Pride Month has just begun, but this first weekend alone there are three cities’ Pride festivals — in Franklin, Cookeville and Columbia — and several other events around the region.
These celebrations come, as tensions have continued to rise over being LGBTQ+ and proud in conservative-led states like Tennessee.
In modern times, Pride has become a happy time of rainbows and glitter and dancing and drinking, but the history that led to the celebration is dark. And right now in Tennessee, legislation is increasingly targeting members of the community. (Tennessee has enacted more anti-LGBTQ laws than any other state, according to the Human Rights Campaign.)
You can catch glimpses of that in the descriptions of many Pride parties happening this month. You’ll see proceeds benefitting groups like the Trevor Project, the Tennessee Equality Project, Inclusion Tennessee and more. A lot of these organizations’ goals are to continue the fight for LGBTQ rights.
Below, WPLN News has compiled a “Pride Guide” for the nearly 40 events in the region — so far. There are bound to be more that spring up in the next few weeks, so we’ll keep updating.
Many of the events are outside, so be prepared for the heat this month and stay hydrated!
Did we miss a Pride event in the area? Email us.
Friday, June 2
Franklin Pride Official PreParty — 6:30 p.m.
Franklin Pride‘s official pre-party is being held at Frothy Monkey’s downtown location. Entry is free with provided appetizers and “amazing company.”
Saturday, June 3
Upper Cumberland Pride Festival 2023 — 11 a.m.
This daytime Pride festival at Dogwood Park in Cookeville will feature performances by local favorites, including Presley Onassis, Justin Dreamz and Wendy Williams. Entry is free.
Franklin Pride — 12 p.m.
Franklin Pride‘s goal is to bring Williamson County “a vibrant event that seeks to celebrate, support, engage and unite the community on behalf of our LGBTQ family and neighbors and their allies.” The schedule for the daylong downtown event is packed with entertainment from music to food vendors. Both entry and parking are free.
Pulaski Pride — 2 p.m.
The third annual Pulaski Pride is being held at the Historic Pulaski Town Square.
Haute Tea Dance Party — 2 p.m.
Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting this tea party a few Saturdays during Pride Month in the Penthouse pop-up experience. It will feature local LGBTQ DJs after brunch at Bagelshop that begins at 11 a.m. There is no cover for entry, and valet is free with purchase.
Bath & Body Nashville Pride Pool Party feat. Alyssa Edwards — 6 p.m.
This Pride Month kick-off is being held at the Virgin Hotels Nashville pool with special guest Alyssa Edwards of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as several other performers and DJs. There will also be a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Tennessee Equality Project and Inclusion Tennessee. Tickets start at $25.
Country Pride with Curtis Braly and Friends — 6 p.m.
This official Nashville Pride event at City Winery features Curtis Braly, Jenna DeVries, Adam Mac, Summer Osborne, Camille Rae and more for some live country music performed by some of Nashville’s own LGBTQ artists and drag performers. There will also be dinner (for an upcharge of $50) a silent auction and fundraiser. Proceeds go toward Nashville Pride and The Trevor Project. Tickets start at $35.
Pulaski Pride After Dark — 7 p.m.
Following Pulaski‘s daytime Pride festival, the party moves to Nirvana Roadhouse. Tony Alabama is DJing into the two drag performances of the night. The cover is $5. Doors open at 7 p.m. with shows at 10 p.m. and 12 a.m.
Nashville in Harmony presents Telling Our Stories — 7:30 p.m.
Nashville in Harmony is hosting the official Nashville Pride event, Telling Our Stories, at the Nashville School of the Arts on both Saturday and Sunday. These choir performances will be “an exploration of the narratives in our lives.”
Saturday Night Divas — 8 p.m.
Every Saturday during Pride Month, Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting Saturday Night Divas, a dance party “focusing on legendary divas and high-energy hits,” in the Penthouse pop-up experience. Entry is free.
Sunday, June 4
Columbia Pride 2023 — 12 p.m.
