A celebration of love, resilience and self-expression will fill downtown for the annual Lawrence PRIDE parade and party this weekend.
Lawrence PRIDE is set for Saturday, June 7. It’s free to attend.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Seventh and Rhode Island streets, heading west to Massachusetts Street and moving south to South Park. People on wheels, on floats and on foot will travel through the street with vibrant colors galore. See a map of the route posted on the organization’s Facebook page.
Moniqué Mercurio, Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, is the Grand Marshal this year. Mercurio is a Lawrence community organizer and helped highlight Two-Spirit drag queens for the first time at the 2024 Lawrence PRIDE celebration.
Following the parade will be a party with vendors, food, live performances and a kid’s corner until 8 p.m. in South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St.
Drag performances are set for 1 and 6 p.m., and live music begins at 3:30 p.m. The family area and kid’s corner will close at 6 p.m.
Temperatures are forecast to be in the 70s and 80s. Organizers encourage everyone to bring reusable water bottles, if possible, and use the city-owned refilling stations in South Park to mitigate waste.
An after party for ages 18 and older will begin at 9 p.m. at the Granada Theater, 1020 Massachusetts St. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10.
Kickoff event
An event the evening before will examine the evolution of drag in Lawrence. “What a Drag: Documenting Drag Artists in Lawrence, by Fally Afani” is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 6 at Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts St.
Afani, owner of On the Town Photo, will show local drag performers captured on camera in 2024-25. A concert by LGBTQ+ artists — featuring the duo VCMN, who are releasing their new album, “Bi-Product” — will follow.
Visit lawrencekspride.com for more information on the 2025 Lawrence PRIDE celebration.
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