Pride Month is celebrated throughout June to honor the LGBTQ+ community, and Raleigh’s Pride Month calendar is bursting with pride-filled events throughout the city. Here are just some of Raleigh’s signature Pride events to celebrate love + community in Oak City — these events are open for both the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
“Kinky Boots” | Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 23 | Raleigh Little Theater | $25-$29 | With music by Cyndi Lauper, this uplifting musical follows a shoe businessman and a drag queen teaming up to revitalize a boot company.
Run for Love 5K | Saturday, June 8 | 9 a.m. | Starts at Dorothea Dix Park | $15-$50 | Thrown by Trophy Brewing and Runologie benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh + Raleigh Pride, this friendly run is topped off with a party at Trophy Maywood.
Pride Market and Drag Show | Saturday, June 8 | 12-4 p.m. | Hartwell Raleigh | Free entry | Put on by queer- and minority-owned business Urban Pothos, this event will benefit the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Last year, this event raised $6,000 in just four hours for the center.
Pride Ride: LGBTQ+ Historic Trolley Tour | Sunday, June 9 | 1 p.m., 2 p.m., + 3 p.m. | Mordecai House | $12 | Take a ride on the Raleigh trolley to learn about sites of significance for LGBTQ+ history in Oak City, including neighborhoods, businesses, and more.
Pride Birdsong Open Mic | Friday, June 21 | 5:30 p.m. | Blackbird Books & Coffee | Free | This poetry open mic will revolve around the theme of LGBTQ+ identities — come to watch or to read your own work.
Out! Raleigh Pride | Saturday, June 22 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Fayetteville Street | Free entry | This is the biggest Pride event of the season, don’t miss it. Watch LGBTQ+ performers, shop local vendors — and don’t miss performances from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants Dawn and Jorgeous.
