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The countdown to the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30, has begun, with plenty of time to prepare for the main event. The combination of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first-ever stateside WorldPride, and an entire month teeming with all manner of LGBTQIA+ events promises to make this June the greatest Pride month NYC has ever seen. New Yorkers and folks from all over the world are amped to commemorate the Stonewall Inn’s historic place in the modern Gay Rights Movement, celebrate WorldPride’s aim to bridge communities across cultures, and have an all-around excellent time.

WorldPride alone added dozens of new events to 2019’s already packed Pride month calendar, and those are just the tip of the iceberg. Theaters, gay bars, historical societies, libraries, and city parks all have additional educational, entertaining, and decadent plans of their own. So get out the glitter and gear up for the celebration of a lifetime: Here’s every NYC Pride month parade, party, screening, talk, performance, exhibit, ball, festival, and concert you can hit this June.

Queens Pride

Sunday, June 2
Jackson Heights
NYC’s biggest borough will host the season’s first Pride festival. The parade steps off on 37th Avenue at noon, followed by a block party at 75th Street and 37th Road till 6pm. Don your best ‘fit, get colorful, and make some noise for a shot at one of the coveted Queenie Awards.
Cost: Free to attend; bring cash for snacks and sips

NYC Pride Ride

Sunday, June 2
Concludes in Hamilton Heights
Cycle with pride on a 30-, 60-, 80-, or 100-mile ride through New Jersey and New York to benefit OutCycling’s youth program. Finish the journey with a BBQ festival on the Hudson Greenway.
Cost: $90

Transgender 201

Tuesday, June 4
Long Island City
Educate yourself on the most prominent issues facing the transgender community, and learn what you can do to create a more positive and supportive environment for transgender people today.
Cost: Free

Hot Mess: Drag Competition – PRIDE EDITION

Wednesday, June 5
Bushwick
Twelve drag stars will face off in what’s sure to be one of New York City’s fiercest Pride Month battles. Who will win your support?
Cost: Free

Brooklyn Pride Day

Saturday, June 8
Park Slope/Prospect Park
Close out Brooklyn Pride Week with a festivity-packed day. It all starts at 10am with a 5K run around Prospect Park, and continues through the evening with stage entertainment, family activities, a concert in the park, and the Twilight Parade at 7:30pm.
Cost: All events are free to attend; 5K participation costs $40

“Live Oak, With Moss”: Uncovering Walt Whitman’s Queer Private Life

Tuesday, June 11
Brooklyn Heights
Most people know Walt Whitman as the brain behind Leaves of Grass, but few have come across his unpublished poetry collection, Live Oak, with Moss, which fervently explores same-sex love. Learn about this little known work at the Brooklyn Historical Society’s moderated discussion.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

Out to Climb

Wednesday, June 12
Long Island City
Brooklyn Boulders brings Pride to the rock wall with races, climbing instruction, and — check this out — a vertical drag show. It’s bringing in a DJ and providing drinks from Brooklyn Brewery to keep the one-of-a-kind Pride party going.
Cost: $15 event pass; $25 climbing + event pass; free for members

Criminal Queerness Festival

Thursday, June 13 – Saturday, July 6
West Village
The National Queer Theater is giving a censorship-free voice to four international playwrights whose stories of love, oppression, and injustice shed light on the paucity of civil rights progress made in other parts of the world. Each play runs five times at the IRT Theater.
Cost: $20 general admission; $17 youth tickets (ages 30 and below)

Discotechnique: Rainbow Disco

Friday, June 14
Bushwick
Express yourself in the most colorful way you know how at House of Yes’s disco-themed Pride party. Sparkle under rainbow lights and let your inner pride spill out onto the dancefloor.
Cost: $20-30

OutCinema

Monday, June 17 – Wednesday, June 19
Chelsea
WorldPride and LGBTQ film presenter NewFest will screen three queer films and one short over three days at SVA Theatre. Each full-length film centers on some facet of LGBTQ culture in NYC, and every screening is followed by a Q&A with key players who brought the stories to life.
Cost: $30 per screening; $100 for a three-day VIP pass; NewFest member discounts available

“But I’m A Cheerleader” Drink or Dare with Videology

Wednesday, June 19
Bushwick
This simple but effective party concept from Videology marries a drinking game with a film screening to delightfully buzzed effect. See Natasha Lyonne in the late ‘90s queer classic But I’m a Cheerleader and get jolly in the process.
Cost: $15 general admission; $60 for a VIP ticket with a bottle of sparkling and table service

Family Movie Night: “Coco” (2017)

Friday, June 21
West Village
Bring the kids along for an age-appropriate film screening event on Pier 45, hosted by drag star Miss Richfield. This year’s flick is the Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar hit Coco.
Cost: Free to attend; VIP seating available for a pretty penny

