Rainbow flags are waving, it’s June and the sun is shining, and the streets of downtown Fayetteville are filled with celebration: it must be Pride Month in Northwest Arkansas!
The NWA Pride Parade & Festival Weekend in Fayetteville, AR is the largest LGBTQIA2+ Pride celebration in the state of Arkansas as well as one of the largest community celebrations we’ll have all year! It’s the icing on a week full of festivities celebrating pride, in a month with even more, and everyone is welcome to visit Fayetteville to safely commemorate the occasion. You'll find NWA Pride events taking place the entire month of June and lots of things to do to celebrate Pride in Fayetteville in the list below. When you’re celebrating with us, you belong!
2023 NWA Pride Month Specials in Fayetteville, AR:
Pride Punch at Fossil Cove Brewing
Don't miss your chance to taste the Official Beer of Northwest Arkansas Pride! A rainbow of pineapple, grapefruit, mango, tangerine, and cherry meet for a refreshing treat that's fruity, boozy, and perfectly PRIDE.
Get Your NWA Pride Gear
Support the organizers behind NWA Pride and look fabulous doing so! Snag your Gayetteville merch at gayetteville.com or pop into the Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center to see all the options for yourself.
Pride Pale Ale at Crisis Brewing
Just in time for the NWA Pride Parade and festivities, the freshly-tapped Pride Pale Ale has arrived! Lightly malty and slightly spicy, just like you. Grab a bumper sticker while you're at it for full Fayetteville Pride Vibes.
2023 NWA Pride Month Events in Fayetteville, AR:
NWA Pride Parade and Festival Weekend
Friday & Saturday, June 23-24, 2023
Click here to view the official festival schedule & map!
Friday, June 23
Pre-Pride Happy Hour
Alumni House, University of Arkansas - 5:00-7:00pm
Kick off the Pride festivities in Fayetteville with a happy hour on campus! The Arkansas Alumni association is hosting an evening of celebration, networking, and camraderie on the eve of NWA Pride Parade & Festival Weekend.
NWA Pride Trans March & Rally
Fayetteville Town Center Plaza - 6:00pm
The NWA Trans March will line up beginning at 6:00pm, marching at 7:00pm. The NWA Trans March Rally will follow immediately, at 7:30pm on the Fayetteville Town Center Plaza. The NWA Trans March is open to all with no pre-registration required. Anyone who supports Arkansas children, particularly trans and gender non-conforming youth, is invited to join.
PRIDE FLOW
ArtCourt - 6:00-7:00pm
Get your most vibrant and colorful yoga flow going in downtown Fayetteville! DJ Dribblz will provide the music while you're led through a beginner-friendly yoga flow session hosted by ELXR Yoga Lounge. Tickets are here and include post-class juices, protein bites, and giveaways! 100% of the proceeds will benefit NWA Equality.
NWA Pride TransFest
Fayetteville Town Center - 8:00pm
TransFest is a new event for NWA Pride 2023, taking place inside the Fayetteville Town Center. After the Trans March and Rally on the Plaza, move the party indoors and celebrate Trans Pride!
OUTrageously OUTloud House Party
Pryor Center - 6:00-10:00pm
A new vivacious celebration of LGBTQIA+ art, music, and community in the form of a free "house party" is heading to downtown Fayetteville! Organized by Art Ventures, The OUTragelously OUTloud House Party will showcase a virtual exhibition, an art installation by artist Dandy Pants, and live musical performances by local artists Taiga, Oh Losh, XOLO, and SusieQ.
Light Up Dance Party
Maxine's Tap Room - 8:00pm
Kiera Maserati will tear it up on the light-up dance floor, an annual tradition for Pride at Maxine's! They'll keep the floor up all weekend so you can celebrate and dance with your diverse and beautiful people whenever's good for you.
A Night With The Boys
C4 Nightclub & Lounge - 9:00pm-2:00am
Celebrate the night before NWA Pride Parade 2023 at C4! Featuring Orlando-based performer Axel Andrews, A Night With The Boys will be a fun-filled evening of local masculine entertainment with a STUD-ded cast.
Saturday, June 24
Likewise Bazaar
Likewise - 10:00am-2:00pm
The PRIDE edition of the popular downtown makers market & rummage sale will include the standard lineup of food, plants, goodies, and a rummage sale, but this month, with an extra dose of sparkle! Stop by to check out the selfie booth, use the facepaint supplies, and grab yourself a free Pride sticker, designed by Roostar Studios.
NWA Pride Festival
Downtown Fayetteville - 11:00am-4:30pm
Gather for a celebration of Pride in downtown Fayetteville! Join the rainbow brigade in the large parking lot located at the intersection of Dickson Street and West Avenue for a full slate of NWA Pride activities. A more detailed schedule is expected from event organizers in the weeks to come.
