Celebrating Pride: 7 Fun and Thoughtful Ways to Mark the Occasion

Along with marking the start of summer, June is Pride Month. That means it’s time to start thinking about celebrating Pride and all that it stands for. If you’re excited to get involved and be part of something special this year, here are seven ideas that are sure to inspire. We’ll also share some tips on how to plan your own Pride party. 

7 Thoughtful Ideas for Celebrating Pride Month

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Celebrating Pride is something that everyone can be a part of. If you want to be more involved this year, here are some thoughtful and fun ways you can support the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate Pride. 

1. Learn More About Pride

Before jumping into celebrating Pride, it’s a good idea to understand more about the reasons behind it, how it came to be, and why it matters so much not only to the LGBT community, but to the world at large. Even if you’ve been celebrating Pride for years, there’s always something new to learn or understand better. 

Take some time to learn about the challenges of the LGBTQ+ community. Read about the 1969 Stonewall riots that emerged at the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City, the rallies to secure basic human rights and respect, and the origins of Pride. Knowing more about Pride and the story behind it means you can celebrate this movement in a much more meaningful way. 

2. Throw a Pride Month Party

Make celebrating Pride extra fabulous by throwing your very own celebration. This is a great way to honor and acknowledge Pride month while creating an opportunity for your loved ones to gather and enjoy each other’s company. 

Consider hosting a Pride party at home, a favorite local venue, or even online as a virtual Pride celebration. Plan how you want it to look and feel, include fun activities that will engage your guests, and spread the word about your event. (We have more tips on planning your Pride party later in this guide.)

3. Attend a Pride Parade

You don’t need to throw your own Pride event to celebrate. One of the best ways to get involved with celebrating Pride is to attend a Pride parade or march. These large-scale outdoor events celebrate self-acceptance, legal rights, and other achievements of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex community. 

Not sure where your local Pride march is? Find details with listings on the major Pride parades, or simply ask around in your local community and search online event calendars. 

4. Volunteer or Donate to Causes

Celebrating Pride isn’t just about showing up to an event, rally, or parade. You can also lend your support by volunteering your time or donating to causes that support the gay rights movement and LGBT community. 

Do some research and find out which local centers and causes need your support, then help in any way you can. You might be able to volunteer your time or knowledge, or give a monthly or one-off donation to a relevant charity in support of LGBTQ people and the issues that affect the community. 

5. Host a Pride Themed Bake-Off or Cook-Off

Design: Manu Torres

Who doesn’t love the opportunity to bake or cook something delicious and potentially be crowned the best? Bake-offs and cook-offs are a fun way for celebrating Pride — especially if you and those around you are real foodies. 

Pick up a selection of baking and cookbooks authored by LGBTQ creators and choose your favorite recipe to recreate. Challenge your friends and family to do the same, then get together and decide whose dish is truly the best. You could then host a bake sale with donations going to relevant charities, or ask your loved ones to donate to participate in the competition. 

6. Buy From the LGBTQ+ Community

If you can’t make it to a Pride Month march or are unable to volunteer your time, buying from creators and artists in the LGBT community is a powerful way to show you care about the Pride movement. 

Visit your local LGBT-friendly coffee shop or restaurant often, and support artists in the community by buying their work and promoting it to your friends. If you’re low on funds, another way you can help is by sharing amazing artists and makers on your social media channels. That way, your friends and followers can discover someone new and perhaps make a purchase. 

7. Plan a Pride-Themed Trivia Night

There’s nothing more fun than a few rounds of trivia, which makes this a fun and accessible way to celebrate Pride. Find or write your own trivia questions for your guests to test their understanding of key areas such as gender identity, gay civil rights, and more. 

Not only is this a great way to get involved with celebrating Pride Month, but it’s also a useful way for you to help educate others. There’s always more to learn about the LGBT community, whether you identify as such or simply want to be a better ally.

How to Throw an Amazing Pride Party

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Celebrating Pride with a party is ideal if you love entertaining and enjoy bringing people together to have fun and raise awareness. Here’s how to throw an epic Pride party. 

Find the Perfect Venue

Once you’ve set the date for your LGBTQ+ Pride party, one of the first things you’ll want to do is scout out the perfect venue. Think about how many people you want to invite, what kind of activities and games you want to host (including virtual party games, if applicable), and whether you’re aiming for any specific theme or atmosphere. These are all things that’ll help you find the ideal venue. 

You can host a Pride party anywhere you’d host a birthday party, wedding shower, or any other family celebration. At home in your backyard is a great spot if the weather’s gorgeous, as is a venue like a local hall, your favorite restaurant, or much-loved LGBT bar. 

Embrace the Rainbow Theme

If you’re looking for a classic theme for your Pride party, it doesn’t get better than the rainbow flag. You can’t go wrong with a rainbow-themed party — especially when celebrating Pride! 

The great thing about rainbow-themed parties is that there’s inspiration and supplies everywhere. Set up a rainbow balloon arch, pick up rainbow-themed table supplies, and decorate your party venue with everything bright and colorful. Don’t forget to display a few Pride flags around your party venue too.

Invite Your Guests

Design: Jen Montgomery

With a party venue and theme all set, and your date and time confirmed, it’s time to let your loved ones know about your party. Choose a bold, bright, and colorful invitation to match your Pride event and you’re ready to go. 

For some fun inspiration for your online invitations, take a look at our many options, including rainbow invitations that you can customize. You’re sure to find a design that suits your event perfectly — and they’re all easy to personalize with your own text and color preferences. 

Plan Your Pride Day Party Activities

Go wild and have fun with the party games and activities at your LGBT Pride celebration. Think about who’s attending and what they enjoy, then plan some activities, entertainment, and games you know they’ll love. 

If you’re hosting in your backyard, lay out plenty of lawn games like ring toss, limbo, and cornhole. You could also bring out classic board games, throw a dance and karaoke party, or invite your favorite local band or entertainers along to give your audience a lively show. For more ideas, don’t miss our list of 15 adult party ideas for a memorable bash. 

Celebrating Pride Every Day

This is a big time of year for the LGBT community and celebrating Pride Month is always high on the agenda. So much progress has been made, but there’s always the opportunity to raise awareness, be proactive, and offer support. While the month of June is officially Pride Month, recognizing and supporting the LGBTQ+ community is something we can do every day of the year!