Get ready to show your Pride, Annapolis! The Annapolis Pride Parade & Festival returns Oct. 3 with a parade through Annapolis followed by an afternoon of live music, food trucks, local vendors, family-friendly activities and more.
Since its founding in 2018, Annapolis Pride has been bringing the energy to Naptown through its annual parade and festival. The organization’s mission is to advocate for, empower and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Anne Arundel County while creating a safe, equitable and anti-racist community where people of all backgrounds and identities can thrive.
With October recognized as LGBTQIA+ History Month, there’s no better time to celebrate! The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, and last roughly 90 minutes. The festival will begin at noon and run until 6 p.m. at the Bates Athletic Complex, 935 Spa Road in Annapolis. And here’s the best part: The parade and festival are COMPLETELY FREE and open to the public.
This year’s festival and parade theme is United in Pride, with a focus on fostering a stronger community among LGBTQ+ residents, allies and supporters. The parade’s grand marshal will be Ryan Cassata, an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, published writer and LGBTQ+ activist.
The parade will follow a 1.2-mile course, starting at the intersection of St. John’s Street and Calvert Street, traveling along West Street and ending at Maryland Hall. You can view the parade from anywhere along the route. Rain or shine, the parade will go on!
As far as music goes, there will be plenty! The Main Stage will have performances throughout the festival, starting with speeches followed by Levi Stephens, 8 Ohms, Sweet Leda and Queen Jalah Nicole and Friends before headliner Ryan Cassata and D.I.Y. Guy. The Songbird Stage will have music from 1 to 5 p.m., featuring Danah Denice, Madisun Bailey, Shelby Morgan, Cameron Mae, Sadia and Leo & Cygnus.
Come hungry because more than 10 food trucks will be serving up plenty of options for food and drinks. One important change this year: Alcohol will not be sold or permitted at the festival as organizers aim to create an even more family-friendly experience.
Speaking of kids, there will be a designated Kid Zone with arts and crafts, face painting, bounce houses and more! There will also be more than 125 vendors on the grounds, ranging from local businesses to county departments.
Make sure to plan ahead because parking will NOT be available to the general public at Maryland Hall or the Bates Athletic Complex. Attendees are encouraged to park at the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Blue Lot. Guests can enter through Gate 5, with day-of parking costing $30 (card only). Presale parking is $20 and available for purchase here.
Other public parking garages will be available before the event; however, attendees who park there will not be able to leave until after the event has concluded. A free shuttle will run between the stadium, parade route and festival, making five stops along the way from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wondering what to do after the festival? Keep the celebration going at the Pride After Party, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Graduate Hotel. DJ Dave O, a mainstay of Annapolis Pride events, will be in the DJ booth from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the party continuing until 11 p.m.
Whether you’re there to cheer on the parade, let the kids loose in the Kid Zone, grab something from a food truck or dance along to the live music, there’s plenty happening throughout the day. Grab the family, plan your parking ahead of time and get ready to celebrate Pride in Annapolis!
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