Save the date for 2025 Davis Pride events

Amelia Need entertains the crowd at the 2024 Davis Pride Festival. This year’s event is June 7. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

(From press release) The Davis Phoenix Coalition plans a month full of events to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, beginning with its 11th annual festival on June 7. Activities also include a fun run, skate and comedy nights, and plenty of drag queens.

The activities share the theme “Forever Loud and Proud!”

The 11th annual Davis PrideFest is at Civic Center Park, at Sixth and B streets. The community-focused, family-friendly event includes a music festival, resources, vendors, food, drinks and more – from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. Organizers have a great lineup of performers scheduled. Watch for an announcement of the headliner in early May. Returning entertainment includes the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, the marching band Noise Violation, and the always popular Drag Revue. There will be activity zones for children, teens and seniors. The event is free but donations are welcome. The event’s title sponsors are Dignity Health and Woodland Clinic Medical Group.

Runners get ready to start at the 2023 Run for Equality. This year’s fun run/walk is June 8. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

The following day, Sunday, June 8, is the Run for Equality, starting at 8 a.m. It includes a 5K and 1K run/walk from Central Park, at Fourth and C streets, Davis. The run is the fundraiser that makes the festival possible. Registration is $35 until May 26, $40 from May 27 to June 7, and $45 on race day. Visit https://www.davispride.org/run.

Saturday, June 14, is Skate with Pride. The night will include a disc jockey, disco lights and food trucks from 7 to 9 p.m. Skating will be under the Davis Farmers Market Pavilion in Central Park, Fourth and C streets, in downtown Davis. Participants bring roller or in-line skates and wear colorful attire, skating to lively music. This event is also free, with donations welcome.

On Thursday, June 19, Dunloe Brewing Co. will be the venue for Drink with Pride and Drag Trivia, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1606 Olive Drive in Davis. Trivia is $15 to enter.

The fun continues Friday, June 27 for Davis Pride Comedy Night, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd. Presented by Laughs on the Lake, tickets are $40 through June 8, $60 June 9-26, and $75 on June 27, with VIP experiences available. Visit https://www.davispride.org/comedy to see the lineup and purchase tickets.

To set the tone for Pride Month, volunteers will paint rainbow crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park between 6 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 25.

The Davis Pride committee is happy to help businesses show their colors and promote their pride events for June. Email admin@davisphoenixco.org for a poster.

June is International LGBTQ+ Month. Davis Pride events are coordinated by an all-volunteer community formed by the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a nonprofit that works to foster diversity, eliminate intolerance, prevent hate-motivated violence, and support LGBTQ+ youths in Davis and surrounding communities. The coalition was founded in the aftermath of a 2013 anti-gay attack on Davis resident “Mikey” Partida. Proceeds from Davis Pride events fund the coalition’s anti-racism and anti-bullying campaigns, support to LGBTQ+ youths and their families, and outreach with area police departments, churches and schools. To donate, go to https://davisphoenixco.org/donate.

For more information about the event, or becoming a sponsor, exhibitor or volunteer, visit https://www.davispride.org/. To learn details as they unfold, follow Davis Pride on Facebook and Instagram.