The second Columbia Pride Festival in Riverwalk Park will boast a beer garden, food trucks and vendors alongside local live music at two different music stages plus a kids area. Entry is free.
Sunday Pride — 2 p.m.
1 Hotel Nashville is featuring a lineup of local DJs from the LGBTQ community every Sunday in June in downtown Nashville. You can enjoy the music along with your food, cocktails and the skyline view.
Nashville in Harmony presents Telling Our Stories — 3 p.m.
Nashville in Harmony is hosting the official Nashville Pride event, Telling Our Stories, at the Nashville School of the Arts on both Saturday and Sunday. These choir performances will be “an exploration of the narratives in our lives.”
Monday, June 5
Pride615 — 6 p.m.
This event benefitting Nashville-based nonprofit Proud to be in Baseball features several performers, who will take the stage at Eastside Bowl in Madison beginning at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 6
AAPI Writer’s Night: Queer Edition — 6:30 p.m.
Queer Asians artists in the South will share their art and their truths at Vinyl Tap in East Nashville, hosted by a self-described “flaming Sagittarius.” Entry is free.
Friday, June 9
Turn About ’23 — 7 p.m.
Turn About returns at Play in Nashville. See your favorite staff and community members “all dragged up” with proceeds benefitting Nashville Pride. This is a non-ticketed event, but the cover is typically $15+ at Play.
Hip Hop Karaoke: Pride Edition — 9 p.m.
Hip Hop Karaoke is partnering with Healing in the Margins for a Pride edition of the night at The 5 Spot in East Nashville. Ticket proceeds will benefit HHK to “further their mission of helping BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities heal and thrive in Middle Tennessee and beyond. Entry is $10.
Saturday, June 10
Pride on the Courthouse Lawn — 12 p.m.
Folks are gathering in front of the Cumberland County courthouse in Crossville and are encouraged to bring signs, banners and flags. Entry is free.
Dickson Pride Festival 2023 — 12 p.m.
Dickson‘s first-ever Pride festival is being held at Holland Park. Organizers says it is a family-friendly event including shopping, eating and “good old-fashioned fun.” Entry is free.
Haute Tea Dance Party — 2 p.m.
Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting this tea party a few Saturdays during Pride Month in the Penthouse pop-up experience. It will feature local LGBTQ DJs after brunch at Bagelshop that begins at 11 a.m. There is no cover for entry, and valet is free with purchase.
Ped(al) Your Pride — 5:30 p.m.
This family-friendly walk/bike parade is being hosted by Walk Bike Nashville and East Nashtivists, beginning at Cornelia Fort Airpark in Shelby Bottoms. This “celebration of equality, inclusion, self-expression, and walking/biking together as a community” is free by registration.
Saturday Night Divas — 8 p.m.
Every Saturday during Pride Month, Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting Saturday Night Divas, a dance party “focusing on legendary divas and high-energy hits,” in the Penthouse pop-up experience. Entry is free.
Sunday, June 11
Queer Book Club — 10 a.m.
Nashville Public Library’s Queer Book Club during Pride is about “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo. As always, this discussion of “all things LGBTQ+ in fiction and non-fiction” is hosted at The Lipstick Lounge in East Nashville. Email [email protected] to RSVP and reserve your copy of the book.
Support Our Queens Drag Brunch — 12 p.m.
Support our Queens is hosting a drag brunch at Virgin Hotels Nashville’s Commons Club in downtown Nashville from 12 to 3 p.m. Nashville diva Vidalia Anne Gentry is playing hostess with a rotating cast of special guests. A portion of proceeds will benefit Inclusion Tennessee.
Sunday Pride — 2 p.m.
1 Hotel Nashville is featuring a lineup of local DJs from the LGBTQ community every Sunday in June in downtown Nashville. You can enjoy the music along with your food, cocktails and the skyline view.
Nashville Pride Pageant: Heroes & Villains — 7 p.m.
