Here it is again: Austin Pride weekend, bearing gifts of gay-ass events from Friday to Sunday before trickling off into a steadily rainbow-colored weekday schedule. In the parlance of the past five years, now more than ever it’s important to support your queer community by showing up for ’em. The great news is you get to choose how you show up, no matter what the social media infographics tell ya. Being at one event, making one new friend, supporting one local LGBTQ-owned business: These actions add up as you repeat them. So whether this Pride weekend marks your first ever outing into queer Austin or you’re prepping for your annual Pride party crawl, your presence at the function matters. See you out in that violet – uh, I mean lavender – crown, readers!
Leztopia
Friday 22, Clive; Saturday 23, Azure Lounge; Sunday 24, Canopy by Hilton
A massive joint effort by Lez In Tha Capitol (aka, Jos Tha DJ), Yellastud, and ATX Choclit takes over Austin Pride weekend with three packed parties. Each have been specifically “Curated for Queer Women of Color,” as Yellastud says via Instagram, and feature queer, Black-led lineups at every event. Friday brings sets from Jos Tha DJ and DJ High Class Chaz spun during a stoplight mixer, where colored wristbands indicate what you’re lookin’ for. Sapphic rapper Siya headlines Saturday’s Worst Behavior bash, with Jos back at the DJ booth alongside DJ PNasty, and Sunday’s SplasHer pool party beats the Texas heat with DJs Jayoo and Nneka. Throughout the three-day fest, there’ll be giveaways from sponsors Adult Megaplex and Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls as well as $30 entry into BARE Cabaret with your Leztopia wristband.
ATX Trans Pride
Saturday 23, Cheer Up Charlies
As I told a friend recently, the new fall trend for me is generalizing all trans people as the best. (Look: It’s been a hard summer!) This is helped by ATX Trans Pride’s absolutely stacked showcase. Everywhere you look in this entertainment lineup is trans excellence, from the drag stars (Alexander the Great! Gender Destruction! Stephanie Elegonza! Amber Nicole Davenport, familiar to those who read the Austin Pride listing!) to the musical acts (Shelly Webster Band! The Deadnames!) to the DJs (Lavender Thug! Ed West! SuperMcN4sty! Lidia Beatz! Amarji King!) to the ballroom babes (House of Lepore!) to featured speakers (Black Trans Leadership Alliance!) and everyone in-between (The Real Estate Dolls hosting! Testo Junkies doing performance art!). Also on tap for this afternoon-to-evening event is a vendor market filled with trans makers, comedy by DEI Comedy, and dance lessons from those Country Fried Dancers. Wow: When you really think about it, trans people really are the very, very, very, very, very, very, very best. 4pm.
Austin Pride Festival & Parade: Silence = Death
Saturday 23, Fiesta Gardens and Downtown Austin
The annual celebration, as that descriptor implies, returns for another year of entertainment and community. Austin Pride says this year’s event is all about “turning up the volume on love, activism, and the power of community,” and will feature Alexandria Van Cartier, Amber Nicole Davenport, Javon, Kuntress, Angel Doll, Hypnotic, Evita, Emma Sis, and Dragonnqueen at their free-to-attend festival. This year’s parade grand marshals include major LGBTQ Austin figures like writer Joe Anderson Jr., House of Lepore mother Natalie Sanders, and chair of Austin’s LGBTQ+ commission KC Coyne. Wedding Industry Professionals Association Austin also pop-up festival-side to host free weddings and vow renewals. Contact erica@crave-catering.com to sign up. Festival: 11am; parade: 8pm.
Catch Friends Not Feelings
Thursday 21, Taquero Mucho Downtown
From people-pairing app Reneo and venue Taquero Mucho comes this LGBTQ speed-friending event, where you’ll be connected to new friends as well as drink specials. Perfect for the new-to-Austin or those excited to expand their social circle. 6:30pm.
