The Philadelphia Pride March and Festival Is Taking Place With Live Entertainment & The America’s Largest Rainbow Flag
Philly Pride 365, now fiscally sponsored by the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC), invites the LGBTQ+ community and allies to participate in a celebration of our community, culture, and LGBTQ+ LUV (Love Unity and Visibility) at the 2025 Philadelphia Pride March and Festival on Sunday, June 1st.
The Pride March will form and organize at 6th and Walnut at 10:30am and end in the Philadelphia Gayborhood. Watch for the largest rainbow pride flag in America, this year expanded to 600 feet long.
When the march reaches the Gayborhood, the festival will begin, running from 12:00pm to 7:00pm, on Walnut to Pine streets, and Quince to Juniper streets, with other select roads closed around the festival footprint. The festival will feature over 200 small businesses and organizations, performers, entertainers, artists, vendors, local bars, food trucks, community organizations, stages, and much more. The march and festival are open to all to attend with no admission, and all food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Philadelphia Pride March and Festival are the main signature events to kick off June as Philly Gay Pride Month.
For 2025, Philly Pride 365 recognizes a significant milestone in Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ+ Rights history, marking 50 years since Governor Milton Shapp signed an executive order aimed at eliminating discrimination based on sexual preference. Philadelphia has played a vital role in advocating for LGBTQ+ Rights, and it is essential to acknowledge these historical markers as we celebrate ‘Love Unity and Visibility.’ Philly LGBTQ+ LUV showcases our unique LGBTQIA+ Heritage, our continued commitment to unity, and the impact of visibility, which is at the heart of PRIDE. Following 50-plus years of tireless efforts and progress, Philly Pride 365 encourages the LGBTQ+ community to come together, celebrate, and experience ‘Philly LUV.”
PRIDE AROUND THE CITY (Friday, May 30th)
Pride Across the City kicks off on Friday, May 30, previewing and celebrating our community as we head into Pride Weekend, Pride Month, and the March & Festival. This year’s record-breaking 600-foot Philadelphia Pride Rainbow Flag will tour the city in at least three stops—
9:00 AM on the Museum of Art steps
8:00 PM Gayborhood activation
Along the way, look for the Flag also to stop at Cherry Street Pier (with a special unveiling by Visit Philly). All final street closures, maps, and times will be shared closer to the event
PRIDE PROMENADE AND L.U.V.(LEGACY, UNITY, VISIBILITY) AWARDS (Saturday, May 31st)
In collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philly Pride 365 presents its official opening-night spectacular, Pride Promenade & L.U.V. Awards, on Saturday, May 31 at 8:00 PM on the Museum’s grand staircase. Step into the prom you always dreamed of—red-carpet glamour hosted by Josh Sanders and Candiace, live performances by Nes (Be You Talent Winner), and the debut of our L.U.V. Awards honoring:
Legacy Award: Jasper Liem & Chris Bartlett
Unity Award: John Jarboe & The Bike Stop
Visibility Award: Dawn Richard
At 9:30 PM, the party really kicks off with DJ Sunryze spinning the ultimate dance-party soundtrack until 11:00 PM.
Tickets for this 21+ event are available exclusively via Sickening Events, with General Admission (doors at 7:30 PM) or VIP (early entry at 7:00 PM + exclusive reception in the West Portico) options—no promposal required.
HEADLINING ARTISTS ANNOUNCED (Sunday, June 1st)
Philly Pride 365 is beyond excited to announce Dawn Richard and Candiace Dillard Bassett as this year’s headlining acts. UAC welcomes to the Muses Stage at Philly Pride 2025 ‘Be You’, the crown jewel of Philadelphia herself, the amazing, the inspiring, the global icon Sapphira Cristal. Sapphira will grace the Muses stage at 6:00pm on Sunday June 2nd and will put on what is sure to be an iconic performance.
A proven multi-dimensional powerhouse, Candiace projects her voice across every level of the culture. As a singer and songwriter, she has enraptured audiences with a sultry, slick, and sexy brand of R&B, reeling in millions of streams and earning critical acclaim. As an actress, she has widened her imprint by appearing in films for BET, Netflix, and more. As a beloved personality, she remains a fan favorite cast member of The Real Housewives of Potomac on Bravo. As an entrepreneur, she’s in charge of her brand and business, telling her story on her own terms! Candiace has maintained incredible momentum as she continues to write and record music and make notable appearances on film and television!
Dawn Richard, a visionary multi-platinum artist and Guinness World Record holder from New Orleans, first rose to prominence with the chart-topping groups Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money before embarking on a groundbreaking solo career defined by innovative, independent artistry. Beyond music, she is a fierce advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation, championing equity and visibility across the entertainment and tech industries. Her activism spans Al, animation, vegan culture, and climate justice, where she works to amplify marginalized voices and dismantle systemic barriers. As Creative Director of Adult Swim, Artist Relations Director at Hip Hop Caucus, and owner of Papa Ted’s vegan food truck, Dawn seamlessly merges creativity, advocacy, and sustainability. Overcoming homelessness after Hurricane Katrina, she has built a career rooted in resilience, empowerment, and radical inclusivity-leaving a lasting cultural impact.
