Q Virginia's Pride Guide 2018

2018

Pride Guide

ROANOKE

Roanoke Pride in the Park. Dates: April 14-15 Location: Elmwood Park 706 South Jefferson Street Roanoke, VA 24011 Website: roanokepride.org

Roanoke Pride, Inc. and the PRISM Foundation presented the 28th Pride in the Park Celebration this past April. Moving the event, which has traditionally been held in September, to April puts the Roanoke festival at the front of the Pride festival season in the southeastern part of the country. Thousands of attendees enjoyed a full day of events on Saturday, a concert that evening and a festival on Sunday. Roanoke Pride is unique in that it operates The Park dance club, the region’s hottest LGBTQ destination. Profits from the club fund Roanoke Pride’s youth programming and the PRISM Foundation’s youth initiatives, including scholarships.

RESTON

Reston Pride Festival Dates: June 2 Location: Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston 1625 Wiehle Avenue Reston, VA 20190 Website: uureston.org/reston-pride

The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston sponsored the first-ever Reston Pride Festival on June 2nd. Rev. Debra Haffner, a minister at UUCR, said that the church created the family-friendly, alcohol-free event to support and celebrate Reston’s LGBTQ community. Haffner’s son, Greg Tartaglione, emceed the event and performed as drag queen Mama Celeste, a local favorite in the San Francisco Bay Area. The festival included more than 10 performers, presentations by area political and faith leaders, exhibits, booths, food and music.

WASHINGTON D.C.

Capital Pride Dates: June 7-10 Location: Various locations throughout D.C. Website: capitalpride.org/celebration-2018

Theme: Elements of Us. Our nation’s capital hosted the Heroes Gala & Rally, numerous all-night dance parties, fabulous brunches, a legendary block party, a parade throughout Dupont Circle and a massive street festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, complete with a concert in front of the Capitol. According to Capital Pride’s website, “Together let us stand tall, look forward, take a deep breath and become who we are meant to be—confident, supportive, resilient, compassionate and glorious. Let’s celebrate the many ‘Elements of Us!’” D.C’s Capital Pride is one of the most well-organized and best attended pride events in the nation.

"The only queer people are those who don't love anybody." –Rita Mae Brown

FARMVILLE

Farmville Pride Dates: June 16 Location: Third Street Brewing 312 West 3rd Street Farmville, VA 23901 Website: meetup.com/Farmville- Pride-For-LGBTQ-and-Allies

Farmville Pride is structured as a Meetup group designed to celebrate the region’s LGBTQ community and its allies. The group is a safe space for LGBTQ individuals and allies to get together in a family-friendly, casual environment once a month. On June 16th, the group hosted a special Pride Month gathering called “Libations and Laughs (Part Deux)” at Third Street Brewing. Organizers displayed a pride flag on a table at the brewery where everyone gathered to celebrate diversity and community in the heart of the Commonwealth.

WINCHESTER

Winchester Pride Celebration Dates: June 23 Location: Downtown Winchester Old Town Mall, Old Courthouse 33 East Boscawen Street, Suite 100 Winchester, VA 22601 Website: winchesterpridecelebration.com

The first Winchester Pride Celebration will be held at the Old Town Mall in downtown Winchester on Saturday, June 23rd. The event will include vendor booths, speakers, drag shows, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest and a walking parade along the outdoor pedestrian mall. Many LGBTQ individuals and allies are excited about this inaugural event in northwestern Virginia that will surely be a success!

HAMPTON

Pride on the Peninsula Dates: June 27 Location: Carousel Park 602 Settlers Landing Road Hampton, VA 23669 Website: hamptonroadspride.org/ events/pride-on-the-peninsula

Party with Pride at the fourth annual Pride Party on the Peninsula! The event kicks off in Downtown Hampton with an educational forum at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (something new for this year’s event) celebrating 30 years of Pride in Hampton Roads called, “Pride 30: Reflect on Our History.” The fun continues with a Pride Party at Carousel Park, adjacent to the hotel, where attendees will enjoy complimentary food and drinks, as well as free rides on the historic Hampton Carousel. Later, hop aboard the Miss Hampton II for the second annual Drag Down the River Boat Cruise with performances by three drag queens. This event is a monumental step in building stronger connections between LGBTQ communities on the Peninsula and those on the Southside of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

