Celebrate Pride in the Mid-Atlantic

(Mid-Atlantic Region, June 6, 2019) — June marks Pride Month across the nation, and the Mid-Atlantic is home to a number of notable events and celebrations that are not to be missed. Highlighted celebrations expand beyond June through 2019, creating a full calendar of welcoming events.

For more information on any of the following, contact the destination marketing organization listed below. For general information on destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region, visit MATPRA.org.

MARYLAND

State of Maryland

From first time Pride events taking place in Howard County and Annapolis to the 44th annual Baltimore Pride Weekend, Maryland is home to a number of Pride celebrations held throughout the state. Enjoy parades, premiere Pride events, and more throughout the month of June. Maryland Office of Tourism, Matthew Scales, [email protected], VisitMaryland.org

Baltimore

Baltimore Pride is one of the oldest pride celebrations in the country and the fun will return on June 14-16 with this year’s theme, “Unity through Diversity – the Remix”. Visitors can celebrate with tasty food truck treats, must-see entertainment, drag shows, musical performances, and the annual High Heel Race. Visit Baltimore, Abigail Vitaliano, [email protected], Baltimore.org

Frederick County

Frederick’s annual Pride celebration brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate and reflect upon the LGBTQ community. This year’s event takes place on June 22 at Carroll Creek Park. Visit Frederick, Melissa Joseph Muntz, [email protected], VisitFrederick.org

Hagerstown – Washington County

Celebrate pride and enjoy a fun night of socializing for the LGBTQ+ Community and allies on June 27 during Hagerstown’s Pride Kickoff Night Out at The Gourmet Goat. It leads up to Hagerstown Pride 2019 in the Central Lot and Elizabeth Hager Center Lot of downtown Hagerstown on July 13. Visit Hagerstown, Betsy DeVore, [email protected], VisitHagerstown.com

Harford County

The Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival will be held at Concord Point Park in Havre de Grace, Maryland on Saturday, June 22, 2019. Come celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community while enjoying art, music, food, and culture at the area’s only PRIDE festival! This will be a family-friendly event with free admission. Visit Harford, Mindy Schneider, [email protected], VisitHarford.com

Howard County

Howard County’s inaugural LGBTQ Pride festival takes place on Saturday, June 29 at Centennial Park from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Experience a variety of events and programs that aim to support, advocate, and educate the community in Howard County. Visit Howard County, Crystal Abrom, [email protected], VisitHowardCounty.com

Wicomico County

The Rainbow Fun Run and Walk will be held Saturday, June 1, to benefit The Lower Shore LGBTQ Coalition, Inc., and PFLAG Salisbury, Inc. The run begins at 8:15 a.m. at WinterPlace Park in Salisbury, and a community fair is also planned. Learn more on the Salisbury PFLAG Facebook page. Wicomico County, Vanessa Junkin, [email protected], WicomicoTourism.org

PENNSYLVANIA

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania proudly supports our LGBTQ community! Pride Month in the Keystone State kicks off in our two major cities of Pittsburgh (June 1-9) and Philadelphia (June 7-9) and includes celebrations all month long across the state in Erie, Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre, Reading, Allentown, and York. Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Lisa Zahn, [email protected], VisitPA.com

Erie

Erie’s Pride Parade/Fest June 29, 2019. Parade steps off in front of the Zone Dance Club (133 West 18th), heads north on State Street and marches to Perry Square. The festival in Perry Square will have info tables and vendors along with performances by Erie’s Drag Queens! VisitErie, Christine Temple, [email protected], VisitErie.com

Gettysburg

The Gettysburg Pride Committee organizes an annual bar crawl that brings together LGBT+ and straight allies for a weekend of celebration. In addition to a bar crawl, there will be a pride cabaret, theater performances, shopping discounts, education/outreach sessions, and a pride march. Destination Gettysburg, Rachel Wright, [email protected], DestinationGettysburg.com

PA’s Greater Americana Region

Reading Pride Celebration of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region hosts an annual Pride Festival on the 3rd Sunday of July. The day of camaraderie features artisans, food vendors and musical entertainment. In addition to Pride Fest, RPC holds a Night at the Reading Fightin’ Phils in August and monthly gatherings throughout the year. Pennsylvania’s Americana Region, Lisa Haggerty, [email protected], VisitPaAmericana.com

Lehigh Valley

Lehigh Valley’s Pride Festival returns August 18, 2019. Supported by the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, this event provides a spotlight on LGBT arts and culture, connects thousands of community members to local resources, provides full-day programming for LGBT youth and teens, and celebrates the diversity in the community. Discover Lehigh Valley, Kaitie Burger, [email protected], DiscoverLehighValley.com

Philadelphia

For Pride month and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Visit Philadelphia commemorates the role Philadelphia played in the movement. Early regional pioneers of the LGBTQ rights will ride on a special “Road to Stonewall” float in Pride parades in Philadelphia and New York. Visit Philadelphia, Daniel Davis, [email protected], VisitPhilly.com

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh PrideFest 2019 will take place on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 in downtown Pittsburgh. The event features over 175 vendors, food trucks, family friendly games, a variety of entertainment on three stages, and a dance area for attendees to gather together and celebrate. VisitPITTSBURGH, Kristen Wenger, [email protected], VisitPittsburgh.com

VIRGINIA

Hampton

Get on board to celebrate Pride in Hampton, Virginia. The city’s Pride Party on the Peninsula, invites party-goers to sail on the Drag Down the River Cruise on the Miss Hampton II tour boat. The Pride Party on the Peninsula is always held the Wednesday of Hampton Roads Pride Week. Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau, Elizabeth Severs, [email protected], VisitHampton.com

Harrisonburg

As Main Street fills with colorful decorations, banners and stage sets, people from all over Shenandoah Valley will gather Saturday, September 21, 2019. In the heart of downtown Harrisonburg music, laughter and lively hosts will be heard throughout the city as the annual Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival begins. Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services, Jessica Williams, [email protected], VisitHarrisonburgVA.com

Richmond

Save the date of September 28 for Virginia PrideFest, the largest annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in VA. This free event, which is both family and dog-friendly, features vendors, performances, local cuisine, and activities on Richmond’s beautiful Brown’s Island. Richmond Region Tourism, Meghan Gearino, [email protected], VisitRichmondVA.com

About the Mid‐Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance

The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) is a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners encompassing Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The group serves travel journalists by creating a regional resource that ignores geographical boundaries while promoting common threads, offering story ideas about the Mid-Atlantic region as a whole. For more information, visit MATPRA.org.