It’s almost time for the most colorful celebration in the city—this Sunday, June 1, the Philadelphia Pride March and Festival will be in full swing with some fan favorites and new activations being added to the line-up.
Philly Pride 365: A Program of Galaei is inviting the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join in on all the fun, beginning with the Pride March, which will form and organize at 6th and Walnut at 10:30 a.m., no registration required (note, no floats or vehicles permitted.) When the March reaches the Gayborhood, the Festival will begin, running from noon to 7 p.m., on Walnut to Pine streets, and Quince to Juniper streets, with other select roads closed around the festival footprint.
For 2025, Philly Pride 365 recognizes a significant milestone in Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ+ Rights history, marking 50 years since Gov. Milton Shapp signed an executive order aimed at eliminating discrimination based on sexual preference.
As a release notes, Philadelphia has played a vital role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and it is essential to acknowledge these historical markers with this year’s theme, ‘Love Unity and Visibility.’ Philly LGBTQ+ LUV showcases the unique LGBTQIA+ heritage, a continued commitment to unity, and the impact of visibility through the city, which is at the heart of Pride. Following 50-plus years of efforts and progress, Philly Pride 365 encourages the LGBTQ+ community to come together, celebrate, and experience ‘Philly LUV” (Love, Unity, and Visibility.)
To get locals ready for the main event this weekend, Philly Pride 365 is hosting a Pride Around the City event on Friday, May 30. On that day, the new record-breaking 600-foot Philadelphia Pride Rainbow Flag will tour the city and touch down in various neighborhoods — starting at 9 a.m. at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 11 a.m. with Pride on Main Street in Manayunk, 2 p.m. at the Philadelphia City Hall LGBTQ+ Flag Raising and then will finish off at 8 p.m. with a Gayborhood activation. A full schedule and more details can be found online.
Locals can also head to the Pride Promenade & L.U.V. Awards, on Saturday, May 31 (8 p.m.) In collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the event will take place on the venue’s grand staircase and will feature live performances, the awards ceremony, and an after-party (9:30 p.m.) Tickets for this 21+ event are available exclusively via Sickening Events, with General Admission (doors at 7:30 p.m.) or VIP (early entry at 7 p.m. and exclusive reception in the West Portico) options.
Then Sunday is the big day. The March is an ode to The Reminder Day Demonstrations that were held in front of Independence Hall on Chestnut Street from 1965 until 1969 to raise awareness of bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination toward the LGBTQ+ community and to send the message that “Gay is good.” The 1972 Pride Day March concluded at the same spot 50 years ago. The occasion will kick off with speakers, before making its way down the route to finish up in the Gayborhood.
The Festival, on the other hand, will feature over 200 small businesses participating, stages with performances (including the occasion’s headliners, Dawn Richard and Candiace Dillard Bassett), entertainers, artists, vendors, food trucks, community organizations, and local bars all showing off their Pride.
Some highlights to look out for in 2025 include The Youth & Family Zone at Watts & Spruce (Zone D) offering inclusive programming from noon to 5 p.m., an expanded Vendor Marketplace area and Food Truck Way (13th Street, south of Locust) and a slew of live entertainment.
With the latter, rather than one single “main” stage, the Festival will unfold across six distinct Entertainment Zones—Legacy, Unity, Visibility, Everyone (Youth & Family), Relaxed, and Sweat—each with its own curated schedule of local performers, DJs, drag artists, and surprise guests. And for the first time, the Legacy Lane art installations will snake through all six zones, so you can discover queer history wherever you wander, a release cites.
Otherwise, the occasion will also feature a Sober Space with entertainment and food, a Decompression Zone in conjunction with Disability Pride PA, the Pop Wellness Zones where you’ll find medical services, resources, and activities staffed by Action Wellness, Mazzoni Center, Courage Medicine, the Therapy Center of Philadelphia, and Bebashi, plus, much more.
For more information on the Philadelphia Pride March and Festival in 2025, visit phillypride365.org
