Annapolis, get ready to strut your stuff! The Annapolis Pride Parade & Festival is back for its fifth year, set for October 18, 2025. Each year, families, friends, and allies line the streets in rainbow gear to celebrate community, inclusion, and joy. The increasingly popular event, which was originally scheduled for May 31, was postponed because of extreme weather and thunderstorms.
“October was previously designated as LGBTQIA+ History Month because it closely aligned with other important celebrations in the queer community, including National ‘Coming Out Day’ on Oct. 11,” said Annapolis Pride Board Chair Joe Toolan.
Parade Floats Serving Looks
With the parade of nearly 100 groups kicking off at 10 a.m., the festival will follow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., filled with various activities! For those looking to plan in advance, the parade route and vendor map can be found here. The 1.2-mile long parade will begin at St. John’s College on Calvert Street. It will then proceed down Bladen Street, go around part of Church Circle, and finally head down West St. to Amos Garrett Blvd. Expect colorful floats, live music, cheering crowds, and smiles as downtown Annapolis shines with love, laughter, and pride.
Colonel Bree Fram, a colonel in the US Space Force, author, lecturer, podcaster, and astronautical engineer, will be in attendance, serving as the parade’s Grand Marshal. She is currently among the U.S. military’s highest-ranking out transgender officers.
Come for the Parade, Stay for the Kiki
The festival will also have over 150 food trucks and vendors along the way, from community resources and faith-based organizations to local artisans and small-business groups. Annapolis Pride merchandise will be available on the lawn of Maryland Hall, with additional giveaways throughout the day!
For music lovers, there will be three different stages with entertainment galore. The Maryland Hall will host a lineup from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., seeing performances by DJ Sidekick, Naptown Brass Band, Program, Madisun Bailey, Mark Allen, Honey Sol, Queen Jalah and Friends (drag show), and The Gathering Gloom (tribute to The Cure).
The Lee Priddy Music Stage (taking place on the Bates Athletic Field) will see Levi Stephens, Emma Viivaca, Madelyn Grace, Mad Sauce, and Savage in Nature, from noon to 4 p.m.
Finally, DJ Deezy and DJ Folly will each host for two hours, from noon to 2 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., respectively, on the Absolut stage. ASL interpreters will be available on both stages, and a space will be reserved for people with impairments or mobility issues close to the intersection of West Street and Amos Garrett.
All the Logistics
The festival and parade are free to the general public, so there’s no need to worry about tickets. For parking, we suggest using the USNA Stadium, which costs $15 for all-day parking ($30 for oversized vehicles). If you park at the stadium, Annapolis Pride will provide free shuttle service to and from the parade route and festival space, beginning as early as 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. If you decide to park downtown, we just recommend getting there early in the morning.
About Pride 2025 and Annapolis Pride
Growing in Pride and Growing in Community is the theme for 2025. This call to action serves as a reminder that we can flourish, support one another, and defend our community despite injustice. Since our communities are strongest when no one is left behind, pride is based on resilience and resistance. As a community grows in pride, they are declaring that everyone deserves to live freely, securely, and with pride.
Annapolis Pride’s mission is to support, encourage, and honor the LGBTQ+ community in Anne Arundel County so they can live authentically and fully in a safe, equitable, and anti-racist community where people of all identities thrive. Bring your family, your friends, and your brightest colors! Annapolis Pride is a day to celebrate love, community, and being yourself. Yas, Annapolis!
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