Arizona Pride festivals 2022: Pride in the Pines, Bisbee Pride – The Arizona Republic
June is LGBTQ Pride Month, celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.
Ready to join colorful parades, dance at uplifting festivals and learn about the significance of this month? Bisbee Pride is celebrating with a whole slate of events June 16-19. Flagstaff Pride is hosting its annual Pride in the Pines festival on June 18.
Arizonans will have to wait a little longer to celebrate Pride in Phoenix and Tucson. To avoid partying during the hottest time of year, the Tucson Pride Festival will be Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and the Phoenix Pride Festival is Oct.15-16.
In the meantime, here’s what to expect at Bisbee Pride and Flagstaff’s Pride in the Pines.
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Bisbee Pride
Going into its 18th year, Bisbee Pride has a lot in store for visitors. Events will span four days and take place throughout the city.
“What makes this celebration special is its uniqueness in the fact that we aren’t a typical Pride festival, where there is a gate fee to get in and you are enclosed in one event venue,” said Ramon Garcia, president and CEO of Bisbee Pride.
“Here people can come and go, they can go into the shops, there are food trucks but people can also go to local restaurants and bars throughout the day or to their accommodations to cool down and then come back out.”
Bisbee Pride kicks off on Thursday, June 16, with a “Gay”mes Night. Friday highlights include a Pride thanksgiving service and a street dance with a DJ. Saturday is packed with the Pride parade on Main Street, a drag brunch show and live entertainment on the Bisbee Pride main stage. The weekend closes on Sunday with Twisted Sister Bingo and a tea dance.
Most events are free; selected events including the street dance and the main-stage show and dance have an entrance fee.
Details: See all the Bisbee Pride events and locations at https://bisbeeprideaz.com.
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Flagstaff Pride in the Pines
Pride in the Pines, presented by the Northern Arizona Pride Association, is in its 26th year. This year’s event will have entertainment, food vendors and opportunities to learn about LGBTQ organizations.
Admission is $20 (free for children 10 and under). A $100 VIP ticket includes a meet and greet with festival performers, a catered meal and two drink tickets.
Flagstaff Pride is also hosting an afterparty at the Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave. This event is open to age 16 and older and there’s a $15 cover charge. Youths 15 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10.
Details: Pride in the Pines is noon-6 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at 560 N. Thorpe Road, Flagstaff. https://flagstaffpride.org.
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You can connect with Arizona Republic Culture and Outdoors Reporter Shanti Lerner through email at shanti.lerner@gannett.com or you can also follow her on Twitter.
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