Nashville Pride’s pageant theme this year is “Heroes & Villains,” so be sure to wear your best (or most villainous) look to Play in Nashville.
Wednesday, June 14
Pride Spirituality Night — 7 p.m.
This multi-faith event returns after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. The community-wide service at Scaritt Bennett Wightman Chapel in Nashville will celebrate the LGBTQ community’s sacredness as people of faith, worth and value and share traditions and rituals from the respective groups, with much singing and love on the agenda.
Thursday, June 15
Pride Trivia — 7 p.m.
Dickson‘s annual Pride trivia night is being held at One19 Craft Kitchen & Brewery. Organizers advise arriving early to register and secure a table. Entry is free.
Saturday, June 17
Haute Tea Dance Party — 2 p.m.
Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting this tea party a few Saturdays during Pride Month in the Penthouse pop-up experience. It will feature local LGBTQ DJs after brunch at Bagelshop that begins at 11 a.m. There is no cover for entry, and valet is free with purchase.
6th Annual Pride Bar Crawl — 4 p.m.
This year’s Pride bar crawl on Lower Broadway includes BigShotz and Tin Roof, plus an after party. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local Pride organizations and The Trevor Project. (The ticket price is not listed on Lightning100’s event page.)
The Pharmacy Pride Tye Dye Party — 4 p.m.
The Pharmacy’s Pride party at their East Nashville location is a ticketed daytime event. With the $45 ticket comes a Pharmacy t-shirt to dye, supplies to do so, all-you-can-eat sliders (both beef and impossible meat) and one beer or a non-alcoholic phosphate.
Saturday Night Divas — 8 p.m.
Every Saturday during Pride Month, Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting Saturday Night Divas, a dance party “focusing on legendary divas and high-energy hits,” in the Penthouse pop-up experience. Entry is free.
Sunday, June 18
Sunday Pride — 2 p.m.
1 Hotel Nashville is featuring a lineup of local DJs from the LGBTQ community every Sunday in June in downtown Nashville. You can enjoy the music along with your food, cocktails and the skyline view.
Tuesday, June 20
Decades of Pride: The 70s — 4 p.m.
This event at W Nashville‘s rooftop bar, PROOF, is a celebration of Pride icons who changed history for the LGBTQ community. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite Pride icon from the 1970s while listening to classic hits of the era and perhaps drinking some of the specials ($5 draft beer, $8 specialty cocktails, $5 mocktails).
Wednesday, June 21
Decades of Pride: The 80s — 4 p.m.
This again? Yes, but not exactly. If the ‘80s are more your speed, W Nashville‘s rooftop bar, PROOF, is hosting another celebration of Pride icons the next night. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite Pride icon from the 1980s while listening to classic hits of the era and perhaps drinking some of the specials ($5 draft beer, $8 specialty cocktails, $5 mocktails).
Rooftop Sounds — 6 p.m.
Virgin Hotels Nashville is hosting this live music event featuring a complete LGBTQ lineup plus cocktails with downtown views from the The Pool Club, on the hotel’s rooftop.
Thursday, June 22
Decades of Pride: The 90s — 4 p.m.
You already knew this was coming by now, right? It’s ‘90s night at W Nashville‘s rooftop bar, PROOF. Dress as your favorite Pride icon from the 1990s while listening to music from your favorite decade and perhaps drinking some of the specials ($5 draft beer, $8 specialty cocktails, $5 mocktails).
Pride Night Swim — 6 p.m.
Also hosted at W Nashville for Pride, this night swim, hosted by Barry’s Bootcamp, will feature music, celebration and inclusion. Upscale pool attire is encouraged. Entry is free but RSVP is required.
Nashville Sounds Pride Night — 6:35 p.m.
Nashville‘s baseball team is hosting its Pride Night at First Horizon Park, with included Pride t-shirts with ticket purchase. The Band Box is offering an exclusive frozen drink special, Instagramable photobooths and local LGBTQ+ businesses and educational resources. Tickets start at $20.