NWA Pride Youth Zone
Fayetteville Town Center - 11:00am-4:30pm
The Youth Zone at the Fayetteville Town Center will host activities for all ages so everyone can join in the fun at NWA pride! Activities will include family-friendly arts and crafts, storybook readings, an LGBTQ-supportive resource fair, and a Teen Zone with DJs, musical acts, and drag performers.
Pride Brunch & Bubbles
Bordinos - 11:00am-3:00pm
Gather your pals (and your inner diva) for a Pride Brunch at Bordinos that's full of fabulous food and fabulous queens! The brunch buffet will be unlimited and feature a mimosa bar, with the entire shindig hosted by Brooklyn Bisette, reigning Miss Gay Arkansas Entertainer of the Year.
Mx. NWA Teddy Bear 2023
Kingfish - 2:00-4:00pm
Pure fun and shenanigans return to the stage at Kingfish Bar for the 4th annual NWA Teddy Bear competition. The contest - and we use that term very loosely - is open to anyone of any gender (or no gender - come as you are), as long as they are 21+ and willing to be ogled by strangers! This year's categories include: Bear Wear and Onstage Questions, Talent, and Wet T-Shirt and Gator Wrestling.
Pride Celebration & Picnic
St. Paul's - 2:00-4:00pm
Gather in the green space with Pride attendees and share a picnic lunch on the lawn! Folks are invited and welcomed to gather and celebrate in the green space at St. Paul's from 11:00am to 7:00pm, with lunch served beginning at 2:00pm. There will be hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips, and cookies available and all are welcome to attend!
NWA Pride Parade
Dickson Street - 5:00pm
If you only make it to one event at NWA Pride, it's got to be this one! The longest-running tradition in the history of NWA Pride, the annual NWA Pride Parade, is the centerpiece of the festival weekend and a sight to behold. This 19th annual edition of the parade will roll down Dickson Street beginning at 5:00pm.
Pride Crawl
Ryleigh's - 5:00pm
Start at Ryleigh's for an NWA Pride Day Pub Crawl on Dickson Street! You'll get your passport before working your way down through the list of bars during Pride. After you finish, take home a wicked t-shirt and bragging rights.
NWA Pride Official Afterparty: Glitterville
George's Majestic Lounge - 9:00pm
The official afterparty of NWA Pride is just what you'd expect - and why tickets sell out every single year! Grab yours before they're gone and see Daya Betty (of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 fame) headline Glitterville 2023 alongside Arkansas entertainers Taylor Madison Monroe and Ella Rosa.
The Annual White Party
C4 Nightclub & Lounge - 9:00pm-2:00am
If you didn’t get tickets to Glitterville or want a little more of a local vibe, you belong at The White Party! A Pride weekend staple in NWA since 2010, this event is one of the most attended LGBTQIA2+ parties of the year in Fayetteville. Wear white to show solidarity for family and friends lost to HIV/AIDS while you party the night away! A portion of C4’s sales will be donated to HIV/AIDS initiatives.
Sunday, June 25
Hi Tea
Mount Sequoyah Center - 12:00-6:00pm
Keep the good vibes going post-parade at this mountaintop dance and pool party featuring the first-ever BITE NWA Brunch! Splash in the pool with tunes provided by DJ Driblz and DJ Stephen Jusko and dine on bites created by local, LGBTQ, and ally-owned eateries. Tickets are required for this day full of flavor and fun at Mount Sequoyah.
Earlier this month
Thursday, June 1
OUTrageous Opening Reception - Art Ventures - 5:00-8:00pm
Catch an exhibit opening at Art Ventures that's just in time for Pride! "OUTrageous" will showcase a diverse range of art styles, all with a focus on the role of queer art in society. Attendees can also enjoy a back-to-back DJ set by local LGBTQ+ musicians, pride-themed snacks, and a rainbow photo station to commemorate the occasion!
"Generations" Exhibit Opening - Fenix Arts - 5:30-8:30pm
This exhibit at the Fenix Gallery on Mount Sequoyah will highlight LGBT+ artists, including student and youth works. See the show on its opening night and you'll also be treated to a performance by The Misdemeanors live on the mountain.
Friday, June 2
Out & About Happy Hour - Nomads West End - 5:30-8:30pm
Start the month off with a proud cocktail in hand! June's Out & About Happy Hour at Nomads West End will feature DJ So Calm and a drag show with Ella Rosa, Jaylena, and Baxaer. 10% of sales are donated to NWA Equality, organizers of NWA Pride Parade & Festival Weekend.
