Parties, brunches, contests, and the popular phenomenon of house floats will define Pride Weekend 2021 as the annual celebration of LGBQT+ liberation is revived following a pandemic-related pause in 2020.
Thursday, June 10
Pride Weekend 2021 kicks off with an official opening ceremony at Café Lafitte in Exile, considered by many to be the oldest continually-operated gay bar in the U.S. The bar will give thanks to LGBTQIA+ military service members and honor the fact that all individuals, including soldiers, are able to congregate in public and be themselves. A framed notice from the Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board, posted at Lafitte’s on April 26, 1966, which made it known that the military declared the establishment off-limits to their personnel due to the risk of creating undesirable characters is on view in the bar. Service members with a military ID will receive 25 percent off their bar tab. From 6 p.m. to midnight an opening night Underwear Party will take place upstairs at the club, 901 Bourbon St.
A Speakeasy Party will get underway at GrandPre’s, 834 N. Rampart St. The password is showing proof of a COVID vaccination.
The Corner Pocket, 940 St. Louis St., will host a Retro Night of 80s and 90s music with $3 well vodka drinks and $4 Long Island Iced Teas all night long.
Check out more than 40 homes and businesses decorated in rainbow colors as the Krewe of Pride presents a showcase of house floats in lieu of the annual Pride parade. View the map.
Friday, June 11
Mag’s 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., is one of New Orleans entertainment destination for drag Shows, male revues, and one of the largest liquor selections in town. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., drop by for Breakfast with Princesse Stephanie.
Think flamingos! Get your best pink wig, pink leggings, pinks heels and join in the Pink Party at Good Friends, 740 Dauphine St., from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The Page Bar, 542 N. Rampart Street, will offer late-night drink specials on June 11 and 12.
Saturday, June 12
Dance the day away with Red Bull as Café Lafitte in Exile opens the King’s Courtyard. Enjoy a Hangover Bloody Mary or any of the bar’s Peachy Specials.
Dress in your best beach attire and come get lei’d Saturday afternoon while enjoying happy hour specials at Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.
For the Pride Edition of The Corner Pocket’s infamous Wet Jockey Shorts Contest, the competition will be open to all men ages 21+ from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Contestants strip down to tighty whities briefs (supplied) and get soaked to the bare flesh. Arrive early to sign up. Take your best shot and take it off for your share of $250 in cash and prizes for first, second, and third place winners. Gay Appreciation Award-winner DJ Barry Bareass will serve as the host. Cash only.
The Bourbon Pub and Oz will jointly host a block party from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Bourbon Street.
GrrlSpot, a monthly lesbian and queer dance party, wants to celebrate Pride with you and your favorite masks at Crossing. Join DJ Gage, DJ Vaughndutch and Staycation at the bar from 9 p.m. till.
Drop into Rawhide, a down-to-earth gay leather bar at 740 Burgundy Street, for a game of pool & adult videos on TV.
Sunday, June 13
Enjoy a cold drink and chill at Café Lafitte in Exile as Pride Weekend comes to a close. Enjoy the day relaxing in the King’s Courtyard or on the bar’s Bourbon Street balcony. The evening will feature #TRASHDISCO starting at 4 p.m. and by tradition the crowd will gayly toss our napkins high into the air between 8:30 and 9 p.m.
Corner Pocket emcee III Felicia Phillips and the former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal will host a special edition of Zingo! for Pride from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a dance party.
Good Friends Bar, 740 Dauphine St., will host a Hoe-Down. Wear your favorite “Hoe Wear “(overalls, cowboy haew ts, tighty whities, boots, harnesses, etc.) and come out and try the cowboy drink and shot specials.
Strip down to your skivvvies for an Underwear Party at Mag’s 940.
For a complete list of events for Pride Weekend, visit here.
