When people think of celebrating Pride in the Seattle area, rainbow-hued outfits and a parade through downtown at the end of June often come to mind. However, Pride celebrations span the entire month of June, and one of the major events kicking off festivities is Seattle Pride in the Park at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.
years ago, it was a smaller, grassroots event that felt more like a summer picnic, said Patti Hearn, executive director of Seattle Pride, the nonprofit that organizes Pride in the Park along with the Seattle Pride Parade. When Pride in the Park first took place — 14 years ago, as Patti Hearn, executive director of the nonprofit Seattle Pride, recalled — it was a smaller, grassroots event that felt more like a summer picnic. (Seattle Pride organizes Pride in the Park along with the Seattle Pride Parade.) It was already in a historic setting — participants in Seattle’s first Gay Pride Week, organized by gay rights activist David Neth, gathered for a roller-skating singalong atop the Water Tower in Volunteer Park over half a century ago in 1974.
It’s now grown into a free, full-day festival with performances, a beer garden and marketplace, as well as areas for elders and neurodiverse individuals. In 2025, the festival drew a crowd of approximately 12,000 to 15,000 people.
“Up through 2006, the Pride Parade in Seattle was along Broadway and landed in Volunteer Park, so that feel of the celebration in the park is very familiar to me,” said Hearn, who has lived in Seattle since the mid-’90s. “Landing in Volunteer Park and having all of the celebratory feel around Pride is very much like what we used to experience, which some people have a lot of nostalgia for.”
The event lineup for this year’s Pride in the Park will feature all-local musicians and drag performers, including Seattle-area event producers like Tush, Emerald City Drag Kings and AZN GLO. One of those performers will be burlesque artist and event producer Mx. Pucks A’Plenty. Pucks took their first burlesque workshop nine years ago, and found that performing gave them the ability to embrace their nonbinary identity.
“The magic of Pride season is feeling joy in the community,” said Pucks, who served as a Pride Parade grand marshal in 2023. “Being able to be in these spaces with folks that see you and reflect various parts of your identity is really magical. It’s part of the rebellion to be actually not isolated.”
That community bond is more important now than ever, given the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, Pucks continued. The American Civil Liberties Union reports more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills being considered nationwide as of May 26.
“‘No justice, no peace’ is a catchy slogan, but it’s true,” Pucks said. “Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is just unapologetically exist in your body.”
Noon-7 p.m. June 6; Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave. E., Seattle; free; seattlepride.org/events/pride-in-the-park
More Seattle-area Pride month celebrations
Taking Pride in Capitol Hill — June 6
Organized by Seattle PrideFest, this event will lead volunteers in a community cleanup in preparation for Pride events in the following weeks. Lunch will be provided afterward.
9 a.m.-1 p.m.; 118 Broadway E., Seattle; free; st.news/taking-pride
Paws & Pride Dog Walk — June 6
Suit up for a scenic walk with adorable pups through Bellevue Downtown Park. Plus, enter into “RuPaw’s Dog Costume Contest,” enjoy a 21-and-older beer garden and live entertainment.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue; free; bellevuedowntown.com/paws-and-pride-dog-walk
Hot Rat Summer x Living Dream Lab — June 13-July 17
The artist behind Hot Rat Summer, a symbol for Seattle’s trans community, will debut a new mosaic in Pioneer Square as part of an outdoor arts festival and series of queer and trans performances at Actualize AiR gallery in Occidental Square. An opening reception will take place 5-9 p.m. June 13. Events on select days until July 17 will follow.
Dates and times vary; 112 Prefontaine Place S., Seattle; free; hotratsummer.gay/summer2026
Everett Pride Block Party — June 20
The fourth annual Block Party in downtown Everett will feature live performances, food, a variety of vendors, family-friendly activities and more.
Noon-6 p.m.; Wetmore Avenue and Wall Street, Everett; free; everettpride.org/events/everett-pride-block-party
Bainbridge Pride Festival — June 20
This all-ages festival will take over Bainbridge Island’s Waterfront Park, featuring live music, drag performances, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, vendors, a silent auction and more.
Noon-6 p.m.; 301 Shannon Dr. S.E., Bainbridge Island; free; bainbridgepride.org
Indigiqueer Festival — June 27
Returning to Pier 62 on Seattle’s Waterfront Park, this all-ages event will celebrate two-spirit, queer and trans Indigenous artistry with food, vendors, live performances and workshops.
2-8 p.m.; 1951 Alaskan Way, Seattle; free; st.news/indigiqueer-2026
PrideFest Capitol Hill — June 27
This Pride event on Capitol Hill will transform five blocks of Broadway, East Denny Way and Cal Anderson Park into a free festival with live performances, food and more for guests of all ages.
Noon-8 p.m.; 201 Broadway E., Seattle; free; st.news/pridefest-capitol-hill
Seattle Rise Pride Market — June 28
Seattle Rise Collective will host a Pride Market at 210 Seattle in Pioneer Square. The collective aims to prioritize LGBTQ+ women and gender-expansive vendors.
Noon-5 p.m.; 301 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle; free; instagram.com/seattlerisecollective
Seattle Pride Parade — June 28
More than 250 floats, drag performers, marching bands and more are expected to draw thousands to downtown during the annual Seattle Pride Parade. A preshow will take place at Westlake Park (401 Pine St., Seattle) at 10 a.m., followed by the parade march at 11 a.m. up Fourth Avenue to Seattle Center.
11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; downtown Seattle along Fourth Avenue; free (grandstand seating tickets are $50-$65); seattlepride.org/events/parade
PrideFest Seattle Center — June 28
Stationed at the end of the Seattle Pride Parade route, PrideFest at Seattle Center will host dozens of vendors, food and a 21-and-older beer garden, as well as live performances across three stages.
Noon-8 p.m.; 305 Harrison St., Seattle; free; st.news/pridefest-seattle-center
Tacoma Pride Festival — July 11
The Rainbow Center will host a Pride celebration for the South Puget Sound region at Wright Park. More information will be announced at a later date.
501 S. I St., Tacoma; free; tacomapride.org
Pride IN Bellingham — July 12
Bellingham’s signature Pride events include a parade that kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Bellingham High School parking lot (Ohio Street and Cornwall Avenue). The route continues down Cornwall Avenue to East Chestnut Street before ending at the Pride Festival in Depot Market Square and the 1100 block of Railroad Avenue.
11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Cornwall Avenue and 1100 Railroad Ave., Bellingham; free; prideinbellingham.org
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yakimaherald.com ’