Saturday, June 3
Toasted Drag Brunch - Wake & Bake - 11:30am-2:30pm
Join Northwest Arkansas queen Ella Rosa for brunch, buckets of mimosas, and an incredible drag performance! Wake & Bake will mark the occasion with drink specials and signature shots designed to pair perfectly with your drag brunch.
Sunday, June 4
NWA Pride Family Picnic - Wilson Park - 2:00-6:00pm
Celebrate equality at this inclusive family day, set in one of Fayetteville's most beloved public spaces! Sip on some sweet, sweet lemonade from local LGBTQ-owned business Pink House Alchemy, grab a snack, and enjoy live music in the park by Erin Detherage.
Adults Only Pride Pool Party - Wilson Park - 6:00-10:00pm
After the kids have had their fun in the park, the grown ups get to let loose at their very own adults-only pool party! Soak up the big Pride vibes with a cocktail in hand at the Wilson Park Pool in all your rainbow glory.
Tuesday, June 6
Out in the Garden - Botanical Garden of the Ozarks - 5:00-8:30pm
The first event of this year's free, family-friendly summer series "Terrific Tuesday Nights" at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks will kick off Pride Month in celebrating all LGBTQIA+ families, individuals, and their allies at "Out in the Garden". Snap a photo at the Pride-themed rainbow garden while live music plays and snacks abound, all under (almost) summer Ozark skies.
Saturday, June 10
Drag Me to Brunch - JJ's Live - 10:30am-1:30pm
Snag a 2, 4, or 8-top table to the JJ's Live inaugural Drag Brunch & your show's included! Hosted by Roxie Starrlite with music provided by DJ Zero Cool, Drag Me To Brunch will feature a brunch buffet, mimosa buckets, a build your own bloody mary bar, and drag queen meet & greets.
Sunday, June 11
OUTrageous Brunch with Hugs and Quiches - Art Ventures - 11:00am-1:00pm
Art Ventures will host a private brunch and unique viewing of the recently unveiled OUTrageous exhibition. Featuring a debut performance by neo-soul producer and vocalist Theia, an Arkansas native and NWA local, guests will also enjoy quiches, hashbrowns, waffles, mimosas and more at this art-filled brunch.
Ozarks Drag Brunch: History Repeating - Fayetteville Town Center - 12:00-3:00pm
If you're hungry for waffles and drag (aren't we all?), grab your tickets now for a brunchtastic celebration of Queer history! Join Billie McBride, Patti La Plae Safe, Lady Kakes, Abs Hart, and Miss Arkansas Entertainer of the Year, Brooklyn Bisette, for brunch, booze, and some of the best of drag in Arkansas at the Fayetteville Town Center. Tickets include a brunch buffet, a fabulous show, and access to a cash bar stocked with bloody marys and mimosas. 100% of proceeds benefit NWA Equality, organizers of NWA Pride Parade & Festival Weekend.
Wednesday, June 14
NWA Pride Trivia - Nomad's Trailside - 7:00-9:00pm
Thursday, June 15
Umami's Supper Club - Mount Sequoyah Center Dining Room - 6:30pm
Umami’s Supper Club will feature a family-style Laos dinner with cocktails and a drag show. Umami Origami is the cook and coordinator for the entire evening. Tickets here
Friday, June 16
DETOX - C4 Nightclub & Lounge - 9:00pm-2:00am
Gear up for NWA Pride Weekend at this Pride Drag Show headlined by Detox of RuPaul's Drag Race fame! Local drag performers Taylor Madison Monroe (Fayetteville’s former Miss Gay United States herself!) and Ella Rosa will support alongside other Fayetteville queens. For the die-hard fans, make plans to hit the meet & greet before the show.
Saturday, June 17
Big Gay Market - Pink House Alchemy + Sleet City Art & Supplies - 2:00-8:00pm
Northwest Arkansas' first and only all-queer maker's market, Big Gay Market, will set up shop at Pink House Alchemy and Sleet City Art & Supplies on the weekend before the official NWA Pride festivities. The third annual event will be full of Queer-made goods and the best opportunity to shop ALL the big gay vendors in one place for folks celebrating NWA Pride in Fayetteville.
Wednesday, June 21
Pride Hillbomb Workshop
Harmon Avenue Parking Garage - 6:00-8:00pm
Brush up on your skating skills or learn to hill bomb ahead of the NWA Pride Parade with the Arkansas Roller Skate Crew! Meet at the top level of the parking garage to learn basics, multiple ways to stop at high speeds, and how to carve and control speed on your skates. Everyone is welcome and wants you to have fun, so come along and learn! Experiencing the Pride parade on wheels is a whole new experience, trust us.
