No problem—the beach is right there for a refreshing swim.
Photo by Jordan McDonald via Unsplash
Boston’s LGBTQ Past Walking Tour
Want to learn about LGBTQ history while getting some exercise? Boston by Foot’s LGBTQ Past Walking Tour is the perfect option. The one-mile, 90-minute tour covers Boston’s hidden LGBTQ history and showcases the city’s activism and community-building. The tour begins at the Massachusetts State House and ends by the John Hancock Tower. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this tour is a powerful and eye-opening experience.
Photo via iStock/Marc Dufresne
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