Below is a quick guide to each event, including dates, locations, synopses, and tips to have your best Pride weekend yet. Happy Pride!
Twilight on the Terrace // Friday, June 13, 7-11pm // Gertrude’s Restaurant (Baltimore Museum of Art)
As customary in recent years, Baltimore Pride events kick off with Twilight on the Terrace, a high-end benefit garden cocktail party. Guests should be prepared to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a four-hour open cocktail bar, art, dancing, and music provided by DJ Shawn Q with special guest Vince Christopher. You can still purchase tickets here, and proceeds go to help future Pride events and the GLCCB.
Tip: Arrive in style with Uber, offering a free ride to first-time users (up to $20) with the promo code BMOREPRIDE2014.
High Heel Race // Saturday, June 14, 12:45pm // Corner of Eager St & Charles St
Want to be crowned as Baltimore’s 2014 High Heel Race winner (who doesn’t)? Strap on your heels and sign up to run one block up Charles Street. Anyone over the age of 21 with heels or wedges no less than two inches high are welcome to sign up! You can sign up here any time before 12:30pm on Saturday. If cheering is more of your style, head over to the corner of Eager & Charles for some speedy high heel action. According to the Pride website, this year’s winner will receive a bottle of sparkling wine and a gift certificate from the High Heel Race sponsor, Mt. Vernon Stable and Saloon.
Tip: Line up early if you want to get a front-row chance to see your favorite Baltimoreans sprinting in stilettos.
Baltimore Pride Parade // Saturday, June 14, 1:00pm // Charles St (beginning at Eager St)
Join your fellow Baltimoreans in waving rainbow flags and cheering on a parade of your favorite LGBTQ-friendly organizations, non-profits, corporations, and clubs. This year, the parade – headed by Grand Marshal for the 2014 Baltimore Pride Parade, Mr. Tom Patrick – will begin at the corner of Eager & Charles and continue four blocks north (a map can be found here).
Tip: Biking or using public transportation (Light Rail, MTA bus, Charm City Circulator) is recommended to get to the parade and block party. If you must drive, please consider pre-purchasing your parking tickets with Parking Panda to guarantee a parking space for you, starting at just $6.
Baltimore Pride Block Party // Saturday, June 14, 2:00pm // Mt. Royal Ave
Unlike previous years, both Saturday and Sunday celebrations will be happening at the same location (see map here). Entertainment for the afternoon ranges from DJ, Blaqstarr to drag entertainer, Sabrina Blue to indie/pop/hip-hop band, Yellow North. You can also bring the younger ones over to the Project Heath Youth Zone (sponsored by University of Maryland – StarTrack) where there will be a dance area, and vendor spaces catering directly to youth. Additionally, the Baltimore Health Department will be offering HIV/Syphilis testing. Keep an eye out for your 2013/2014 Queen of Pride, Ganivah Cache Sephora, and your 2013/2014 King of Pride, Inferno Lee Sephora.
Tip: Drinking for Pride may be a tradition, but please be sure to do it in one of the two beverage gardens, where open containers are allowed. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at these locations, or you can get prepaid discounted drink tickets (along with a special edition Baltimore Pride t-shirt) here. Cheers!
Baltimore Sunday Pride Festival // Sunday, June 15, 11am – 6pm // Mt. Royal Ave
Sunday is traditionally the day of Pride weekend to bring your family out, nurse your hangover, and meet a variety of vendors; all while enjoying local entertainment. The 2014 Baltimore Pride Sunday Festival will have both a main entertainment stage and the Lady Lisa Memorial Drag Stage. The GLCCB estimates about 5,000 attendees on Sunday.
Tip: Don’t miss out on attending the 2014 Festival Wedding ceremony! Head over to the main stage at 2pm to celebrate many LGBTQ couples saying ‘I Do.’ If you’re interested in getting married in the mass wedding, please read more information here.
And if that isn’t enough Pride for you, check out more events around the city celebrating National LGBT Pride Month.
Ann Marie is a queer nerd living in Baltimore. She loves to read, cook, go on adventures, and tweet about all of the above. You can find her over at @annmariebrok.
Photos courtesy of Anthony Moll.