Highland Music Showcase
Thursday 21, Highland Lounge
Black Pride Week gets a musical boost at this showcase hosted by House of Lepore, featuring artists like O Cai, Nicotine, Vertarias, Nomi, and many more performing and competing for a cash prize. Plus a post-performance mini-party at midnight as well as DJ support from Scam Likely. 10pm.
Queer Film Theory 101: Action Movies
Thursday 21, the Highball
QFT 101 gets into the bam-pow-blammo spirit of summer action blockbusters, with four LGBTQ film “professors” presenting on the queer subtext of their favorite punch-em-ups. Fingers crossed someone discusses the gay submarine in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning! 7pm.
Babe ATX Takeover
Thursday 21, TOATS ATX
Open decks beckon all femme and them DJs as Babe ATX kicks off Pride weekend. Plus, sets by srgtpep and DJ Hip Stir. 9pm.
Papi Sii Pride Edition
Thursday 21, Mala Vida
Back on the scene is Austin’s self-proclaimed No. 1 Latin gay night with not just beats bopping all night, but $1,000 cash prize for whoever brings the best perreo moves.
Dining With the Divas
Friday 22, Captain Quack’s Coffeehouse
Maxine LaQueene and Simone Riviera host their newest South Austin show featuring performances by Mars Morningstar, Asami Mami, Adrienne Park, and Mr. Austin Pride 2023 Jayden Daniels. Plus: ASHwell shows up to table. 6pm.
Dice & Debauchery: Obojima
Friday 22, the Vortex
The Dungeons & Drag crew head to Manor Road for a one-shot campaign of tabletop RPG Obojima: Tales From the Tall Grass. Joining Gemma Nye, Tangelo, the Pumpkin, and DM Gray as the Mighty Goon is special guest dungeon master Evan Rabalais from TTRPG improv show “Critical Hit.” 6:45pm.
Transcend the Night
Friday 22, Rain on 4th
Jame Perry hosts this all-trans party with Lavender Thug behind the decks and trans dancers keeping the energy up. 10pm.
Drag Bingo
Friday 22, Wheatsville Co-Op South Lamar
Sierra Mykels and Nadine Hughes tag-team host this boffo bingo night with tons of prizes and beats by DJ Kimmy K. Plus, the fridges with Wheatsville’s popcorn tofu are, like, right there! 6pm.
The Real Drag Queens of Austin: Born This Gay
Friday 22, Highland Lounge
Find drama, drag, and divas at this show featuring Secret, Aria Rey, Colleen DeForrest, Juliana Ross, and Eileen Dover slaying the Highland stage. 9:30pm.
Queer Capitol Takeover
Friday 22, John H. Reagan Building/Outside rotunda
Join your LGBTQ family to speak out against the bathroom bill at its committee meeting. Orgs like Equality Texas and TENT will be there, so come out, drop a card, and testify against this cruel piece of legislation. I mean, what’s Pride without a little poltics? 8am..
Freaknik Pt. 2
Friday 22, TOATS ATX
Back for more bass-heavy beats, bold energy, and big-time guest performers, Mother Natalie Lepore presents the second ever Freaknik mini-ball and party. Legendary bounce artist Sissy Nobby comes in from NOLA, and alongside the three DJs, full bar, and laser lights will be free STI testing from Vivent Health. 10pm.
Austin Pride Presents: Raw
Friday 22, the Austin Eagle
Promising “more dancers than you can handle,” the Eagle and Austin Pride invite party people to gear up and get on the dance floor where DJs Boost and Drew G spin tunes all night. Sir Rat Leather pop-ups, too, with sexy shopables, in case you left yours at home. 9pm.
Rainbow Party
Friday 22, Austin Deaf Club
LGBTQ deaf folks and allies can enjoy a drag show, ASL karaoke, games, and more at this Pride party hosted by Chad Ervin and Virgil Moore. There’ll also be snacks and drinks, so no one joins the dance line hungry. 4pm.
