Local Voices
NYC Pride 2018: Activism, Entertainment, And Events
Here's everything going on in the city for Pride 2018, including arts, activism and, of course, massive dance parties.
NEW YORK CITY, NY — New York City is about to experience a massive wave of Pride. It can be exhilarating, but also daunting. So Patch has collected all the arts performances, activism events, and parties for you to decide how you want to spend your Pride this year. Take a look and decide whether you're more in the mood to go to LGBT+ icons' culinary tasting, a queer-themed comic-con, or a kink-friendly fantasy party.
The Main Event
12 p.m., June 24
Seventh Avenue and 16th Street
This is THE pride event. New York’s pride march is the single largest gay pride celebration in the world. This year’s Grand Marshals will be Billie Jean King, Lambda Legal, Tyler Ford, and Kenita Placide.
Find out what's happening in Across New Yorkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here are the basics for the main event:
When does the march start?
Noon.
Find out what's happening in Across New Yorkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Where does the march start, and how do I get there?
Step-off will take place at 16th Street and Seventh Avenue, closest to the 14th and 18th Street stops on the 1, 2, and 3 line.
What route does the march follow?
The new U-shaped route is different from past Pride parades. The parade will move down Seventh Avenue until it hits Christopher Street, turn east and continue toward West Eighth Street, then turn back up on Fifth Avenue until it reaches 29th Street. It will pass the AIDS Memorial at 12th Street and Seventh Avenue, the judges' stand at West Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue, and the parade Grandstand at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue.
How long will the march last?
The last floats and marchers should be parading until about 3 p.m., but the streets will remain busy until the evening.
What streets will be closed during the march?
The NYPD has yet to announce definite street closures, but definitely Fifth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, much of Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and Gramercy.
What else is there to do?
Glad you asked. So, so much. Check it out below.
Arts and Entertainment
6:30 p.m., June 19
Pier 45
Christopher Street
A free screening of "Beauty and the Beast" with children’s games beforehand. Bring a picnic blanket and dress your little allies in rainbow for a lovely family night on the pier.
June 19 to 23
The Joyce Theatre
175 Eighth Ave.
The dance community is celebrating queer performers with Pride Week at the Joyce. They will feature two queer contemporary dance companies, the all-masc MADBOOTS DANCE group and Sean Dorsey Dance. MADBOOTS will be performing "MASC," a show that interrogates societal definitions of masculinity, as well as their new show Gay Guerrilla. Sean Dorsey Dance will premiere "THE MISSING GENERATION," honoring victims of the AIDS epidemic.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 21
God’s Love We Deliver
166 Sixth Ave.
LGBTQ and ally chefs will be preparing a culinary event focused on barbeque with cooking demonstrations, tastings, and discussion. Special guest Amanda Freitag, of Food Network’s “Chopped,” will make an appearance.
Asian American Queer Writers Showcase
7 p.m., June 23
Asian American Writers' Workshop
112 W. 27th St.
Prefer readings to song and dance? Go to this showcase featuring queer and trans Asian-American writers that will read their work, amplifying voices from the margins.
2 p.m. to 11 p.m., June 23 and 24
Pier 97
West 57th Street and West Side Highway
With performances by Tove Lo, Lizzo, and so many more, Pride Island gives you the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary bottle of Skyy Vodka from your bottle-service cabana and relax.
Activism and Networking
8 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 14
SUNY Global Center
116 East 55th St.
A day of dialogue about global human rights. Speakers will include MSNBC’s Aisha C Moodie-Mills and the UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Andrew Glimour.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 15
SVA Theatre
333 W. 23rd St.
A panel to talk about transgender successes and visibility, especially in the entertainment industry. It will include panelists Brian Michael Smith, Amiyah Scott, and Jamie Clayton and will be moderated by Diana Tourjee.
12 p.m. to 4 p.m., June 17
David Burke Kitchen
23 Grand St.
A brunch honoring the first openly out elected Bronx representative, Ritchie Torres. Political, entertainment, and business leaders will attend to celebrate advances in the workplace for LGBTQ people.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 18
Pier 84, Hudson River Park
West Side Highway and 44th Street
A sunset open-bar garden party to benefit the LGBT Community Center.
3 p.m. June 22
Location TBA
The Audre Lorde Project is organizing the 14th annual Trans Day of Action to celebrate trans, gender nonconforming, people of color, and ally communities and Lorde's legacy. Participants will specifically focus on mobilizing around the issue of homelessness in these communities.
The Rally and Candlelight Vigil
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 22
Stonewall National Monument
West 4th and Christopher streets
This rally and vigil honors the history of NYC Pride. The first NYC Pride began with a “Gay Power” demonstration in 1969, which is replicated each year. The vigil honors victims of LGBTQ discrimination based violence, AIDS, and all loved ones that the community has lost.
Dyke March
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 23
Bryant Park
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
The annual Dyke March celebrates queer femmes of all types. Bring your rainbow flag, your femme-presenting friend and march on. The always-packed queer dance party, Hot Rabbit, will be hosting an after party at Lot 45 in Bushwick.
12 p.m. to 6 p.m., June 23
14th Street Park, between 10th Avenue and West Side Highway
LGBTQ teenagers come together for their own special, younger, smaller scale, and more PG-13 gathering.
August 16 to 20
Yotel New York
570 10th Ave.
While this one’s a little further out (no pun intended), the annual Black Pride conference will be held in August to honor Black and Latino members of the LGBTQ community. This year’s programming will focus on health and wellness, but will also include celebrations in the form of a gala, a youth party, a casual dance party, and a beach party at Coney Island.
Parties
10 p.m. to 3 a.m., June 22
Stage 48 NYC
605 W. 48th St.
The city’s biggest queer dance party will be hosting a special Pride event at the megaclub Stage 48. Join your 2,000 best friends for a massive party, including special guests from "Rupaul’s Drag Race" and DJs from all over the globe.
10 p.m. to 4 a.m., June 22
Slate
54 W. 21st St.
This year, NYC Pride's annual Fantasy party will be a leather-themed extravaganza. Profits will go towards NYC Pride and “Pride Gives Back” causes.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 22
Pier 40
West Hudson and Clarkson streets
Start prepping your best costume, because Pride’s newest and geekiest event is Cosplay and Pride. Organized by the LGBTQ nonprofit Geeks OUT, the party will highlight queer-friendly graphic art aboard the comfort of a cruise ship.
2 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 23
Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th St.
This one sells out every year. Beginning immediately after the march, this rooftop party will kick off your afternoon of prideful partying.
5 p.m. to 12 a.m., June 23
The D.L.
95 Delancey St.
With the media and sex education often focusing on straight relationships, queer femmes aren’t always given "The Talk" in a way that works for them. This official NYC Pride-organized party is both for queer femmes to have a blast… but also to teach them about the birds and the bees.
10 p.m. to 6 a.m., June 23
Hammerstein Ballroom
311 W. 34th St.
NYC Pride has turned the Hammerstein Ballroom into a hot and sweaty construction site. Bring a hard hat for this fantasy-inspired party that is bound to keep queer bodies dancing all night long — literally.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 24
University Place between 13th Street and Waverly Place
This free street festival is the best place to part from the march to take a breath, grab some food, and buy some rainbow gear.
4 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 24
Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th St.
This year, NYC Pride’s annual party for femmes is offering unbeatable rooftop views, food and drink, and phenomenal dancers and DJs. Ladies and gentlewomen, get your groove on.
Image credit: David Dow / Getty Images
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