The Library After Hours: Pride

Friday, June 21
Midtown
Dive into LGBTQ history at the NYPL’s after-hours Pride celebration. The night centers on the Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50 exhibit, and features plenty more entertainment from drag queens and special guests.
Cost: $15 for early admission at 7pm; pay-what-you-wish after 8pm (suggested donation $15)

CosPlay & Pride

Saturday, June 22
West Village
Beloved NYC drag queen Petra Fried hosts this year’s CosPlay event at Pier 40, with Drag Race alum Aja headlining the boat cruise’s talent. You’ve got almost the whole month to perfect your costume — don’t waste it!
Cost: Tickets start at $45

bronx pride march festival — 1 Bronx Pride March | ED GARCIA CONDE/WELCOME2THEBRONX

1 Bronx World Pride Rally, March, and Festival

Sunday, June 23
The Bronx
The northern borough’s bash is expected to attract an estimated 20,000 revelers. The day begins with an 11am rally and march, followed by an afternoon festival with street vendors and performers.
Cost: Free to enter

Pride Luminaries Brunch

Sunday, June 23
Midtown
Enjoy an open bar and brunch buffet on Moxy Hotel’s rooftop in honor of businesspeople who have been instrumental in promoting workplace equality for LGBTQIA+ people this year. Presented in partnership with Thrillist, the Pride Luminaries Brunch will be a morning to remember.
Cost: Tickets start at $85

S & M Ball

Sunday, June 23
Bushwick
Enter the final week of Pride with a hard lean into whips and chains, leather and latex at this ball-style bash celebrating both BDSM and the queer and trans people of color who’ve brought ballroom culture to life in New York City. Newbies and allies are welcome to attend, but encouraged to show enthusiasm from the sidelines out of respect for the participants.
Cost: $10 in advance; $15 at the door

The Tea on Brooklyn’s Prismatic LGBTQ Nightlife

Monday, June 24
Brooklyn Heights
Learn about Brooklyn’s history of serving marginalized communities with clips from the documentary We Came to Sweat and a panel discussion from experts on the borough’s queer nightlife scene.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

Human Rights Conference

Monday, June 24 – Tuesday, June 25
Tribeca
Hear important conversations about global human rights with a range of experts and activists. This two-day conference features performances and presentations that will touch on policy, art, and justice.
Cost: $30 one-day admission; $50 two-day admission; student/senior discounts available

GameChangers

Tuesday, June 25
Chelsea
This panel discussion, Q&A, and networking opportunity focuses on LGBTQ+ movers and shakers in the entertainment industry. Star Trek legend George Takei and transgender actress Leyna Bloom lead the discussion at SVA Theatre.
Cost: $25+ general admission; $15 student admission

WorldPride Opening Ceremony

Wednesday, June 26
Prospect Heights
June may be nearing its end, but WorldPride is just ramping up. Pack into the Barclays Center for a benefit concert kickoff as Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Ciara, Billy Porter, and Chaka Khan use their talents to raise money for three monumental LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Cost: Tickets start at $45

Getting the History of HIV/AIDS Right

Wednesday, June 26
Brooklyn Heights
Separate fact from fiction as two professors unpack the complexities of HIV/AIDS and explore how identity, history, science, and stigma factor into our understanding of the virus today.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

nyc gay men's chorus — NYCGMC | MATTHEW RANEY

Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall50

Thursday, June 27
Midtown
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and LGBTQ choruses from across the country will commemorate Stonewall’s 50th anniversary at Carnegie Hall. Their new choral piece celebrates the Stonewall Uprising’s ripple effect with over 500 participating voices.
Cost: Tickets start at $22.50

Dirty Thursday: Born This Way

Thursday, June 27
Bushwick
A gay dance party devoted to none other than queer icon Lady Gaga? House of Yes, please.
Cost: Free

Savor Pride

Friday, June 28
SoHo
Thrillist partnered with NYC Pride and meal-delivery non-profit God’s Love We Deliver for the return of this popular culinary experience and fundraiser. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by accomplished chefs and taste their creations on the GLWD terrace, all for a good cause.
Cost: Tickets start at $70

Stonewall 50th Commemoration Rally

Friday, June 28
West Village
Remember the Stonewall Uprising at a rally reminiscent of 1969’s. LGBTQIA+ rights have come a long way in the last five decades, but there’s still a long way to go. This call for change should rank high on your Pride month must-dos.
Cost: Free

Front Runners NY LGBT Pride Run

Saturday, June 29
Central Park
Start Pride Weekend with your best foot forward by running in (or watching) a 5-mile race through the park. The 38th annual event aims to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Pride charity run.
Cost: $37 per runner; discounts available for members, seniors, students, and youth

