The Best U.S. Cities to Celebrate Pride Month

The Top U.S. Cities for LGBQT+ Festivals, Parades, and More

It’s June, and to many travelers that means showing your Pride! Cities around the U.S. are hosting LGBTQIA+ events throughout the month. And whether you prefer to celebrate Pride month with a boisterous, flag-waving parade or an insightful film fest, there’s a city that’ll fit your Pride style.

Not sure which Prideful city to head to? No worries – pull up your favorite travel app and get ready to go, because we’ve got you covered with our top Pride destinations.

• Boston

  Beantown is one of the most inclusive cities in the U.S. any time of the year, not just June. So when Pride month comes around, it’s no surprise that they go all out! City-wide, they show their support for the community with Illuminate for Pride. Go for a walk at night to see public and private locations throughout Boston lit up in rainbow colors and flying their flags high.

  Boston’s Pride organizers offer events for the whole family, with movie nights and fam-friendly festivals. Even Fenway Park gets into the action with its annual Pride night.

  Best Pride City For: Proud Families

• Chicago

  Just like it does any other time of the year, the Windy City knows how to party for Pride month! Chicago’s Pride celebrations are seemingly endless: festivals, parades, and a 5k/10k/half marathon along the lake. And that’s just for starters.

  One of the country’s first gay enclaves, Northalsted (affectionately known as Boystown) is located smack-dab in the middle of the city. If you’re headed to Chicago to celebrate Pride, that’s where the majority of the events will be located. Their 2-day Pride Fest draws over 100,000 revelers celebrating culture and community.

  If you’re a music lover, be sure to check out Pride in the Park at Grant Park. The annual music fest features two days of star-studded lineups.

  Best Pride City For: The Loud & Proud Partiers

• New York City

  1 month. 50 events. 5 million people. Without a doubt, NYC hosts the largest Pride celebration in the world. Visitors come from all over to celebrate Pride in a city that is welcoming and inclusive. If you’re trying to figure out where to celebrate Pride in the U.S., this just might be it!

  The highlight of NYC’s June events is its PrideFest. This annual street fair is a day of fun and celebration in the name of equality. It has everything you could want in a festival: music, vendors, and street food. And did we mention that it’s free?

  NYC also hosts two of the country’s most insightful Pride events. The Human Rights conference is a symposium dedicated to changemakers, influencers, and activists. Pride Presents is an annual trailblazing film festival dedicated to the powerful stories of the LGBTQIA+ community.

  Best Pride City For: Pride Insight

• San Francisco

  With not one, but two, popular gay neighborhoods (Castro and Mission), it sometimes seems as though the entire city of San Francisco is there to celebrate Pride! Even MLB joins in, as the San Francisco Giants co-host Pride Movie Night at Oracle Park – one of the country’s best ballparks.

  But it’s about more than just parties here; San Fran focuses on Pride all year-round. Its newest initiative is SF Pride 365, which aims to connect year-round with podcasts, Q & A sessions with local leaders, and more. And its newest event, Pride Expo, is designed to connect the community’s vendors, merchants, and nonprofits with potential volunteers and clients.

  As far as ‘Frisco is concerned, it’s all about unity.

  Best Pride City For: Year-Round Pride

Whichever city fits your Pride Style, you can make your getaway easier by shipping your luggage to your destination with LugLess. For less than the average cost of checking a bag, you hop off the plane and head straight to your favorite events and festivals. No more worrying about baggage claims and check-in times, so you can maximize your time out of town while you celebrate Pride.