June in San Antonio is set to go off with a bang as the city ushers in a variety of events to celebrate Pride Month. Starting tomorrow, San Antonians can enjoy everything from river parades to drag shows, with a full calendar of LGBTQIA festivities lined up to honor the community's fight for equality and its ongoing quest for acceptance and understanding.
It all kicks off with the Pride River Parade at La Villita’s Ameson River Theater, where from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., visitors can expect to see a sparkly display of local talent including impersonators and dancers, according to the San Antonio Report. More than 17 barges will float the city’s waterways during the parade, which has a free admission tag and offers two routes to amuse the crowds, one venturing through the Museum Reach and the second dazzling the downtown core.
For those looking to tap into the community’s creative impulse, the sixth annual Queer Voices Pachanga is the spot tomorrow. The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, a cultural hub that champions collaborative artistry and a safe space for marginalized voices, will play host from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. This pay-nothing-to-enter fest provides an accepting venue for those seeking gender-affirming clothing swaps and serves as a showcase for live drag acts and music, striking poetry readings, and more.
Music fans looking for a beat need to mark their calendars for the same night at Stable Hall for the "Drag Me to the Hall" event, where doors swing wide at 8 p.m. for an anticipated after-party. Headliner Trinity K. Bonet, of "Ru Paul's Drag Race" fame, along with other performers and a live DJ, will be there to greet attendees, who will have to shell out at least $49 to join the fun. And let's not forget the craftspeople among us; Mission Crafts Chandlery invites the DIY crowd to create Pride & Pop Stars candles from June 1 through 15, where patrons can dedicate their craft to a favorite LGBTQIA musical legend.
Then on June 8, Bonham Exchange calls all aspiring and established drag royalty to its PRIDE Pageant battleground, an all-inclusive stage where competition is fierce and the titles of Mister, Miss, Mr., and Ms. San Antonio Pride are up for grabs. "Performances start at 7:30 p.m.," the San Antonio Report reveals, "with special guests Paige Taylor and MC Alayna Marquez." Another event not to be missed features the drag kings of Latine troupe Los Mentirosos, who, alongside queen Jazmine Diamond Fillups, will be owning the stage at Culture Commons Gallery on June 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., adding a dose of poetry and printmaking into the mix.
Brunch-goers, too, can expect nothing short of a fabulous time at the Tobin Center's Out at the Tobin Pride Brunch on June 15. Ra’Jah O’Hara, another "Ru Paul's" vet, headlines the affair, accompanied by the charm of host Kristi Waters. With a showtime of 10:30 a.m. and tickets starting at $35, the event is not just for the fashion-forward but also boosters of local causes like the THRIVE Youth Center.
In a never-a-dull-moment manner, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is throwing its own after-hours splash, keeping the park gates open on June 15 and 22 for special Pride nights filled with entertainment, dancing, and exclusive treats, while San Antonio's official Pride festival and parade are set to bring a brilliant finale on June 29 in Crockett Park. Amidst the food and the high-heel races, the city’s grand parade will close out Pride Month with a flourish starting at 9 p.m., proving that San Antonio knows how to wrap up a celebration in style.
