June is Pride month! There are several events and activities going on in Indianapolis to celebrate and recognize the impact the LGBTQ+ community has on our city. We have a full round up here, and will update this as we get more event information. Happy Pride!
History of the Pride Festival:
The Pride Festival in Indianapolis has a relatively short history, starting in 1981 as a dinner where guests wore masks so as not to be recognized. In 2012, however, Circle City IN Pride Fest stretched over 3 blocks, with over 300 vendors, and attracted 80,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and heterosexual people to celebrate, build relationships, and strengthen the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. To read more about the history of Pride, click here.
Here is your full list of Indy Pride events:
Friday, May 17th: AAPI Pride Celebration
10 East Arts Hub, 3137 E. 10th St, 7:00-01:00 pm – FREE ADMISSION
From the event webpage: “To provide a safe space to represent and celebrate the intersectionality of Asian American Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities. As our communities face negativity from so many angles, it is not only our mission to bring us together, but a life-giving and loving response to CELEBRATE our joys and wins. Please join us!”
Saturday, May 18th: Rainbow 5K Run/Walk
Fowling Warehouse, 1125 E. Brookside Ave, Packet Pickup at 7:00 am, Race Starts at 8:30 am
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Rainbow 5k Run/Walk, and this event is to promote wellness, raise money for the local LGBTQ+ Community, publicly show your Pride with the community! This year’s new race course will start at the Fowling Warehouse and move through the Brookside Park area. Stick around after the race for some post-race fun at The Fowling Warehouse.
Sunday, May 19th: Hoosier 250
Massachusetts Ave & Park Ave, Registration Begins at 11:00 am, Race Begins at 12:00 pm
Join us for the 2024 Hoosier 250, a time-honored tradition with a nod to the Indy 500 with Pride style. Teams of two race around our own track on tricycles, just off Mass Ave. The team with the fastest time wins!
Friday, May 31st: Golf OUTing
Smock Golf Course, 3910 E. County Line Rd, 12:00-5:00 pm, Pre-Register on Event Page
The IYG Golf OUTing is returning this year! This fundraising event will make for the perfect, relaxing social event to kick off Pride Month. Whether you’re a golfing expert, haven’t picked up a club in years, or never even been on a course, this event promises to be a fun day for all. There will be plenty of socializing with old friends and new ones. Because of the scramble format, even inexperienced and first-time golfers are sure to have a blast!
Saturday, June 1st: Pet Pride
Riverside Park, 2420 E Riverside Dr, 10:00 am-1:00 pm – FREE Admission
Pet parents, local vendors, and the community gather for an afternoon of play and music centered around our loving animals. It is a highlight for many in our community who celebrate their Pride as both LGBTQ+ identified individuals and as pet parents.
Sunday, June 2nd: Interfaith Celebration
Riverside Park, 2420 E Riverside Dr, 10:00 am-12:00 pm – FREE Admission
For this year’s Interfaith Celebration, Indy Pride will hold a space of support for all LGBTQ+ folks of all faiths to celebrate the journey of their current or former faith tradition.
Sunday, June 2nd: Community Picnic & Bat N’ Rouge
Riverside Park, 2420 E Riverside Dr, 12:00-4:00 pm – FREE Admission
The Community Picnic & Bat N’ Rouge event commemorates the first recorded, formal gathering of LGBTQ+ people at the Essex Hotel on Monument Circle in 1981. At this year’s event, the community will gather, eat, connect, and celebrate Pride with a picnic and subsequent softball game to raise funds for local HIV/AIDS service organizations.
Monday, June 3rd: Deaf Pride
Hi-Fi, 1043 Virginia Ave, 6:00-10:00 pm – FREE Admission
Deaf Pride, presented by Lilly, is where LGBTQ+ Deaf community members “come together to be their authentic selves and to also be immersed in Deaf culture together.” All community members are welcome to attend, and they encourage the hearing community to come to learn about and experience Deaf culture!
Wednesday, June 5th: Music Night
Butler University Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 West 46th St, 7:00-9:00 pm – FREE ADMISSION
Enjoy an evening in a family friendly environment for Indy Pride Community Music Night, featuring the Pride of Indy Bands and new this year, Indianapolis Women’s Chorus! Pride of Indy Bands celebrates their anniversary each year with this concert, and they pull out all the stops.
