Pride Month officially takes place in June. But in the UK, we like to wave our rainbow flags for the whole of summer, with huge celebrations happening in July and August, too.
Cities like São Paulo, Amsterdam, New York, and San Francisco have become famous for their annual Pride Parades, which are filled with music, dancing, and good vibes.
But revelry isn’t the only way for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to celebrate — there are all kinds of fun ways to weave the history and significance of pride into your events.
Here’s a look at some real Eventbrite creators whose Pride events are making us proud in 2025. From Pride parties to educational and cultural events, there is plenty to celebrate, learn about, and do!
Celebrations
There’s no doubt that a parade is the most iconic kind of Pride Month activity. The first Pride parade was a civil rights protest, but these days most parades are a celebration of history and community.
Major cities like London, Brighton, and Manchester already host official Pride parades, but there’s nothing to say a Pride parade can’t take place in a smaller town or neighbourhood. Once the parade is over, consider planning a Pride party to cap off the day.
1. Put on your own parade
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Organising your hometown’s official — or unofficial — Pride parade is an ambitious but ever-popular way to go.
Brighton Pride is one of the most popular events of its kind with more than 500,000 people taking part in a huge parade, street party, and festival. The seaside city truly comes alive for Pride with many bars and restaurants participating in the city-wide celebration.
Further along the coast, Eastbourne Pride 2025 will host its annual festival in July. The day-long event has live music, food and drink. The event listing also highlights that “love, acceptance, and celebration” are the core values of the event. We’re big fans.
When planning a parade (and parade-related events), you’ll definitely need to coordinate with local officials for any street closures and necessary permits.
It’s also a good idea to work with local LGBTQ+ organisations to gain their support and participation. If your town doesn’t have a local branch, try contacting the regional or national office of organisations like Stonewall.
2. Relive — or rewrite — memories at a Pride prom
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A Pride prom lets your attendees get nostalgic — but may also give them a chance to relive prom night in a more inclusive, accepting environment.
Encourage people to go to your prom with a partner or solo, and to dress to the nines. Then watch as they dance the night away to a DJ spinning classic beats. Be sure to provide refreshments and plenty of photo-ops.
Four Pillars is hosting LGBT+ Prom Night in honour of Transgender Day of Visibility in March. The event allows people to reclaim prom night and celebrate in a safe space. “Whether you missed out or didn’t feel free to express your authentic self, this is your moment,” the organisers write.
3. Host a dance party
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There’s no better way to celebrate than with dancing. To hold your own, all you need is music and a dance floor and you’re ready for a dance party. Having a Pride-themed event will attract a crowd, particularly if you team up with other local organisations that are also celebrating Pride.
Of course, you can skip the DJ and hire a band to provide live music. Up your event’s fun factor with lighting effects, snacks, and cocktails to keep people dancing well into the night.
The House Of Happiness is hosting a sober rave in London, where queer people and allies can come together to celebrate for an alcohol-free good time. Expect DJs, glitter and “fierce AF dancers”. Yes, please!
Ready to create a live music experience?
4. Get out there with a Pride bar crawl
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Long after the parade is over, invite your community to go out on the town with a themed bar crawl.
Guided pub crawls allow revelers to experience the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community in a fun and interactive way — and as part of a group. The crawl can be led by a person or go-at-your-own-pace vibe with a digital map provided to guide guests through the best bars, pubs, and clubs in the city at their own leisure.
If you’re planning your own crawl, contact local bars to see about arranging drink specials or deals on appetisers.
You might be surprised how willing bar and pub owners are to offer specials when they know a sizable crowd is coming. Don’t forget to look out for your guests’ safety — plan a walkable (or crawl-able) route or encourage guests to take an Uber.
💡Pro Tip: Partner with other businesses that will make it easier and more appealing for people to get to your event. Building lasting partnerships is a great way to gain support for your vision while increasing attendance.
FunnyBoyz UK hosts Drag Queen Pub Crawls every weekend on Friday and Saturday nights with guided tours for attendees. As a way to attract attendees, they negotiate free entry for ticket holders to each pub crawl venue for the entire weekend. Smart!
5. Host a drag performance or a cabaret
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A drag show or cabaret is a fantastic way to celebrate Pride as it offers a space for self-expression to truly thrive.
A well-executed show can create unforgettable moments and captivate audiences, and these types of performances honour Pride as they have deep roots in LGBTQ+ culture.
Be sure to promote your event heavily and consider unique ideas to encourage participation, like a best-dressed or come-as-your-favourite-character contest, a lip-sync battle that includes audience members, and even an open-mic portion for newcomers.
Eventbrite organiser Party With Ginger hosts lots of drag events in the capital for you to draw inspiration from. Ginger's Big Drag Bingo is particularly fun with prizes, party anthems, dance-offs, and team games.
Inspire with educational and cultural events
Thinking you might want your event to feature something more on the educational or cultural side?
