Columbus Pride

The Columbus Pride Parade and Festival is an annual event held in Columbus, Ohio around the middle of June. As Ohio has extremely cold winters, it is a relief that the gay pride celebrations habitually take place in June, meaning party enthusiasts can benefit from the warm weather and celebrate their pride in relaxed, summer attire. Stonewall Columbus, Inc. started the event as a way to raise awareness of the gay culture in Ohio, and to give visitors and locals alike an outlet for their pride.

Since starting in 1981, the event only grew in size with each passing year. While only a few hundred people turned out for the first parade, the 2014 event saw more than 300,000 people participate. Organizers estimated that the 2017 Columbus Pride Festival saw more than 350,000 people join in the celebration. In terms of numbers and participants, the only larger gay festival in the Midwest is the one in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2019 event will mark the 38th edition of Columbus Pride. It runs for an entire weekend, with festivities kicking off on Friday afternoon and running through to late Sunday afternoon. Some of the fun that visitors can experience include dancing in the streets, enjoying cold drinks at local bars, and meeting new friends.

For full details on Colombus Pride 2024, be sure to check out the official event program. Happy Pride!