Worcester Pride is BACK
{ Eric Casey }
Folx, Worcester Pride is BACK. Thousands of members of the LGBTQ+ community (and allies) from across the region will soon descend on our fair city, looking to enjoy yet another year of festivities that seek to celebrate the best things that the local queer community has to offer.
In case you need a refresher, the modern form of Pride Worcester honors a tradition of LGBTQ+ activism in the area that dates back to the 1970’s, when the first Gay Pride Week was held near City Hall. It could be argued that the festivities placement outside of traditional Pride Month celebrations in June allows for a greater focus on the uniqueness of the Worcester LGBTQ+ community.
As has been well documented by the Worcester County LGBTQ+ History Project, the city has a rich history of queer culture, and is in many ways the historic heart of New England’s’ LGBTQ+ scene. Worcester Pride serves as both an important tribute to that past, as well as an insightful peek into the future of the queer landscape via youth-focused events.
Of course, this year’s celebration comes as some of the country’s worst political forces continue to find new and innovative ways to harm and divide the LGBTQ+ community. As a reflection of this ongoing reality, this year’s event calendar contains a wide variety of programming that is designed to reinforce the fact that the queer community is united through the celebration of everyone’s diversity and differences. There’s a little bit of something for everyone, including film screenings, art gallery exhibits, fashion shows, and – of course – tons of parties.
The 2023 Worcester Pride calendar is absolutely jam-packed. In fact, organizers went as far as to describe it as “THIQUE.” As of press time, the list of activities continues to grow, but here’s a preview of just some of the highlights:
CITY HALL FLAG RAISING (August 31st, 3pm):
It’s perhaps a happy coincidence that Worcester’s official city flag pole is at the intersection of Main Street and what you could argue is the gayest street in the city: Franklin Street. Not only was it the location of the first Worcester Gay Pride Parade back in 1975, this area of town has been host to a number of important LGBTQ+ institutions throughout local history, including the Paris Cinema, the Golliwog Lounge, and the Coronado Cocktail Lounge – all just steps from City Hall. To top things off, Franklin Street also makes up one of the four boundaries of “The Block,” an area that was once described as one of top places in the country for cruising back in the 1970’s.
Today, this area of the city could be described as the hub of Worcester Pride, making it an appropriate spot to begin the festivities with the official City Hall Flag Raising. So come by to salute the queer colors as they ascend the flagpole, signaling the initiation of another two weeks of enrichment and excitement.
DIVA’S DRINKS AND DOLLS (September 1st, 9PM-11PM):
Get your first taste of Worcester Pride as Diva D brings some of her favorite performers to the Harpoon Worcester Beer Garden. Enjoy a night of drag, drinks and dancing as performers like Mal E. Fishn’t, Robyn Millyonz, Christina Bristol, and Louie & Lady Lasso dazzle you with their moves. There’s no cover, but don’t forget to bring tips for the performers!
PRIDE KICK-OFF BLOCK PARTY (September 2nd, 8PM-1:30AM):
This 21+ event will be held in the Mai Tai Sushi and Bar parking lot at 69 Green Street near Polar Park, and will be once again put on by Queer The Scene, the region’s premier LGBTQIA+ production and event group. As of press time, details are still being pieced together, but if it’s anything like kick off block parties of the past, expect it to be the perfect way to get the celebration going. Tickets will be available for purchase online via Pride Worcester’s website.
TRANS AND NONBINARY WORKSHOP AND SOCIAL (September 6th, 5:30PM-9PM)
Put together by the Trans Community of New England, this workshop and social is designed to be a safe space for masc and fem trans and nonbinary people to connect in a welcoming atmosphere. It will be hosted at the YWCA located at 1 Salem Square.
BEYOND ACCEPTANCE YOUTH PROM (September 7th, 4PM-8PM)
Set aside for folx between the ages of 11 and 17, this event seeks to be a welcoming place of acceptance for LGBTQIA+ youth as activists continue to work to make traditional school-based proms a more welcoming environment for everyone.
This year’s prom will be held at the Bull Mansion, located at 55 Pearl Street.
NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL’S PRIDE CELEBRATION (September 7th, 5PM-9PM)
With a fresh new name that properly represents its prominent place in New England’s botanical scene, the garden formerly known as Tower Hill has been crushing it as of late, recently named the Best Botanical Garden in the U.S. by TravelAwaits. With its endless array of beautiful landscape and colorful flowers, it’s the perfect place to celebrate the beauty of the local LGQBT+ community.
This year, NEBG’s celebration will feature a themed Decades Dance Party, a drag show, artisan vendors, and a craft beer garden serving up some fine brews and light bites. Whatever era you choose to represent with your wardrobe, you’re bound to have a good time partying in this beautiful blooming venue.
More details can be found at nebg.org/pridecelebration. NEBG is located at 11 French Dr, Boylston.
QUEER AF: ART+FASHION SHOW – “I AM A GALAXY”
Space. The final queer frontier.
Queer AF is a night designed to celebrate fashion, art, and community building, and this year’s theme is “I Am A Galaxy,” a tribute to the multifaceted nature of identity and the way it mimics the structures of galaxies. Known as the “Met Gala of Massachusetts,” perhaps it's time we instead start describing the Met Gala as the “Queer AF of Manhattan.”
This year’s event will be hosted at historic Mechanics Hall, and guests should expect a night of dazzling fashion as designers, artists and models shatter your expectations with breathtaking works of wearable art. All of this, of course, is raising money for an extremely important cause: Love Your Labels, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth through art, fashion, and design.
(If you happen to be a queer creator or artist yourself, make sure to also check out the Queer Artist/Maker Night at the Creative Hub, September 7th from 6:30PM to 8:30PM.)
PRIDE WORCESTER FESTIVAL (September 9th, 2PM-7PM)
On the second weekend of pride, the party heads back to Franklin Street for one of the month’s marque events: The Pride Worcester Festival. This event is sure to draw a massive crowd to the Common, showcasing the vast size of the local LGBTQ+ community and their allies and turning the area around City Hall into a cornucopia of colors. Expect live music, food, and a ton of other activities to keep you entertained.
WORCESTER PRIDE RIDE (September 9th, 2PM-3PM)
Get ready to pedal as the annual Worcester Pride Ride takes to the streets of Wormtown. Starting at the city’s famous Turtleboy Fountain, participants are encouraged to jump on their favorite form of human-powered transportation and follow a winding route through the city's many districts before looping back to the festival. This rolling rally is sure to be one of the more impressive showings of the strength of the local queer scene.
CENTRAL MA OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK TO PREVENT SUICIDE (September 10th, 9AM-1PM)
Join the larger Worcester community for this important fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This year’s walk will take place around Polar Park, starting at DCU Plaza. There is no registration free, but donations are highly encouraged. Head to www.afsp.org/centralma for more information.
PRIDE TEA DANCE (September 9th, 2PM-3PM)
Saturday is certainly filled to the brim with great events, but be sure to make some time to make your way over to Femme (62 Green Street), the city’s newest space for queer women, for a casual afternoon tea dance consisting of plenty of drinks, food and music. This adults-only event has a $15 cover.
STUDIOXPRESENTS: LET THEM EAT CAKE (September 9th, 8PM-10PM)
Sacrebleu! A pole-based variety show described by organizers as a “gender bending, rule breaking, massacre of talent with a bourgeoisie theme and obnoxiously divine acts,” this event is sure to leave you in a daze. Despite the 18th century theme, attendees should be aware that strobe lights, sirens, and other special effects may be used. Hosted at the BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, tickets for this dazzling performance cost $26.50.
DRAG STORYTELLERS WITH LOVE YOUR LABELS (September 10th, 11AM-1:30PM)
Head to First Baptist Church of Worcester (111 Park Avenue) to witness drag performers tell stories aiming to remind our youth of their value, creating a safe space for queer and allied families alike. All are welcome at this free event, which include readings by Allister and Claude Kitten.
PRIDE FILM SCREENING (September 15th, 7PM-9PM)
Join the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America for a screening of Pride, a 2014 film depicting the unique alliance between striking coal miners and the gay/lesbian community in the United Kingdom during the 1980’s. This event is free to attend but requires an RSVP to attend, head over to www.worcesterdsa.org/events for more information.
MORE EVENTS
You can find a full list of events and details about volunteering at Pride Worcester’s website (www.prideworcester.org).