The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Pride in NYC

For 30 days each June, the Big Apple is filled with a spirit and exuberance unmatched by any other city in America. Pride Month—which happens annually, timed with the anniversary of the liberating 1969 Stonewall Riots—is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community that encourages queer people to live out loud and reminds the public of the ongoing fight for equality. And lucky for us, in the city where Pride was born, there's never a shortage of activities to partake in the festivities.

For 2022, the world-famous NYC Pride March returns IRL for the first time in three years and that alone is worth celebrating. In addition, from all-night parties and raucous street festivals to empowering marches and impactful seminars, whether you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, we've rounded up the 31 best events to consider attending this month, keeping every identity, personality, and budget in mind. Here’s our ultimate guide to celebrating Pride in NYC.

Month-long
East Williamsburg
Black-owned gay bars in NYC are hard to come by, inspiring husband-and-husband business partners Charles Hughes and Richard Solomon to step up and fill in the gap. They started by opening Lambda Lounge in Harlem and after finding success, decided to expand their operations to Brooklyn. Ahead of Pride Month, Club Lambda BK began welcoming visitors to experience safety, inclusivity, and unfiltered joy in the heart of East Williamsburg’s nightclub scene. The new location is dark and sleek, with pops of neon color, and features a beautiful sunroom that allows some natural light in before dark."
Cost: Varies

Sunday, June 5, 11 am
Jackson Heights
Kick off Pride Month with the largest borough’s largest LGBTQIA+ festival, hosted right in the heart of Queens’ queer neighborhood. The 30th Queens Pride won't be one to miss: Aside from the famed parade and local vendors, it’ll feature a masterful lineup of NYC entertainers that includes the ballroom scene’s legendary House of Xtravaganza.
Cost: Free to attend

Thursday, June 9, 6 pm
Coney Island
Watch Brooklyn’s Minor League Baseball team take on the Aberdeen IronBirds on Coney Island, complete with performances by the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus and NY Pacemakers Dance Team. Game tickets also include access to the team’s new rooftop lounge.
Cost: Tickets start at $15

Friday, June 10, 1 pm
Westerleigh
If you missed Staten Island’s Pride celebration in May, you can make up for it with an enlightening discussion at Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library that explores the island’s overlooked queer history. If you don’t know about lesbian icon Audre Lorde—or the things she accomplished while living on Staten Island—for example, this is a great place to start.
Cost: Free with registration

Friday, June 10, 11 pm
East Williamsburg
This highly anticipated event is not only designated as a safe space for Queer and trans AAPI+ folks, but anytime Bubble_T throws a party, the community and its allies show up dressed to the nines and ready to dance. Fruity_Five will occupy Elsewhere with premium DJs, performers, and hosts—one of which is SNL’s history-making Bowen Yang.
Cost: $32.19

Saturday, June 11
Park Slope/Prospect Park
If you have to prioritize one event to visit during Brooklyn Pride Week, this festivity-packed day is the one. It all starts at 10 am with a 5K run around Prospect Park, and continues through the evening with stage entertainment, family activities, and the twilight Pride Parade at 7:30 pm.
Cost: Free to attend

Wednesday, June 15, 5 pm
The Battery
Whether you have younger relatives or are young at heart, NYC Pride’s annual movie night along the water is fun for all ages. This year, the film is Moana—where are our Disney gays at?—so bring a blanket and get comfortable.
Cost: Free if you RSVP

Sunday, June 19
Anywhere
Bicyclists have their moment at Pride Month, too! This year, the OC Pride Ride is a hybrid event, meaning you can do it any place, any time, at any pace. The organization laid out several routes around New York and New Jersey to give locals some ideas.
Cost: $80 to register; additional $75 if you’d like a branded Pride Ride jersey

Sunday, June 19, 12 pm
Williamsburg
This year’s Pride Brunch doubles as a Juneteenth celebration with food from six queer Black chefs, a four-hour open bar, live entertainment, an awards ceremony honoring local Black LGBTQ+ business leaders, and gift bags for all attendees. The dress code is Brunch Chic (think happy, elevated attire).
Cost: Remaining tickets start at $70

