Her expectations recently garnered Shumate an award from an educational think tank. Head of school receives award for instructionĪs head of the lower school at Grace School in Houston, Leigh Anne Shumate expects a lot from her teaching staff when it comes to instructing students in reading and writing. The seven-day celebration is annually attended by more than 700,000 people from Houston and international locations.ĭetails: visit the website above or houston With the aid of volunteers and corporate sponsors, the festival, parade and other Houston Pride Week events are put together by the nonprofit Pride Houston organization. Proceeds will help support future Houston Pride Festival events. Chad Michaels, a drag performer known as a Cher impersonator and winner of "RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race," will entertain. Disc jockey Chris Zane will kick off the party before turning the event over to Danny Verde. Rich's Nightclub, 2401 San Jacinto St., is hosting Hot-Tea Dance, the official closing party of Houston Pride Week.ĭoors to the newly renovated club open at 5 p.m. in the Montrose area, is the only official after-party of the Houston Pride celebration.Ī festival map and parade route are available on the event website at The after-party does not mark the end of the LGBT pride celebration. When the parade ends, nightclub South Beach is hosting an after-party at 11 p.m. This year's theme is "Houston Proud." Bud Light Houston is the presenting sponsor of the festival and parade. at the Milam and Walker cross street and continues from Walker Street to Smith Street where the route turns left and continues down Smith Street until its end point at Jefferson Street. The festival starts at noon and runs until 7 p.m. No tickets are necessary except to access a VIP area.įestival entertainment includes drag performer Pear of cable's "RuPaul's Drag Race," electronic dance band ishi, disc jockey duo Wrestlers Houston-based poet, rapper, singer and songwriter Lyric Michelle and winner of the Pride Superstar contest.
#HOUSTON GAY PRIDE WEEK FREE#
The free event features live entertainment, vendor booths, food, drinks and a Kids Zone. The festival grounds are outside of Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby St., and encompass an area between Bagby and Smith streets from Walker Street to McKinney Street. The Pride Festival and Parade takes place in Downtown Houston. Proceeds from the $5 door fee will be donated to the Lesbian Health Initiative of Houston, a nonprofit providing access to health care as well as provides health and wellness education and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-identified women and transgender men. The Pride Girl Party is in its third year and starts at 5 p.m. Rock the Runway is presented by New Amsterdam.Ĭelebrate the women of the LGBT community and support the Lesbian Health Initiative during Eden. The free runway show will be held at Audi Central Houston, 2120 Southwest Freeway. Pride Superstar is presented by Elite Care 25 Hour Emergency Center.įashion models will show off summer styles during Rock the Runway at 8 p.m. The audience can vote to support their favorite contestant. June 22, finalist of LGBT talent competition Pride Superstar will take the stage at Meteor Lounge, 2306 Genesee St., for a final face-off. The 2019 Pride Houston celebration drew a record crowd of almost 700,000 people to downtown Houston, the largest in the city's history, according to Mayor Sylvester Turner.At 9 p.m. Last year's Pride Houston celebration was a virtual rally with no public access due to rising COVID-19 cases.
Several pop-up events are scheduled throughout June, including the premiere of "Ailey," a documentary that chronicles the life of dancer Alvin Ailey a Pride market at Karbach Brewing and a pool party. The City of Houston won't finalize the required permits for Pride Houston until later this month. But the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused permit delays. The original plan was to resume a summer celebration this year. Dates and events will be announced July 25 at the kick-off and theme reveal party at Pearl Bar. Pride Houston plans to celebrate in the fall, according to Lorin "Lo" Roberts, the organization's executive director. But it'll be much cooler under the rainbow.
Houston's Pride festival and parade are indeed happening this year. (Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle) Photo: Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle
Thousands of people fill downtown for the 40th annual Pride Houston festival and parade Saturday, June 23, 2018.