Drippin’ Hot
Friday 22, Cheer Up Charlies
From Aura events and TribRelation comes a total sapphic Pride takeover featuring DJs indoor and outside like Hyperfemme, Bambii, Amarji King, DJade, and Dragonnqueen as well as a wet T-shirt twerk contest hosted by Xoy. Be there or be so very dry. 10pm.
Queergxrl: Austin Pride
Friday 22, Elysium
Event organizers Queergxrl, who “cater to queer womxn, trans, & non-binary individuals,” ride on in to ATX with a Pride kickoff party. Featuring DJs Kickit, Bad Apple, and Al V Dam spinnin’ till the cows come home – which in Texas is 2am. 9pm.
Better Gays
Friday 22, Better Days
Cresting the homo horizon are MK Ultra, Bubu, and Munster Mash getting out of drag and going behind the decks as DJs MK Ultra, Isto Juan, and Happy Meal, ready to prove “queers are just better.” Amen! 10pm.
Eden Austin Pride Queer Party
Saturday 23, the Courtyard ATX
Eden Entertainment offers partygoers a chance to rub elbows with Ultimatum: Queer Love cast members, jam to sets by DJs Kickit, Orya, and SuperMcN4sty, and plenty more. 9pm.
Pride Priority Pass
Saturday 23, Rain on 4th and Oilcan’s
Less an actual party and more a way to ease your partying plans, Rain and Oilcan’s offer this VIP pass for about $92 that gets you in both bars nice and quick all night. Unlimited entry, too, so you can spend Austin Pride untethered to a single spot (as long as you’re going to Rain or Oilcan’s).
Slay Cafe
Saturday 23, Hotel ZaZa’s Perfect Strangers
Spend your pre-Pride night in style at this hotel pop-up featuring cafe sips like Espresso Yourself and Spritz, Please cocktails, glam-ups by the Austin Glitter Bar, a stop-in from Ritzy Bitz, tunes via DJ Lavender Thug, and a dish called Pride chips. I don’t know what makes the chips “Pride,” but maybe you can find out. 4pm.
Pride & Puppies
Saturday 23, Music Lane South Congress
Behind the Lululemon and beside Two Hands is where this pup-rageous Pride party happens, featuring not just an Oh Happy Day photo booth for your pooch and you, but also drag by Eileen Dover, hair tinsel by ATX Fairy Hair, DJ Prissy P, pup cups and people pops, and Austin Animal Center facilitated puppy adoptions. 11am.
Pride Parade Watch Party
Saturday 23, Speakeasy
Join the Austin chapter of the Human Rights Campaign for this parade watch party, co-hosted by Austin LGBT Champer of Commerce and Avita Pharmacy. There’ll be DJ spins by Chorizo Funk, Lavender Thug, and Xoy, a vendor market featuring LGBT Chamber of Commerce members, and – most importantly – ice-cold AC. 7pm.
Legends of the Night
Saturday 23, Highland Lounge
Help fundraise for Unite the Fight while also enjoying the fabulous talents of performers like Juliana Ross, Nadine Hughes, Hellena Handbasket, Sasha Nicole, and host Vylette Ward. 10:30pm.
Ethereal
Saturday 23, Coconut Club
Louisianna Purchase hosts this shining, shimmering, splendid show atop Coco Club’s roof, with performances by Salem Purchase and Embry Officially soundtracked by DJs Xoy and Ruby Knight. 10pm.
Bear Maximum
Saturday 23, the Austin Eagle
As many bears as you can handle and then some, this party presented by DJs Sport Model and CBass is a “beefy evening dance” where the burly and burly-loving can socialize, get info on the Austin Bears, and fundraise for STI/PrEP provider NS3 Health via Jell-O shots. 12am.
Crazy Divaz
Saturday 23, Crazy Conchaz
Go a little loony with the drag stars of Dollmination ATX as they take over this Rainey Street stop to serve up “Latin spice, colorful chaos, and high-energy glamour all in one brunch!” 12:30pm.