Monday, June 20, 6:30 pm
Astoria
As if a regular paint and sip event wasn’t fun enough, now you can do it in the presence of other LGBTQIA+ folks. With a mystery theme and a bit o’ wine, it’s sure to be the mellow Monday night of your dreams—one that leaves you with a few new friends.
Cost: Free

Tuesday, June 21, 6 pm
Hell’s Kitchen
The annual Pride Week Garden Party is the LGBT Community Center’s largest fundraiser of the year, one that leaves attendees with an unforgettable experience worth every penny. Pier 84 will shine bright till 9 pm with grilling, open bars, live entertainment, and other garden party–style activities.
Cost: General admission tickets are $99

Thursday, June 23, 9 am
Tribeca
Pride isn’t only about booze—it’s about balance. The Conference is an annual symposium honoring LGBTQIA+ changemakers: Prepare for powerful conversations, interactive workshops, moving speeches, and networking, available to attend virtually and in-person.
Cost: Tickets range from $25 to $75

Thursday, June 23, 5 pm
Financial District
New York City piers continue to serve as queer hangouts, but where did those traditions begin? Pop into the New Amsterdam Library to learn about the history of the West Side Piers, once beaten down before LGBTQIA+ people reclaimed them as a space for artistic and sexual expression.
Cost: Free with registration

Friday, June 24, 4 pm
The Battery
Whereas the NYC Pride March puts a more fun and lively spin on activism, the annual NYC Pride Rally is all about activating the community to keep on fighting. The first rally occurred one month after the Stonewall Riots, and this year’s event will focus on denouncing the legislative attacks against LGBTQIA+ people that have swept the nation this year.
Cost: Free

Friday, June 24, 9 pm
Midtown
Hosted in the Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room, this ball benefits Broadway Cares and features top-tier performers, like DJ Mazurbate, Glee’s Alex Newell, Drag Race Season 11 contestant Honey Davenport, and Jinkx Monsoon, future winner of All-Stars Season 7. With a curated dinner menu by chef Andy Baraghani and mixologist Shannon Mustipher, it’ll be every bit as delicious as entertaining.
Cost: $375

Friday, June 24, 10 pm
East Williamsburg
The historic HustlaBall returns to NYC with plans to turn the heat up on Pride Weekend. The erotic dance party boasts live acts and an “XXL playroom”—it’s so naughty you might have to change your browser’s safety settings just to visit the event site.
Cost: Remaining tickets start at $80

Friday, June 24, 11:59 pm
East Williamsburg
As Friday night turns to Saturday morning, The Meadow will open its doors for an all-night celebration with Brazilian beats, go-go dancers, and a performance by Queen of the Universe winner Grag Queen. Think you can last until 7 am, when the party ends?
Cost: Tickets start at $49

Saturday, June 25, 11 am
Southstreet Seaport
Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community includes shopping from queer-owned businesses. In honor of Pride, the Hester Street Fair will change to ROYGBIV on June 25, welcoming queer vendors and special programs along Pier 17 for the public’s enjoyment.
Cost: Free to attend; vendor prices vary

Saturday, June 25, 11 am
Hudson River
Sign up to spend the day sailing the Hudson with other LGBTQIA+ people, because what better way to make friends than hopping on a stranger’s rainbow-themed boat? If slots fill up, or you don’t have a full day to commit to the open water, you can watch the parade of Pride boats sail past Manhattan’s West Side beginning at The Battery at 1 pm and working its way north toward 46th Street.
Cost: To register, you must make a donation to the Ali Forney Center

Saturday, June 25, 12 pm
West Harlem
Each borough has its own Pride, but most neighborhoods don’t. Still, Harlem planned a Pride festival—because there’s no better way to celebrate your community than celebrating it in your community. There’s a main stage for performances, a dance stage for DJs, on-site STD testing, and family-friendly events like Drag Queen Story Hour.
Cost: Free

Saturday, June 25, 12 pm
TBA
Queer teens need a designated place to express themselves—perhaps more than anyone. Youth Pride is the solution for people too old for face paint, but not quite old enough to bar hop. The location will be announced soon.
Cost: Free with registration