Thursday, June 6th: Girl Pride presents: A Sapphic Celebration
The Vogue, 6259 N College Ave, Doors Open at 7:00 pm, Show from 8:00-11:00 pm – Tickets Available from Event Page
GIRL PRIDE presents: A Sapphic Celebration, which aims to celebrate the expansive identity of the femme spirit across the gender spectrum for all queer women and non-binary people. This celebration and show will include drag, burlesque, live music, spoken word, and a special headliner, Daya.
Friday, June 7th: Prideful Arts Fest
Various Locations in Fountain Square, 12:00-11:00 pm – FREE Admission
What can you expect? A daytime arts+heath+wellness fair, an evening lineup of outdoor performances in the square, PRIDEFUL First Fridays in your favorite venues and showrooms, and much more.
Friday, June 7th: Drag Storytime
Central Library, 40 E St Clair St, 11:00 am-12:00 pm – FREE ADMISSION
Celebrate diversity with some family friendly stories, songs, and dance. Everyone is welcome at the Central Library’s Clowes Auditorium on June 7th!
Saturday, June 8th: Indy Pride Parade
748 Mass Ave, 10:00 am-12:00 pm – FREE Admission
Indy’s first Pride Parade featured one float, an antique truck, a few drag queens, some antique cars, and a handful of walking groups. Back then, the parade barely lasted 15 minutes. Since then, it has grown to include well over 140 floats, vehicles, and walking groups, lasting nearly 2 hours! It has become one of the largest parades in Indianapolis and a testament to the hard work of the community to ensure our equality and celebrate Pride! This year’s parade is presented by the Delta Faucet Company.
Saturday, June 8th: Indy Pride Festival
Military Park, 601 North New York St, 11:00am-11:00pm
Get ready to celebrate love, diversity, and unity at the 2024 Indy Pride Festival! Join us for a vibrant and unforgettable experience filled with music, entertainment, and a rainbow of festivities. Embrace the spirit of inclusivity as we gather at the heart of Indy to honor the LGBTQ+ community. From dazzling performances to delicious bites, the Indy Pride Festival is a celebration of acceptance and pride.
Sunday, June 9th: Rock the Ruins – Orville Peck
Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Rd, 7:00-11:30pm
Orville Peck, an openly gay country recording artist and songwriter, will perform live in concert with special guests Durand Jones and Debbii Dawson at Rock the Ruins at Holliday Park on June 9th. This is brought to you by Indy Pride & Forty5, and you can get your tickets from the event page.
Thursday, June 13th: Bi+ Pride
10 East Arts Hub, 3137 E. 10th St, 7:00-10:00 pm – FREE Admission
Join the bisexual and pansexual community members as they celebrate one another and build community. There will be a DJ playing music for the entirety of the event. Also, when you need to take a break from the dance floor, you can shop from the local vendors, enjoy food, and grab a cocktail from the cash bar (for guests 21+).
Saturday, June 15th: Indiana Pride of Color Presents: BLQ+
Cinderwood Event Center, 601 S. Meridian St Suite 400, 9:00 pm-1:00 am – Tickets Available on Event Page
Friday, June 21st: Drive-In Movie Night
Tibb’s Drive-In, 480 S Tibbs Ave, 7:30-11:00 pm – Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids
This family-friendly evening at Tibb’s Drive-In includes movies and more celebrations as Pride month continues! Tickets are available now on the event page, and the movie options are listed as well.
Saturday, June 29th: Latinx Pride – Noche Tropical
The Vogue, 6259 N College Ave, 7:00 pm-2:00 am – Tickets Admission $5
In its third year, the Latinx LGBTQ+ community will celebrate Latinx Pride with this year’s theme – Noche Tropical! The event will create a space for the community to gather in open celebration and will transport you to a world of rhythmic beats, colorful dances, and vibrant energy. Get your tickets HERE.
Sunday, June 30th: Carmel Pride
Carter Green in Carmel, 1 Carter Green, 3:00-9:00 pm
Carmel is celebrating Pride month on June 30th, and it will be a day of performances and fun on the Carter Green. Check out their Facebook page for updates as they plan their celebrations!
Indy Pride, Inc. produces events which educate, honor our history, and celebrate the diversity of the Indianapolis Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community. They exist to unite and serve their members and the LGBTQ+ community of Central Indiana through leadership development, educational programs, and community events which achieve inclusivity, equality, strong community connections, and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
We hope to see you at Pride this year!
