Last year, in-person Pride celebrations were canceled and moved to online platforms as the country grappled with soaring COVID-19 cases. This year, with nearly 50% of the US population vaccinated, the LGBTQ community is gearing up for a Pride Month full of activism, community service, and celebrations.

We know you’re curious what these celebrations will look like, and are probably planning to attend some yourself. To give you an idea of what to expect, we’ve compiled  a list of five major U.S. cities and their plans for Pride 2021:

Atlanta

• The annual Pride Run is set to be in-person on June 20th. Pride Run is an opportunity for Atlantians to raise awareness and money for their LGBTQ community. This year’s beneficiary is Joining Hearts, an organization that provides HIV/AIDs preventative care and housing assistance to members of the LGBTQ community.
• The Georgia Aquarium will be hosting “Out Night” on June 25th for queer people ages 21 and older. Guests will be able to enjoy an evening cocktail party while exploring the Aquarium’s most famous exhibits.
• The traditional pride parade is currently on hold and pending approval from the local government. For updates on that situation, bookmark this page.

Chicago

• On June 26th-27th, Pride in the Park will host an in-person experience with performances by Chaka Khan, Betty Who, and Elyssa Edwards.
• An event celebrating Chicago’s drag performers will be held in-person on June 28th. Tickets to the aptly named “Chicago is a Drag Community” are now available.
• PrideFest has been delayed until October 1st due to COVID-19 considerations. The annual pride parade, however, will still be held on October 3rd.

Los Angeles

• LA pride will be completely virtual this year but the LA queer community can look forward to a performance by Charlie XCX. The performance will be broadcast by ABC7/KABC-TV on a full one-hour special. It will also be live streamed on TikTok.
• LA Pride announced its theme for this year is “Thrive with Pride” and all events will focus on promoting community involvement.

New York City

• Not to be outdone, NYC Pride will be hosting 50+ in-person and virtual events throughout June. The traditional March and PrideFest are scheduled for June 27th and are expected to be in person. The March will feature appearances from Wilson Cruz, Cayenne Doroshow, Menaka Guruswamy, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis and Aaron Rose Philip. ABC-7 will be broadcasting the March for the 5th consecutive year and will be making coverage available on streaming platforms.
• Some online events include the Human Rights Conference from June 21st-23rd, Youth Pride on June 26th, Pride Island on June 27th, and The Rally on June 25th. Details about each event and registration information can be found on NYC Pride’s website, linked above.

Washington, DC

• On June 12th, D.C. will be hosting a Colorful PrideMobile Parade. The mobile parade will feature a technicolor assembly of automobiles decorated by businesses and organizations.
• For the first time, the Capital Pride Alliance will be inviting residents of D.C. to participate in the ‘Paint the Town Colorful’ But don’t dally if you want to join in! All decorations must be completed by June 12th.

In sum, pride organizations are working diligently and imaginatively with local governments to create a safe environment for Pride. The NWHN hopes you’ll celebrate with them, and do your part to keep the fun safe by getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, and continuing to practice social distancing.