2023 Worcester Pride Festival Set To Take Over Downtown

WORCESTER, MA — The centerpiece of Worcester's unique September LGBTQ+ Pride celebration will take over the downtown area Saturday, offering events and activities for locals of all ages.

The festival begins at 2 p.m. along Franklin Street near Worcester City Hall featuring art and craft markets, food vendors, performances and speakers coordinated by Queer the Scene, activities for young people and local health providers.

Featured performers will include drag queens Diva D and Cortana Wednesday of the Worcester Royal Court, Harley Queen, Victoria Obvious, disc jockeys, Lil Rennie and many more.

New this year, the festival will feature a "youth zone" for young people and families. The zone will offer carnival games and activities, food, a picnic area and appearances by LGBTQ+ affirming churches and religious organizations — a counterpoint to the recent controversy surrounding new Diocese of Worcester policies for local Catholic school students.

There will also be an outdoor movie in the YWCA Parking Lot for young people ages 11 to 17 featuring one of the following movies: "Little Mermaid" (2023), "Barbie" or "Luca."

The Pride festival will the high point of a larger month packed with events across the region.

The annual Queer AF Art and Fashion Show takes place Friday night at Mechanic's Hall, a Pride festival at the downtown Worcester Public Library starting at noon Saturday, plus a walk to prevent suicide, a Pride worship service, drag queen story times and more through the end of the month.

"There are already dozens of events on the calendar for the period leading up to and during the main Pride Worcester 2023 season — and more are being added weekly. Pride Worcester is always listening to the community, and this year, Pride Worcester will be including various youth-centered events as part of the festivities — as Pride is family and family is pride!" Worcester Pride outreach director Al Green said in a news release this week.