Friday, June 23
Decades of Pride: The 2000s — 4 p.m.
Last but not least in the W Nashville‘s decades series, dress as your favorite Pride icon from the 2000s while listening to music from the decade and perhaps drinking some of the specials ($5 draft beer, $8 specialty cocktails, $5 mocktails).
RNBW Writer’s Round — 6 p.m.
RNBW and Young Music City are hosting this writer’s round at W Nashville celebrating queer singers/songwriters. Entry is free but RSVP is required.
Pre-Pride Game Night — 6:30 p.m.
The Table is hosting this game night filled with food and food in downtown Nashville. Board games will be provided, and no experience is necessary. They will be gathering downstairs and advise parking in the tiny lot and entering through the ivy-covered door. This event is free.
All Pride Show — 8 p.m.
Third Coast Comedy Club is hosting a variety show of all LGBTQ comedians in Nashville. Tickets start at $15.
2DP: A Two-Night Pride Celebration — 9 p.m.
The monthly celebration of queerness that is Queer Dance Party gets so big during Pride that organizers have moved venues to Brooklyn Bowl and kept the party going on both Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets start at $15.
Saturday, June 24
Bird Walk for All — 9 a.m.
Wild Birds Unlimited of Nashville along with the Cumberland-Harpeth Audubon Society of Nashville is hosting this bird walk the weekend of Nashville Pride. The group will meet at Wild Birds Unlimited before walking the Richland Creek Greenway. Organizers advise wearing comfy shoes, bringing binoculars (if you have them) and dressing for the weather. This event is free.
Nashville Pride Parade — 10 a.m.
The Nashville Pride Parade takes place on Broadway between 8th Avenue and 2nd Avenue. Often, the audience lined up along the parade route brings signs and flags to wave. The parade is free to attend.
Nashville Pride Festival — 11 a.m.
Nashville‘s Pride festival will once again be hosted in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Saturday and Sunday for all-day music and entertainment plus vendors, food and drinks. Saturday night’s artists include FLETCHER and Saucy Santana. Tickets start at $5 for general admission.
Saturday Night Divas — 8 p.m.
Every Saturday during Pride Month, Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville is hosting Saturday Night Divas, a dance party “focusing on legendary divas and high-energy hits,” in the Penthouse pop-up experience. Entry is free.
2DP: A Two-Night Pride Celebration — 9 p.m.
Night 2 of QDP’s guest takeover of Brooklyn Bowl means more dancing — after Friday’s QDP or the Pride festival concert happening feet away at Bicentennial Park. Tickets start at $15.
Sunday, June 25
Nashville Pride Festival — 11 a.m.
Day 2 of Nashville’s Pride festival brings the same array of food, drinks and vendors, but even more entertainment. Sunday headliners include Fitz and the Tantrums and Cassadee Pope. Tickets start at $5 for general admission.
BrunchOUT feat. Lagoona Bloo — 12 p.m.
This drag brunch at Kimpton Aerston Hotel in downtown Nashville will feature Lagoona Bloo as well as a full bar, brunch bites, a silent auction with prizes, and goodies to take home. The ticket and silent auction proceeds will go to The Trevor Project. Tickets start at $90.
Sunday Pride — 2 p.m.
1 Hotel Nashville is featuring a lineup of local DJs from the LGBTQ community every Sunday in June in downtown Nashville. You can enjoy the music along with your food, cocktails and the skyline view.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show — 9 p.m.
Third Coast Comedy Club in Nashville is performing the Rocky Horror Picture Show and urges the community to “celebrate with the gayest cast performing the gayest movie.” Tickets start at $16.
Monday, June 26
Food For Thought: Pride Edition — 5:30 p.m.
Second Harvest is hosting this conversation about gender, identity and hunger in the LGBTQ community with Straight Facts and Nashville Launch Pad. It will be followed by an open discussion, and there will be an optional tour of Second Harvest’s MetroCenter facility for interested parties.
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