If you consider the rich history and cultural contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, there are opportunities for Pride events related to human rights, literature and culture, and more.
6. Host a historical educational experience
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The fight for gay rights and marriage equality has come a long way, but the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality across the board is ongoing.
London with a Local hosts A Queer History of London - The LGBTQ+ Walking Tour. Guests can expect to learn about the history of drag queens in the 1700s, the secret gay soirées of the 1920s, and the infamous history of Soho, London’s iconic queer neighbourhood.
If you’d like to teach your community about significant LGBTQ+ historical moments and individuals, host your own historical conference or learning event.
Or, look at the issues that face queer and trans communities in the modern day. Invite scholars or local organisers to talk about the past, present, and future of the Pride movement and inspire your community to continue driving change.
7. Host a pride book club
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Celebrate Pride, queer expression, and radical inclusion with a book club event.
Queer Girls' Book Club hosts a monthly queer book club for women, trans and non-binary people to discuss contemporary and historically significant queer literature.
When hosting your own event, choose a welcoming and inclusive venue, and be sure to establish some ground rules for discussions. When choosing your books ensure the authors and topics are diverse — perhaps call on your community of bookworms for suggestions for future books. You can also theme your event for Pride!
8. Organise a comedy show
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Comedy is a powerful tool for social change, allowing performers to share their experiences, challenge stereotypes, and bring people together through humour.
Comedy Queers hosts weekly stand-up comedy nights in Hackney, East London featuring a range of acts.
When organising an event like this, it’s important to have a reliable host who can keep energy levels up between acts. And when it comes to tickets, consider giveaways to generate buzz as well as tiered pricing, such as early bird discounts or VIP seating with perks.
Connect and give back
Pride is more than just a celebration; it also presents a great opportunity to uplift the community and give back.
Organising events focused on connection and support — from charity fundraisers and volunteer-driven initiatives to benefit performances — adds depth and purpose to Pride celebrations.
When you blend fun with philanthropy, you can strengthen the sense of community while also ensuring that Pride leaves a positive and lasting mark far beyond the festivities.
9. Give back to the community
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LGBTQ+ communities continue to face discrimination, hardship, and violence.
Make a contribution to your community and raise awareness of important issues with a benefit or fundraising event.
It’s important to also “acknowledge the state of the world. Be real. Don’t pretend everything is OK; if you do, no one will buy into your message,” according to DEI Strategist Randi Bryant. So underscore the importance of raising money to support the community.
Want help hosting a fundraising event?
10. Showcase local artists and makers
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Organising a market is an excellent way to provide a platform for local queer artists, designers and makers to showcase their work, grow their businesses, and celebrate their creativity while also supporting the community economically.
There are many ways to create a unique experience in your vendor booths, such as including interactive craft workshops led by queer creators, creating Meet the Maker panels where vendors can share their stories, and incorporating live entertainment like drag performances or musicians to create an engaging atmosphere.
11. Foster connections through speed dating
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While many Pride events revolve around large parties and gatherings, speed dating offers a more intimate setting where people can meet new friends, or potential partners, in a warm, welcoming environment.
It’s also an excellent opportunity for people looking beyond nightlife and dating apps to make a real, human connection. Events like these allow people to connect with like-minded individuals, and while everyone won’t mesh romantically, friendship is also a worthy objective.
To warm up the crowd, consider hosting a mini-mixer prior to the main event to help people feel more relaxed before their one-on-one dates.
You can also offer people a swag bag to take home with small LGBTQ+-themed gifts, discounts at local queer businesses, or fun keepsakes to make the event feel even more special and memorable.
12. Get outside and explore
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Since Pride takes place in June, it’s prime time to get outside. Give your community a chance to enjoy the outdoors with their friends and family away from all the noise and glitter of a Pride parade.
London LGBTQ+ Community Centre hosts a monthly Queer Walking Group. The tours explore a range of routes across the capital, including green spaces and scenic canals.
For your own event, ask participants to wear a costume or dress up in Pride colours, or partner with a charity and collect donations or pledges as participants ride for a good cause.
13. Queer crafting events
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Celebrate queer creativity and expression by hosting an arts and crafts event.
Nottingham-based Zesty's Collective hosts monthly Queer Crafts meet-ups to explore queer creativity in a safe space. Each month a different medium is explored, depending on who is leading the session, from knitting to collage.
Make sure your venue is inclusive and welcoming, and consider offering snacks and drinks for your guests, too.
Plan an event you’re proud of
There are a ton of Pride Month activity ideas out there. Choose one that makes sense for your community and target audience, and look for opportunities to pair with local sponsors or organisations to expand your reach.
The first step is to find the perfect venue, then plan your theme, your activities, and invite your guests. Whatever format you choose, Eventbrite makes it easy to organise your event. You can sell tickets and track registrations, and market smarter with Eventbrite’s suite of marketing tools.