Teaze

Saturday, June 29
Lower East Side
Five NYC party collectives will band together for an ultra-queer night of fun. When the party’s over, you’ll have five new LGBTQ+ nightlife options to add to your agenda.
Cost: General admission is $30

PrideFest

Sunday, June 30
East Village
Join NYC Pride for an afternoon of music, activities, and all sorts of treats to go along with the neighboring Pride March.
Cost: Free to attend

NYC Pride March

Sunday, June 30
Manhattan
This is the Pride Month event, a tradition that began the year after the Stonewall Riots and has since grown to include millions of LGBTQ+ people and allies. Nab a spot on Fifth or Seventh avenues, celebrate all the progress that’s been made, and call for continued action.
Cost: Free

WorldPride Closing Ceremony

Sunday, June 30
Times Square
Squeeze in one more celebration before Pride Month wraps at WorldPride’s last hoorah, where Melissa Etheridge, Jake Shears, and fast-rising pop star MNEK will take the stage alongside a Broadway act and other talent.
Cost: Admission is free with registration

Published on Thrillist on April 26, 2019

If Easter is the Christmas of spring, then Cinco de Mayo may be its New Year’s Eve: the peppy follow-up event characterized by booze, dance music, colorful streamers, and parties that rage on long after the sun folds into the Hudson. Every fifth of May, New Yorkers rally to celebrate Mexican culture through food, music, and — most notably — drinks. While mass intoxication isn’t exactly the reason for the season, it’s certainly enticing.

This year in NYC, May’s liveliest holiday takes flight with rooftop parties, taco-tasting competitions, a live donkey, and enough drink deals to keep you dancing through the weekend. So squeeze in a siesta before you fiesta, and maybe set aside some time to understand why you’re drinking in the first place. You’ve got a busy weekend ahead.

FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS

Infamous Bistro

Upper West Side
Stroll out of the park and onto a patio for open-air drinking at Infamous Bistro. All day long, they’re serving mezcal palomas for a painless $8. The featured cocktail pairs fresh grapefruit and chili salt with the smoky liquor to create a unique, warm weather concoction. It’s smoke and spice at an affordable price.
Cost: $8 per paloma

Clinton Hall

Williamsburg, Midtown, Midtown East, FiDi, and Belmont
Reward your appetite at any of Clinton Hill’s locations on Sunday. If you’re looking for discounts, get three tacos and three margaritas for $25 total, or order a bucket of Coronas for the same price. At 4pm, customers at the Williamsburg and 36th Street locations can also whack piñatas to score mini tequila bottles.
Cost: $25 taco and tequila flights; $25 buckets of Corona; standard menu prices vary

Bodega Negra

Chelsea
Dream Downtown’s resident Mexican hotspot vows to spice things up with the Habanero Hot Box, a pair of tacos packed with four types of chiles, four cheeses, and a smattering of salsas, habanero cream, jalapeno chorizo, and cotija on top. The flaming dish, available from May 1 through the summer, arrives in a smoke-filled glass dome, and until Cinco de Mayo, brave patrons can get the new, creamy El Medico cocktail at half-price to soften the blow.
Cost: The Habanero Hot Box (two tacos) costs $16; the El Medico is $8 from May 1-5

Bar Hugo

SoHo
Elevated drinking adds pizzazz to any boozy fiesta, so when Hotel Hugo’s classy rooftop bar promises Cinco de Mayo discounts on a whole roster of drinks, you know you’re in for a good time. All Sunday night, take in Lower Manhattan views and reasonably priced liquor at a beloved SoHo spot. May 5’s must-try is the El Tapatio, a tequila-based cocktail with flavors of orange, cucumber, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime.
Cost: Select beers are $6; house wine is $8; well cocktails are $9; specialty cocktails (including the El Tapatio) are $10

hummus and pita co tacos — Pita Tacos | COURTESY OF THE HUMMUS & PITA CO.

The Hummus & Pita Co.