NORFOLK

Hampton Roads Pride Dates: June 24-30 Location: Various locations throughout Hampton Roads Website: hamptonroadspride.org/ pridefest

Theme: Stand Up, Stand Out: 30 Years Strong. This year’s pride celebration will be the region’s largest to date. It will include a pre-pride kickoff at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, a Drag Brunch in Virginia Beach, happy hours at two local breweries, an interfaith celebration at the New Life Metropolitan Church in Norfolk, a 30-year history of pride in Hampton Roads in Hampton, Pride on the Peninsula in Hampton, the seventh annual Block Party at the Norfolk Scope Arena, the annual Boat Parade at the Norfolk Waterfront and, of course, Pridefest at Town Point Park.

BLACK PRIDE RVA

Black Pride RVA Dates: July 20-22 Location: Various venues throughout Richmond Website: blackpriderva.com

This will be Virginia’s first official black pride. Black Pride RVA promotes the health and wellness of Black LGBTQ persons through celebration, education and empowerment. The event’s inaugural theme is “Pride with a Purpose.” The weekend will include a benefit dinner and drag show on Friday, a Day of Purpose filled with family-friendly activities and an official after party at the Hippodrome Speakeasy on Saturday, and closing worship services on Sunday.

HARRISONBURG

Shenandoah Valley Pride Dates: July 20-22 Location: Court Square 80 Court Square Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Website: shenandoahvalleypride.org

Shenandoah Valley Pride (SVP) has expanded their annual festival into to a three-day event. A full weekend of events provides opportunities for attendees to participate in additional family-friendly activities and exciting alternatives for those can’t attend the main street festival on Saturday the 21st. SVP’s weekend of festivities will include local and state business vendors, delicious food and performances from local bands and drag queens. Former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, Miss India Ferrah, will headline the event. SVP is also hosting the inaugural Miss Shenandoah Valley Pageant, as well as a new “Hungover Brunch.” The Hotel Madison, just blocks from the heart of downtown Harrisonburg, is offering special rates for SVP attendees.

"I hate the word homophobia. It's not a phobia. You're not scared. You're an asshole." –Morgan Freeman

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Cville Pride Festival Dates: September 15 Location: Sprint Pavilion on Downtown Mall 700 East Main Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 Website: cvillepride.org

The seventh annual Cville Pride Festival will showcase local LGBTQ culture and resources in a fun, family-friendly and welcoming environment. The festival will cap off a week of events across the city celebrating the LGBTQ community and its allies. The Cville Pride Festival is always an uplifting, community-building and joyful experience that is not to be missed!

PETERSBURG

Petersburg Out & Proud Festival Dates: September 16 Location: 309 North Sycamore Street Petersburg, VA 23803 Website: petersburgout.com

Theme: This is Me. The second annual LGBT Pride event in the Tri-Cities will be held at DJ’s Rajun Cajun in Old Towne Petersburg. The event will be a celebration of pride and community education featuring a host of family-friendly activities during the day. When the sun goes down, don’t miss the After Party at Benny’s Tavern where attendees can dance the night away with DJ Amy Alderman!

RICHMOND

VA Pridefest Dates: September 22 Location: Brown’s Island Intersection of Tredegar and South 5th Streets Richmond, VA 23219 Website: vapride.org

Theme: This is Me. With over 30,000 attendees, VA Pridefest is the largest annual celebration of the LGBTQ community in the Commonwealth. Planned and implemented by Virginia Pride, this free, family-friendly day of festivities features a variety of vendors, local eats, activities and entertainment for a day of fun in the sun! The RVA Youth Pride Village will return for this year’s Pridefest! Grab your sunscreen and head out for a memorable day celebrating community, love and pride on Brown’s Island!

CENTREVILLE

Northern Virginia Pride Festival Dates: September 29 Location: Bull Run Special Events Center 7700 Bull Run Drive Centreville, VA 20121 Website: novapride.org

Theme: United in Pride. The fifth annual Northern Virginia Pride Festival will be held at the Bull Run Special Events Center in Centreville. The event will include numerous vendors, family-friendly activities, music, tasty food and special guest speakers. This event is a fabulous way to celebrate the Pride Festival Season one last time!