Hard Rubber
Saturday 23, Kingdom
Haven’t sweat enough in the August Pride heat? Dollcore curated spins from DJs Belial, Night girl, Amarji King, Xoy, Astrogurly, and headliner SPFDJ will get you hot and bothered to your heart’s content. 9pm.
BÁRBARA
Saturday 23, Coconut Club
Get in the laser pit with party equivalent to the It girl, aka BÁRBARA. Described as “back, busty, and unbothered,” she offers DJ sets by Petrolera, Kuntress, Purple Matter, Houston’s Hyperfemme, and Lavender Thug going b2b with Mrs. JAViii. 9pm.
Rush Pride Party
Saturday 23, Swan Dive
Modern club bangers bump all night long at this Pride party, from Charli to Troye, Kim to Gaga, and many more. 9:30pm.
Sevens ATX Pride Night Out
Saturday 23, the Line Hotel
Austin’s newest sapphic social throws a Pride parade viewing party at the Line featuring spins by Queer Vinyl Collective’s DJ Dana Scully, custom cocktails, and a raffle benefitting Equality Texas – with prizes including lifelong free entry to Sevens events. 6pm.
La Bruce
Sunday 24, Austin Motel
Wash off the Pride sweat at this trans-centric pool party by the same folks behind ATX Trans Pride. Performers include Jenna Talia, Miss Petty Cakes, Harlot, Kino Kino, and music by Mea Culpa and DJ Angel Doll, so there’ll be much to observe from your pool noodle. 2pm.
Panel Discussion With Katie Simon
Sunday 24, the Future Front House
Join the author of Tell Me What You Like for a discussion on romantic intimacy post-sexual assault with fellow panelists Adam Maurer (Moontower Counseling), Noël Busch-Armendariz (UT-Austin Institute of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault), and Beth Cortez (Queer AF Therapy). 5pm.
Wet: A Pool Party Burlesque Show
Sunday 24, Cabana Club
Get soaked for one last time as Wet throws their final summer burlesque show. In the pool this weekend are Disco Lemonade, LB in the Beat, and Frankie Branca, with Dragonnqueen providing splash-side DJ spins. 2pm.
Soul Sunday
Sunday 24, Coconut Club
Diamond Dior Davenport hosts this spirited Sunday show with Amber Nicole Davenport and Nastisha Narcisse performing as well as DJ Cysum. 2pm.
Gender Free Haircut Club
Sunday 24, Golden Soul Salon
Hair’s your sign to get a free gender-affirming snip at this summer social that also features tattoos, tarot, and a curl product donation drive. To reserve a spot on the free cut list, text 512/994-1699. 11am.
Campfire Queer Storytime
Sunday 24, the Vortex
Tell your story on Marsha P. Johnson Day at this open-mic style sharing space hosted by World Famous *BOB*. 7pm.
Rihanna Night
Sunday 24, Cheer Up Charlies
Celebrate two divas at this combo Rihanna tribute and Yvonna F Mei b-day party with Felesia Lucia, Lady Grackle, Malibu Imported , and Gigi Supernova performing. 9pm.
Bronco 2
Monday 25, Sagebrush
For those more skilled in fancy footwork, Neon Rainbows and Country Fried Dance throw a new advanced line dance lesson & social. Expect the same good vibes with more focus on technique as well as social dance time. 7pm.
Strut
Monday 25, Lady Bird Lake
Meet up below MoPac for a 3-mile walk around Lady Bird Lake with Local Queer ATX and OutWellness. Pre-walk stretches and post-walk Juiceland sips give you a chance to socialize while standing still. 7:15pm.
Boyz of Austin: Through the Decades
Wednesday 27, Elysium
Time travel with the Boyz into all different drag eras as they explore every possible option for the term “retro,” including the Dark Ages. 9:30pm.
State of the Alliance
Thursday 28, UFCU Plaza Event Center
Join the Austin chapter of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance as they reaffirm their commitment to “Advocate, Elevate, and Celebrate the LGBTQ+ Community” as well as have an open dialogue on how to keep that commitment. 2:30pm.
This article appears in August 22 • 2025.