Chelsea, Tribeca, and Midtown
For one week only, you’ll find Cinco-inspired pita tacos at all Hummus & Pita Co. locations. From Friday, May 3, to Friday, May 10, fill fried pita “taco shells” with any combination of their usual ingredients. Falafel? Toss it in the taco. Turkish meatballs? Go for it. Chicken tabun? It’s holiday chicken now. Top with veggies, salads, and a signature hummus for a well-rounded celebratory bite.
Cost: $9.95 for a set of three tacos

Brooklyn Cider House

Bushwick
When cideries and Mexican holidays overlap, amazing things happen. Brooklyn Cider House just reopened its outdoor deck, and Cinco de Mayo weekend offers the perfect excuse to break it in. On Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, you’ll find Cider-Ritas, chips & guac, and $2 tacos on the menu. BCH has plenty of other Cinco-friendly options, too, like the shareable Cider House Nachos, complete with your choice of pulled pork, chicken, or veggies.
Cost: $2 tacos; $10 Cider-Ritas; $9 chips & guac; prices for standard menu items vary

Ed’s Lobster

Nolita
Ed is keeping it simple this year, but when a seafood joint decides to take part in the fun at all, who’s to say it’s not enough? Cut to the chase with half-priced mojitos and margs between 3 and 7pm on May 5. It may not be the most traditional Cinco destination, but celebrations are what you make of them — plus, their fish tacos are plenty on-theme.
Cost: Cocktails normally run around $12-13; cut in half, you’re looking at less-than-$7 drinks

the flying cock beer bucket — Beer Bucket | COURTESY OF THE FLYING COCK

The Flying Cock & The Horny Ram

Kips Bay & Midtown East
On May 5, customers at sister bars The Flying Cock and The Horny Ram can expect ice cold beer buckets ($36) and regular happy hour specials from 4-7pm. The Horny Ram will also serve freshly made margaritas ($13) all day long, marked down to $7 at happy hour.
Cost: An ice bucket with six beers runs $36; margaritas at The Horny Ram are $13 for most of the day, $7 during happy hour

PARTIES AND EVENTS

Thrillist Taco Knockout

Thursday, May 2
Union Square
Help Thrillist find the best taco in town at this year’s Taco Knockout, where 15 taquerias will serve up their most prized recipes in an attempt to win your vote. Between sampling, stop by the Michelada bar for a custom drink, listen to live music, and snap a pic at the photo booth. That’s living life to the Thrillist.
Cost: $65

rochelle's nyc — One of five participating Lower Manhattan bars | ROCHELLE’S NYC

NYC Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl

Saturday, May 4
Lower East Side
Slink between five watering holes at this holiday bar crawl. Register at Libation between 2 and 6pm and set on your way. Most spots have food and drink promotions until 10, but if it’s a mariachi band you seek, drop into Casa Mezcal before they pack up at 5. Consider tonight a pregame for Sunday’s main events.
Cost: $10 wristbands ($7.50 each for groups of four or more) get you discounted drinks at participating bars

Cinco de Mayo Penthouse Party

Saturday, May 4
NoMad
Take Cuatro de Mayo up 20 levels at one of NYC’s best rooftop bars, 230 Fifth. The 20th-floor penthouse comes to life at 8pm, and for the first hour, drinks are 2-for-1, and apps are free throughout the evening. Of course, no skyline-adjacent party’s complete without DJs and dancing, so come prepared to break a sweat as you ring in the month’s booziest day.
Cost: $20 admission; 2-for-1 drink specials for the first hour

Ghost Donkey’s Cinco de Mayo Party

Sunday, May 5
NoHo
Bleecker Street’s Ghost Donkey and Saxon + Parole are bringing extravagance this Cinco season. Their joint party begins at 1pm, when guests can feast at a whole roasted pig taco bar, order a variety of Mexican drinks, dance to a hip-hop mariachi band, see a pro nacho eating contest, and pose for a pic with a live donkey. It’ll be a celebration to remember, minus the hefty entrance fee.
Cost: No tickets necessary, but come prepared to pay standard menu prices for food and drinks; table reservations can be made for groups of 10+

Tequila 101

Sunday, May 5
Chelsea
Yeah it makes your clothes fall off, but like, what is it? Gain a deeper knowledge of your favorite agave spirit at Tequila 101 in the Chelsea Market. Learn what goes into making tequila and how to best use it while sampling four hand-crafted variations, plus its smoky sister spirit, mezcal. The afternoon course is a perfect precursor to your evening festivities, and an excellent day drinking justification.
Cost: $50

Vandal's Secret Garden — Vandal’s Secret Garden | TAO GROUP

Taco Celebration at Vandal

Sunday, May 5
Lower East Side
Open bar, all-you-can-eat tacos, margarita tastings, and guacamole? The Taco Celebration has it all. From 6-8:30pm, soak up the party in Vandal’s Secret Garden, an art-forward indoor/outdoor dining space perfect for celebrating.
Cost: $60

CINCO

Sunday, May 5
Bushwick
House of Yes shimmies the extra mile for holiday celebrations, and CINCO has all the markings of another successful Bushwick rager. Let tequila take control as two Brooklyn musicians set the dancefloor mood from 3pm till around 10. Unlike most HoY parties, CINCO is free to enter. Come ready to dance the day away — this just might be NYC’s wildest May 5 fiesta.
Cost: Free