June 03, 2024
Daniel J. Anders/Aversa PR
The eighth annual Philly Pride Run spotlights the lesbian community. The 5K race and 1-mile fun takes place Saturday morning at the Navy Yard.
Just because the big Pride Month march and festival in Philadelphia has passed doesn't mean the party ends there.
LGBTQ-led organizations and businesses are observing Pride Month with a unique array of events. There are opportunities to learn more about queer history in the area, support local drag performers and get involved in athletic activities.
You also can enjoy music at a block party or take a stroll through the Philadelphia Zoo. Those in Chester and Delaware counties also have some fun options in this second week of Pride Month.
Here's a look at the various events this week:
Take a stroll around the Gayborhood and learn about the queer parts of Philadelphia through a guided tour, courtesy of Beyond the Bell Tours. Learn how Pride evolved from a protest to a parade, visit an LGBTQ-owned bookstore and learn about racism and other issues facing the Gayborhood.
Registration is full for the Wednesday's tour, which begins at 6 p.m. But you can sign up to be on the waitlist. The tour covers about a mile and lasts for 90 minutes.
Dance the day away at the second Queerapalooza on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Presented by Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room, the block party takes place at 12th and Pine streets and features local queer performers like emcee Robert Drake, Marcus G., Samantha Rise and Tony and The Kiki.
The event is free to attend. Vendors will be selling merchandise, crafts, food and drinks.
The LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County is throwing a festival on Bridge Street in Phoenixville on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. There will be several activities and games to try, and various vendors on site. Phoenixville also has a "Pride Walk," a painting of a rainbow on a crosswalk, which should make for some fun photo opportunities.
Athletes in the LGBTQ community can run with other enthusiasts in support of the lesbian community Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The William Way LGBT Community Center is continuing the Pride Run tradition, teaming up with Lez Run Running Club and Out Philadelphia Athletic League.
The 5K course runs along Broad Street and Intrepid Avenue. There are prizes for the top three finishers in the women, non-binary and men's wheelchair divisions. The one-mile Fun Run awards prizes to the three "most festive" participants.
Spill all the tea with a few local drag queens Saturday at 2 p.m. See performances from Brittany Lynn’s Drag Mafia at Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square while enjoying afternoon tea services, along with scones, sandwiches and pastries.
Should you miss the event, Sofitel Philadelphia has another Drag Tea scheduled for Saturday, June 22.
• Queer Quizzo – Andrew White is hosting a special trivia session on LGBTQ history at Parkway Central Library at 6 p.m. Monday.
• Pride Day at Philadelphia Zoo – The zoo is hosting activities that celebrate the LGBTQ community on Sunday. Connect with local queer organizations, and learn about LGBTQ relationships between animals.
• Drag Queen Story Time – Drag queen Brittany Lynn is reading interactive stories about love, diversity and acceptance all month. She'll be at Clark Park at 10 a.m. Thursday, and Haddonfield Library at 10 a.m. Saturday. She'll also be at Independence Library on Saturday at 11 a.m.
• Delco Pride Festival – After the Delco Pride Parade last week, there will be a festival in front of the Upper Darby Municipal Building on Saturday from 1-6 p.m. Plenty of performers and vendors will be at this second half of Delco's Pride celebrations.
• WNBA Watch Party – Meet up with fellow women's sports fans at Stir Lounge on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. The bar is screening games from the WNBA Commissioner's Cup. The event is hosted by the Working Families Party.
