Each year Pride Month ushers in opportunities to uplift the LGBTQ+ community and honor the ongoing movement for full and equal rights. What began as a commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots has grown into a month full of parades, demonstrations, and parties galore. 

With endless ways to celebrate, here’s a selection of some notable Twin Cities events, most of which feature live music:

June 11: GRRRL Scout Queer Dance Party at Hook and Ladder 

Dance late into the night to the tunes spun by DJ K. Reeves and DJ Mommy Long Legs. It’s a full takeover of the Hook and Ladder’s indoor spaces and extensive outdoor patio, with a portable bar and selfie station also on the scene. 

Tickets, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis

June 11: House of Pride Dance Party 

At least four different DJs spinning Deep House, Disco, Funk and NuDisco provide an entire day of grooving at Royal Foundry Craft Spirits.

More Info, 241 Fremont Ave N

June 18: Flip Phone Taylor Swift Dance Night Pride Edition

Taylor Swift Dance Night is the first of many Flip Phone Pride events this month. Between drag brunches on downtown rooftops and dance parties at venues across the city, Flip Phone regularly hosts a few events per week, and you can find their packed June agenda here. 

Tickets, 126 N 5th St, Minneapolis

June 18: Youth Pride 2022 at Como Park East Pavilion

Minnesota School Outreach Coalition hosts Youth Pride for school-aged LGBTQ+ people, and this year’s free festivities include a live DJ, local talent, food trucks and outdoor activities. 

More Info, 1151 Como Ave, St Paul

June 19: Pride Family Fun Day at Como Park East Pavilion

The family-friendly fun continues into Father’s Day with another Pride party in Como park. Find hot dogs, bevs and games galore. 

More Info, 1151 Como Ave, St Paul

June 19: Wrestlepalooza at First Avenue

One of the most action-packed Pride events returns to First Avenue with not only professional wrestling but also drag, burlesque and live music performances. All proceeds go to OutFront MN, a non-profit fighting for full equity and equality under the law for all sexual orientations and gender identities. 

Tickets, 701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis

PRIDE WEEKEND 6/24-6/26

June 22-26: Plush 2022 at Lush

Tucked away in Northeast, Lush Lounge has nonstop festivities throughout the week. You can buy a full weekend pass or a daily ticket for regular drag performances, DJ dance parties on the patio, drag bingo, and other shenanigans.

Tickets, 990 NE Central Ave, Minneapolis

June 24: Pride Beer Dabbler at The Sculpture Garden

The 10th annual Pride Beer Babbler brings a slew of craft beer vendors, food trucks, and performers to the Sculpture Garden. If you don’t like beer, there’s also cider, seltzer, and a silent disco on site. 

More Info, 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis

June 24: The Klituation at First Avenue

DJ Keezy has a knack for designing gloriously fun dance parties that feel like safe spaces for BIPOC LGBTQ+ people, like The Klituation which was first launched in 2015. This year’s lineup includes Sophia Eris, Maria Isa, Ricki Monique and a long list of other artists. You can also shop the offerings of local vendors between sets. 

Tickets, 701 N 1st Ave, Minnneapolis 

June 24: Two Spirit Pow Wow at South High School

Minnesota’s Two-Spirit Society hosts their first ever Two Spirit pow wow with a day of drums, vendors and performers. Non-perishable food and gently used clothing will be accepted and distributed at the event which is open to all community members.

More Info, 3131 S 19th Ave, Minneapolis

June 24-25: Indigo Girls with Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra Hall

The folk rock duo will be joined by the full power of the Minnesota Orchestra for two hours of symphonic sound on both Friday and Saturday evening.

Tickets, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

June 24-25: GRRRL SCOUT & The Aliveness Project Presents

Minneapolis-based queer-focused event coordinators, GRRRL SCOUT are taking over the Cabooze. On Friday, bonfires and a big outdoor patio set the mood for the Summer Camp Pride Party, with live music from Maria Isa, Bugsy and others. You’ll also find food trucks, portable bars and free HIV testing. Nadi McGill of Gully Boys hosts Saturday night’s Stoplight Party where Shapeshift, Phoenix Embers and Tre Da Marc take the stage.

Tickets, 913 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis

June 25-26: Twin Cities Pride Festival at Loring Park

This year marks the Twin Cities’ 50th annual Pride Festival, which sprawls across Loring Park for two full days. There’s all the usual festival suspects - food courts, live performances, local vendors - as well as poetry, trivia, sports, comedy, interactive art and a dog park.

Both days are full of live music, including sets from Jaedyn James, theyself, Tina & the B Sides and Nunnabove, happening across four stages. 

There’s a whole lot happening so check here to find the full list of vendors, performers, accessibility information and more. 

More Info, 1382 Willow St, Minneapolis

June 25: People’s Pride at Powderhorn Park

Created in 2021 as an alternative Pride event without corporate ties or sponsorships, People’s Pride returns for another year at Powderhorn. More details coming soon, but expect free food, live music, a clothing swap and plenty of local artists.

More Info, 3400 15th Ave S, Minneapolis

June 25: Flip Phone XXL at First Avenue

Conceptual drag queen and visual artist Naomi Smalls headlines this epic dance party, joined by a star-studded line-up of queens and entertainers from Minneapolis and beyond.

Tickets, 701 N 1st Ave, Minnneapolis

June 25: Carly Rae Jepsen at The Armory

“Boys Problems”? Not at the Carly Rae Jepsen show! “Cut to the Feeling” at the Armory on Saturday night. 

Tickets, 500 South 6th St, Minneapolis

June 26: Pride March through Downtown

The Pride March returns to its home on Hennepin Ave this year, parading through the city toward Loring Park. Full lineup to be announced soon. 

More Info, begins at 7th & Hennepin, proceeds down Spruce, ends at Loring Park

Pride can’t really be confined into a single month, so keep an eye out for additional events throughout the year like Twin Cities Black Pride Festival in August, and Duluth’s water-side Pride event in September.