This Pride month it feels particularly important to support the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ-owned businesses and LGTBQ-friendly things to do don’t just provide safe spaces for the community—they cultivate inclusion and belonging.
Below is a comprehensive list of several Pride events around Cincinnati, places to get Pride goods and merchandise, and a list of book suggestions* to learn more and to show our support of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and beyond. There is even a link to a list of LGBTQ-owned businesses in Greater Cincinnati.
Pride Events
June 1
Inclusive Pride Flag Raising
Hamilton County Courthouse, 11a
Event is coordinated in conjunction with County offices and County Commissioner Denise Driehaus.
facebook.com
Miss Major Release Party
Rhinegeist, 4–7p
Featuring a clothing drive hosted by Transform Cincy. See post for donation requests.
instagram.com
Celebrate Pride With FCC
&Sundries, 5–7p
The organization is promoting locally owned LGBTQ+-owned businesses for Pride month. They will be giving away prizes and a chance to win apparel.
Pride Kickoff Party
Bloom OTR*, 10p–midnight
facebook.com
June 2
Pride Month Storytime
Joseph-Beth Cincinnati, 10:30a
Join us for a special storytime in honor of Pride Month.
facebook.com
Celebrate Pride With FCC
OTR StillHouse*, 6–8p
The organization is promoting locally owned LGBTQ+-owned businesses for Pride month. They will be giving away prizes and a chance to win apparel.
Esoteric Presents: Pride Month Kickoff Drag Show
Esoteric Brewing Company, 9p
Calling all queens, kings, and everyone in between to celebrate love, diversity, and and unity in the most fabulous way possible.
facebook.com
June 3
Hamilton Ohio Pride
Marcum Park, 11a–10p
Celebrate love and diversity through gatherings, support networks, and the arts. Details:
Pride March at Rotary Park – 11am
Pride Festival at Marcum Park – noon to 6pm
Pride Concert at RiversEdge amphitheater – 6 to 10pm
facebook.com
Love Conquers Ale Beer Garden Pride Party
Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom, 12–4p
Love Conquers Ale on tap and live music on the patio. Limited edition Love Conquers Ale glasses, shirts, stickers, and koozies will be available.
facebook.com
Pride Night at FC Cincinnati Pre-Match Party
Washington Park, 4:30–7:30p
Cincinnati Pride, Procter & Gamble, and FC Cincinnati partner for pre-match fun featuring community organizations, food trucks, inflatables, and other activities for the whole family, music, and drag performances.
facebook.com
Pride Night at FC Cincinnati
fccincinnati.com
Because of You – Grainworks Celebrates Pride
Brainwork’s Brewing Company, 6p–midnight
Pride Night with drag show, Pride-themed music videos, raffle, and drink specials. Benefiting PFLAG Cincinnati.
facebook.com
June 4
NKY Pride Parade and Festival
Goebel Park, 12p
Parade starts at noon from the Covington Riverfront with the festival beginning at Mainstrasse from 12–5p.
nkypridecenter.org
EPIC Drag Show
Agave & Rye Covington, 3–6p
Celebrate Pride month and an inclusive community.
instagram.com/agaveandrye
June 9
Drag Disco
MadTree Brewing, 8p
Boogie with Cincinnati’s grooviest queens, including The Lady Phaedra, Brock Leah Spears, and Alexander Cameron.
events.humanitix.com
June 10
June Westwood Second Saturdays: Pride
Westwood Town Hall, 5–10p
DJ, drag queens, a special appearance from DanceFix, Make it Take SWAG for kids, local food and drinks (DORA-friendly!), FC Cincinnati, and interactive entertainment that is inclusive and welcome to all.
facebook.com
Pride Stride
Sawyer Point Skating Rink, 7–10p
With Crissy Brollin and DJ Hershe B, featuring skating drag queens.
cincinnatiparksfoundation.org
Pride Night
Cincinnati Observatory, 7–10p
18+ Pride Night to celebrate our local LGBTQ community, featuring self-guided tours of the Observatory and grounds, Pride goodies, and solar viewing during the first hour (weather permitting).
facebook.com
Tickets are on sale for 7pm and 8pm. $20/person
June 11
Second Sunday: Pride on Main
Main Street OTR, 12–5p
Vibrant arts and music programming, diverse vendor market, and biergarten lounge while promoting the small businesses of Main Street.
secondsundayonmain.org
Brunch and Showtunes Sunday
Bloom OTR*
June 15
3rd Annual Pride Happy Hour
The Growler House, 5–7p
Proceeds go to Equality Ohio.
facebook.com
June 17
New Richmond Pride Festival
New Richmond Band Stand, 11a
Celebrate and support the local LGBTQIA+ community.
facebook.com
Pride Drag Brunch
Taft’s Brewpourium, 12–3p
Interactive event featuring brunch buffet, dancing, lip syncing, games, and more. Hosted by Scarlett Moon. Proceeds will benefit Transform Cincy.
Tickets
6th Annual Pride Bar Crawl
Exclusive drink specials, food specials at partner venues, and several participating bars. A portion of process will be donated to local Pride organizations and The Trevor Project.