Saturday, June 25, 2 pm
Hell’s Kitchen
Previously known as the VIP Rooftop Party, NYC Pride’s Fantasy Days is the official circuit party of Pride, located at the Harbor Rooftop on West 46th Street. With indoor and outdoor spaces, rotating DJs, and drink specials, it has all the ingredients for a wild afternoon.
Cost: Remaining tickets start at $75

Saturday, June 25, 4:30 pm
East Williamsburg
Planet Pride is casually one of the biggest queer events of the year. One ticket gets you access to six parties—Ty Tea, Dreamland, Devil’s Playground, WE Party, Club ZeroSpace, and Xlsior Mykonos—with an unbelievably full lineup that includes Aquaria, Gottmik, Violet Chachki, Galantis, SG Lewis, and a surprise popstar.
Cost: Tickets start at $146.99

Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26
Governors Island
Newly hosted by Governors Island, Pride Island is the annual music festival of Pride Weekend, headlined by Kim Petras this year with additional entertainment by Lil’ Kim, Netta, Shenseea, Raye, and art collective Papi Juice. There will be additional ferry service to Governors Island through the weekend to accommodate attendees, so read up on the event site for details.
Cost: Remaining tickets start at $95

Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26
Midtown & Chelsea
Two days, two day parties, strong drinks, and a “sexy crowd”—that’s Posh Weekend. On Saturday, the party takes over Nebula nightclub near Times Square; on Sunday, it moves to the Somewhere Nowhere rooftop. Both events run from 4 pm-10 pm, and the hosts advertise that celebrities are known to attend.
Cost: General admission tickets are $30 per day, or $50 for a weekend pass

Sunday, June 26, 11 am
East Village
Take a breath, drink some water, and roam a queer street fair while you caffeinate and prepare for the long Pride Sunday ahead. This year, attendees can purchase a PrideFest Passport, granting them access to a viewing platform for performances, entry to the exclusive PrideFest Lounge, and unlimited beverages and snacks.
Cost: Festival is open to the public; Passport costs $60; vendor prices vary

Sunday, June 26, 12 pm
Manhattan
The most famous Pride event in the world, the NYC Pride March is an enormous display of queer visibility that dominates Lower Manhattan—back IRL after a long, pandemic-induced hiatus. This year’s featured guests are Ts Madison, Punkie Johnson, Schuyler Bailar, Dominique Morgan, Chase Strangio, and Angelica Ross.
Cost: Free to the public; VIP grandstand tickets go for $100

Sunday, June 26, 2 pm
Manhattan
The Queer Liberation March was born out of a desire to make Pride Sunday more of a protest and less of a parade, ditching corporate sponsorships and instead embracing the original spirit of the Stonewall Riots that kickstarted Pride. This year’s march is for trans and BIPOC freedom, reproductive justice, and bodily autonomy.
Cost: Free to attend, though donations to the Reclaim Pride Coalition are always welcome

Sunday, June 26, 2 pm
Hell’s Kitchen
Formerly known as Femme Fatale, this post-Pride March rooftop party is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ womxn with DJs, dancers, pop-up performances, and special surprise guests. As many raucous Pride parties are overrun by gay men, Bliss Days offers a dedicated space for womxn to take center stage.
Cost: Tickets start at $40

Sunday, June 26, 6 pm
East Williamsburg
For 12 hours, partiers will turn up at Avant Gardner, with dual events, one indoors and one outdoors. WOW: The Alegria Outdoor Spectacular kicks off at 6 pm in the outdoor Brooklyn Mirage space; come 11 pm, ALEGRIA will begin in the indoors Great Hall area. Both events end at 6 am, if you can survive that long.
Cost: Remaining tickets start at $150

Monday, June 27, 5 am
East Williamsburg
NYC Pride’s official after-party, at Polygon BK, is volcanic island–themed. Why? Nobody knows—and nobody cares, considering it includes three dance areas, six DJs, and immersive projections. How’s that for a grand finale?
Cost: Remaining tickets start at $60

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