THE PRIDE MARCH (Sunday, June 1st)
The Pride March will form and organize at 6th and Walnut at 10:30am and end in the Philadelphia Gayborhood. The Annual Philadelphia Gay News Pride Brunch and Stonewall Awards Ceremony will convene at 11:00am at the Arts Ballroom and brunch attendees will exit to join the Pride Festival.
The final route for the march is being finalized and will be shared in a future update. The march will be an open invitation to the LGBTQ+ community and allies, with no registration needed. While floats and vehicles will not be permitted, everyone is welcome to join before the march starts for speeches, music, and joy. Please join the UAC Pride 365 March through Philadelphia, whether with a group or organization aligned with UAC’s mission, with friends and family, or solo.
The march is an ode to the Reminder Day Demonstrations that were held in front of Independence Hall on Chestnut Street from 1965 until 1969 to raise awareness of bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination toward the LGBTQ+ community and to send the message that “Gay is good.” The 1972 Pride Day March concluded at the same spot 50 years ago.
The march will kick off with speeches from community leaders and guests and a land acknowledgment from the Lenape Tribe. Then, the march will proceed to the festival. Philly Pride 365 is adding to its legacy and some length to last year’s record-breaking Pride Flag. Along the way, look for the giant 600 feet long record-breaking pride flag, increased from last year’s record-breaking 400 feet, to be unveiled with help from dozens of community members and volunteers. This is the largest pride flag in Philadelphia history and aims to set the record for the biggest pride flag in Pennsylvania, again. The flag was produced for PhillyPride365 with the help of Field & Floor FX in Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA PRIDE FESTIVAL (Sunday, June 2nd)
Philly Pride 365, a program of UAC, brings together some of the city’s top LGBTQ+ organizers to produce a dynamic festival, and one of the single largest outdoor festivals of the year in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Pride Festival will return 12:00pm to 7:00pm with an expanded footprint, making it one of the largest footprints ever for the city’s top pride event. The festival footprint now stretches from Walnut to Pine and Quince to Juniper, bringing even more of the Gayborhood into the celebration. New official participants along Walnut Street include Hi-Lo Taco and Miss Saigon, alongside Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room and Mixto. In total, the following roads will be closed for Pride 2025—13th, 12th, and 11th Streets between Walnut and Pine; Pine, Spruce, Locust, and Walnut Streets between Broad and 11th; and Quince, Camac, Juniper, Cypress, and Irving Streets in the same span. For exact maps, closures, and timing, please see our quick‐links at phillypride365.org/quicklinks.
The festival will feature over 200 small businesses that Philly Pride 365 has employed an equitable funding model to p
rocure. In addition, there will be stages with performances, entertainers, artists, vendors, food trucks, community organizations, and local bars.
Within the larger festival, Philly Pride 365 has worked with community partners to build a variety of fun and vibrant spaces for everyone. The Youth & Family Zone at Watts & Spruce (Zone D) offers inclusive programming from 12:00 PM–3:00 PM (youth activities and the Youth Drag Show & Competition) and 3:00 PM–5:00 PM (all-ages cabaret and performances featuring our Be You Talent Competition finalists). This space is brought to life by The Attic Youth Center, Philadelphia Family Pride, and the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department.This space has no alcohol and smoke and will feature age-appropriate and safe youth and family programming to celebrate all generations of Philadelphia Pride.
This year’s Festival levels up on-site dining by featuring Food Truck Way in every Entertainment Zone—so whether you’re in Legacy, Unity, Visibility, Everyone, Relaxed, or SWEAT, you’ll find local vendors dishing out tacos, vegan delights, comfort classics, and more at wallet-friendly prices. We’ve also set aside a Sober Vibes area as a calm, substance-free retreat with seating and non-alcoholic refreshments. The Sensory Friendly Zone (12–4 PM at St. Luke & the Epiphany) remains a low-stimulus space for anyone who needs it.
The Sensory Friendly Zone—partnered with Disability Pride PA—offers an accessible, low-stimulus retreat inside St. Luke & the Epiphany (12 – 4 PM). Equipped with ample seating, tables, accessible restrooms, and a wheelchair-charging area, this calm space features subdued lighting and gentle soundscapes. It’s designed for elders, folks living with disabilities, and anyone who needs a quiet moment of rest amid the Festival.
In our Pop Wellness Zones—found throughout each of the six Entertainment Zones (Legacy, Unity, Visibility, Everyone, Relaxed, and SWEAT)—you’ll find medical services, resources, and activities staffed by Action Wellness, Mazzoni Center, Courage Medicine, the Therapy Center of Philadelphia, and Bebashi.
Rather than one single “main” stage, the Festival unfolds across six distinct Entertainment Zones—Legacy, Unity, Visibility, Everyone (Youth & Family), Relaxed, and Sweat—each with its own curated schedule of local performers, DJs, drag artists, and surprise guests. And for the first time, our Legacy Lane art installations will snake through all six zones, so you can discover queer history wherever you wander.