Tickets
June 22
One-Year Anniversary Floral Party
Bloom OTR*
June 23
5th Annual Middletown Pride Festival
Downtown Middletown, 5–9p
Everyone and everyBODY is welcome to a night full of acceptance, love and celebration.
facebook.com
Dance with Pride
The Studio (Northgate Mall), 6:30–8p
Celebrating individuality, authenticity, and freedom to be who we are and to love who we love. $10 admission at the door.
facebook.com
June 24
Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival
Parade kicks off at 7th and Plum at 11am, and ends at Sawyer Point Park, where the family friendly festival featuring food, drinks, vendors, and entertainment goes from noon to 9p.
cincinnatipride.org
Pride Sober Zone Drag Show
12:30–6p
Grab a mocktail and enjoy the show. Performances every 30 minutes.
facebook.com
Rainbow Pop Day Party
Bloom OTR*
Pride Roll Out
Riverfront Outdoor Rink, 6–11p
All wheels welcome. Two live DJs, vendors, food trucks. Bring your own skates or borrow. Hosted by the Cincinnati Skate Collective and the Cincinnati Rollergirls.
instagram.com
Pride After Party
Bloom OTR*
June 25
Pride at the Market
Findlay Market, 10a–4p
Get some yummy treats and drinks at the market while celebrating all love here in the heart of Cincinnati.
findlaymarket.org
Pride Brunch
Bloom OTR*
Two shows and Bloom Tea Dance at 3p.
EPIC Drag Show
Agave & Rye Rookwood, 3–6p
Celebrate Pride month and an inclusive community.
instagram.com/agaveandrye
July 8
Cincinnati Opera’s 15th Pride Night
Cincinnati Music Hall, 10:45p–midnight
Celebrate Greater Cincinnati’s LGBTQIA+ community and stand with drag artists.
cincinnatiopera.org
Pride Beverages
Some local breweries, drinkeries, and restaurants will have Pride-inspired beverages and specials for Pride month—many of which will donate proceeds of sales to local LGBTQ+ organizations.
Braxton Brewing Company
Pride Watermelon Raddler
facebook.com
Cafe Alma
Rainbow Mimosa Flights
June 1–30
Hi-Wire Brewing
Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA Pride Cans
Proceeds from each four pack and Pride merch sales benefiting ACLU of Ohio all month long.
Available June 1
HighGrain Brewing Company
Pride Pop (mango wheat)
Available June 1
Rhinegeist
Miss Major
Berliner style sour with lemon and strawberry. A portion of the proceeds will be benefit Transform Cincy.
Samuel Adams
Love Conquers Ale
Yuzu, hibiscus, and prickly pear ale.
Goods and Apparel
&Sundries*
Can Cover: Choose Love – $8
Can Cover: Rainbow – $8
Pride Box – $34
Six unique [best-selling] bath bombs
Pride Handwash – $9
Rainbow Glass – $16
Cincy Shirts
Pride apparel
Ellebrux
Confetti Cat Earrings – $16
Multicolor Girl Power Earrings – $28
Handzy Shop + Studio
Maldivas Shirt Dress – $88
Rainbow Arch Earrings – $26
Rainbow Bamboo Hoop Earrings – $16
Rainbow Bead Drop Earrings – $14
Rainbow Reusable Sponge Cloth – $6.50
HOMAGE
Pride apparel
lemon lee
Rainbow Blend Earrings – $28
Rainbow Dangle Earrings – $26
Rainbow Flower Earrings – $28
Originalitees*
Pride apparel
Books
Reading books about Pride, the Community, and written by LGBTQ+ authors is a great way to support and show solidarity. Here is a shortlist of books available to purchase through local bookstores, as recommended by @woodsomc.
I suggest supporting independent bookstores and our local library (you can download ebooks and audiobooks through the Libby app). You can purchase books through indie bookstores as well as through the Blue Manatee Literacy Project via Bookshop.org.
Blue Manatee Literacy Project
Powered by Bookshop.org
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish – $17.99
Lil Miss Hot Mess (children’s Book)
Jack (Not Jackie) – $17.99
Erica Silverman (children’s book)
Bookery
The Celebrants – $28
Steven Rowley (novel)
Love Makes A Family – $11.99
Sophie Beer (children’s book)
Downbound Books
Another Brooklyn – $16.99
Jacqueline Woodson (novel)
Big Gay Wedding – $26.99
Byron Lane (novel)
The Guncle – $17
Steven Rowley (novel)
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish – $17.99
Lil Miss Hot Mess (children’s Book)
Julián is a Mermaid – $17.99
Jessica Love (children’s book)
The Prettiest Star – $16
Carter Sickels (novel, local)
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag – $18.99
Rob Sanders (children’s book)
Small Businesses
The number of LGBTQ-owned businesses is growing and and their impact on our neighborhoods and our local economies is undeniable. And not only are LGBTQ+-owned businesses a safe space for the Community, they foster inclusion and celebrate belonging.
Click here for a list of several places around Cincinnati where we can show our support of the LGBTQ+ community and the small businesses that help make our city unique.
*LGBTQ-owned business