NYC Pride Guide, Week 4: Movies, museums, Mets, marches and more
It’s peak Pride time, New York City!
As the days get hotter, so do the options for LGBTQ New Yorkers to mark the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
With cultural events, advocacy gatherings and fabulous parties kicking into high gear for the fourth week of the month, Pride revelers will have even more opportunities to celebrate LGBTQ resilience, protest against oppression, prepare for future battles — and, yes, have a gay ol’ time.
Here’s what you need to know. Happy Pride!
Sunday, June 23
Pride Skate Night, Brooklyn
Glide with Pride in Prospect Park for a night of four-wheeled fun. The Brooklyn Community Pride Center and QueerFlatbush meetup group are celebrating with an evening of toe spins, moonwalks and grapevines. Admission to the Pride-themed Lakeside Roller Night at LeFrak Center includes gay pop music, special food and beverage options, and a cool way to meet new friends. Dress your rainbow best, bring your own skates or rent a pair for a small fee. Tickets start at $20.98. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 171 East Drive.
“End Hate” doors, Manhattan
V.L. Cox, a mixed-media artist known for confronting racism and homophobia in her work, discusses the “End Hate” doors, an installation in which she uses eight colorful doors to symbolize the segregation of different marginalized communities and the ongoing fight for justice. The final interaction of the work is being displayed in New York City for the first time at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church, a faith community that fights for LGBTQ inclusion within the denomination. Free. Conversation with the artist: 12:15-1:45 p.m. 263 W. 86th St.
Monday, June 24
Garden Party, Manhattan
One of the city’s longest-running Pride celebrations kicks off Pride Week with an afternoon of music, bites and kiki. Organized by The Center, the Garden Party continues to be a favorite tradition among LGBTQ New Yorkers of all generations. The open-bar event, which raises money to support programs and services for the community, will feature music by DJ Jon Ali, Amber Valentine and “So Gay. So Dramatic.” pop sensation Bright Light Bright Light. Tickets start at $99. 6-9 p.m. Pier 76 at Hudson River Park. 408 12th Ave.
Radical Joy Ball, Manhattan
The Whitney Museum of Art and the ADAPT Community Network, a nonprofit that provides programs and services for people with disabilities, are joining forces to celebrate the power of self-expression. The Radical Joy Ball, an annual event created to spotlight the vibrancy of the LGBTQ and disability communities through music, dance and the dance floor runway, is inspired by New York City’s ballroom culture and the legacy carried out by its legendary children. Free. 4-6 p.m. Tickets available at the museum lobby on a first-come, first-served basis. 99 Gansevoort St.
Tuesday, June 25
Queerly Beloved: Pride Shorts in the Park, Brooklyn
Celebrate Pride by exploring the beauty and complexities of the LGBTQ community through films. Queerly Beloved, an annual program of short films from around the world, returns to Fort Greene Park with a lineup that includes a story about a trans woman in Brazil, a film about a bisexual man from Canada, and an animated, autobiographical short from Hungary that won the Palme d’Or for Best Short at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The evening includes a performance by glam-rock band The Royale Minks and a Q&A session with the filmmakers. Free. Reservations required. 7-11 p.m. Myrtle Lawn, north of the monument.
Wednesday, June 26
MoMA Pride, Manhattan
Join fellow art lovers for MoMA’s annual event celebrating queer perspectives and creations by LGBTQ artists. The festive evening will include pop-up gallery talks, tarot readings, DJ sets, art-making activities inspired by Brazilian artist Tadáskía, and a conversation about LGBTQ history and advocacy with the Gilbert Baker Foundation. Baker is the late American artist who made the world a more colorful place by creating the rainbow flag. Free. 6:30-10 p.m. Reservations required for non-members. 11 W. 53rd St.
Thursday, June 27
American Ballet Theater Pride Night featuring “Woolf Works” and ABT Silent Disco, Manhattan
The American Ballet Theatre is celebrating Pride with a performance of “Woolf Works,” an award-winning ballet inspired by the works of Virginia Woolf. Created by veteran choreographer Wayne McGregor, the three-act ballet explores themes of sexuality, gender identity and expression by recreating the emotions, themes and fluid style of three of Woolf’s novels. Following the performance, the ABT Silent Disco will bring the celebration outdoors with a night of dance floor classics and queer party anthems. Ballet: Tickets start at $32.50. 7:30 p.m. 30 Lincoln Center Plaza; Silent Disco: Free. 9:30 p.m. 10 Lincoln Center Plaza.
Friday, June 28
Mets Pride Night at Citi Field, Queens
Blue and orange are going full rainbow as the New York Mets take on the Houston Astros. The team’s eighth annual Pride celebration will feature DJs, themed cocktails and Mets Pride merchandise. A pre-game Pride celebration will get the party started with music, food trucks, local LGBTQ vendors and a performance by Mets’ new hip-hop hype team, The Queens Crew. The first 15,000 fans will also score an exclusive Mets Pride hat. Tickets start at $33. Pre-game at Pride Plaza: 4:30 p.m; Game: 7:10 p.m. 41 Seaver Way.
Saturday, June 29
Youth Pride, Manhattan
The city’s official celebration dedicated to uplifting and empowering LGBTQ youth moves downtown, where more than 5,000 young attendants, ages 13-24, are expected to join their LGBTQ siblings. The afternoon will feature DJs, special guests, musical performances, free snacks and carnival activities. Free. 12 p.m. South Street Seaport Museum at Pier 16 and The Seaport at Pier 17.
Harlem Pride, Manhattan
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the 15th annual Harlem Pride Celebration Day, an event designed to showcase the “strength, vitality and unity of our community within the collective fabric of New York City.” The afternoon features local vendors, national LGBTQ organizations, food trucks and, of course, iconic performances. This year’s stage show will be co-hosted by “Pose” star Dominique Jackson and actor, trans rights activist and House of Balenciaga royalty Marquise Vilsón. Expect to see surprise guests, gag with a special ballroom segment and dance to the music of DJ Jeremy Lamar. Free. 12-6 p.m. 12th Ave. at 133rd St.
Sunday, June 30
Queer Liberation March, Manhattan
Reclaim Pride Coalition, a group fighting to reclaim the legacy of the Stonewall Riots, is bringing its colorful, loud and humorous protest to lower Manhattan for its sixth annual Queer Liberation March. Formed in 2019 by activists disillusioned with the increasing corporatization of the city’s official Pride activities, the coalition has since aligned with dozens of grassroots organizations in solidarity with the BLM movement, the immigrant community and the fight for reproductive rights. This year the QLM is also “acknowledging and taking a stand against the ongoing war and genocide in Gaza, as well as the many wars and genocides taking place around the world.” Free. Kickoff at 11:30 a.m. March will assemble in Sheridan Square then proceed to Battery Park.
NYC Pride March, Manhattan
New York City’s traditional LGBTQ Pride March was first held on June 28, 1970, to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. This year, as the community marks 55 years since those nights in Greenwich Village changed the world forever, the march continues to be both a joyful protest and a celebration of the “accomplishments, talents and resilience of our community,” says Sandra Pérez, executive director of NYC Pride. This year’s theme — “Reflect. Empower. Unite.” — was selected to highlight the importance of the march “as the intersection for Queer liberation and joy.” Free. Kickoff at noon. 25th St. at 5th Ave.
Check back next weekend for a detailed rundown of Pride Day activities in New York City.
