Central New York Pride 2025: Revolutionary Love and a Month of LGBTQIA+ Celebration
Central New York Pride returns in 2025 with the theme Revolutionary Love unveiling a new and existing slate of events that reflect the strength, diversity, and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. At this year’s festival, the celebration will feature the yearly parade and festival along with new programming focused on joy, justice, and building community connections..
Organized by the all-volunteer non-for-profit CNY Pride, the festival draws more than 20,000 people each year. The organization’s mission—uplifting and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies—continues in 2025 with an emphasis on joy, justice, and building community bonds.
CNY Pride, a not-for-profit run entirely by volunteers, has been creating inclusive and affirming spaces since 1996. This year’s Pride invites everyone to celebrate love as a radical force for change, welcoming individuals of all identities, backgrounds, and abilities.
the 2025 Schedule:
SATURDAY, MAY 31
11 am: Annual Syracuse Progress First Light Flag Raising
City Hall (233 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY)
The Progress First Light hybrid flag, unique to Syracuse and designed by Syracuse native Eric Hart, symbolizes “Dawn’s first light over Syracuse” and reflects the land, people, and spirit of the region. Its elements honor the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, the area's geography, and local history, with colors representing restoration, perseverance, industriousness, and peace.
9 pm: Pride Month Kick Off Party
Gilded Club (415 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY)
Pride Month kicks off with a high-energy party at Gilded Club featuring local DJs and Drag performers.
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
11 am: Cordero Collective Pride Kickoff Party & Tattoo Flash Sale
Cordero Collective Tattoos (2105 W. Genesee St, Syracuse, NY)
Celebrate the start of Pride Month with ink, music, and community at Cordero Collective’s third annual Pride Tattoo Flash Sale!
Choose from flash tattoos ranging $20–$120, plus enjoy drag trivia with Arya Klos, food trucks, tabletop gaming with Syracuse Gaymers, local vendors, a gender-affirming barber, nail tech, DJ, photo booth, and a raffle benefiting CNY Pride.
2:45 pm: Town of Dewitt Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony
Dewitt Town Hall (5400 Butternut Road, East Syracuse, NY)
As in years past, the Town of DeWitt will host its annual Progress Pride Flag raising ceremony. Join this joyful celebration featuring speakers, music, dancing, performances, snacks, refreshments, local vendors, and more.
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
5 PM: Pride Night with the Syracuse Mets
NBT Bank Stadium (1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse, NY)
It's Pride Night with the Syracuse Mets! Tailgate starts at 5. Giveaways, deals on dogs and brews...enjoy great music on the deck and party with Come Out CNY and Syracuse Guerrilla Gay Events! All are welcome!
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
2 pm: Syracuse Guerrilla Gay Cafe: Pride Edition
Kelsey’s Coffee & Friends (1200 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY)
Guerrilla Gay Cafe is a monthly queer takeover event to promote queer visibility and positivity in Syracuse and Central New York. Guerrilla Gay Cafes happen on a weekend afternoon in a local coffee shop or venue where consumption of alcohol is not the central focus. Join us for this special Pride edition Guerrilla Gay Cafe!
SUNDAY, JUNE 10
7 pm: Pride Interfaith Service
May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society (3800 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY)
This event is a beautiful gathering of people of all faiths to celebrate queer joy. It’s become a beloved Pride Month healing tradition and all are welcome!
THURSDAY & Friday, JUNE 12 – 13
7 pm: New! Pride Ethos: A Living Exhibit
Everson Museum of Art (401 Harrison St, Syracuse, NY)
Pride Ethos is a two-night celebration of queer artistry featuring drag, burlesque, dance, and theatre in unexpected places throughout the museum. Suggested donation of $30 or pay what you can - one ticket gets you access to both shows, with a different cast each night.
Pride Ethos: A Living Exhibit is a production of Breadcrumbs Productions, GoJo Productions and Come Out CNY, and is made possible with funds from the Tier Three Project Support program, a regrant program of the County of Onondaga with the support of the County Executive and administered by CNY Arts, and with support from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).
Friday, JUNE 13
5 PM: New! Queer Happy Hour: Pride Edition
Salt City Coffee & Bar (484 S. Salina St, Syracuse, NY)
Come join us for a fabulous evening of queer networking at Salt City Coffee and Bar! Enjoy half-priced punch, their full cocktail and mocktail menu and array of beers on tap, and of course the company of other queers excited to get the weekend started off right! And if hunger strikes, the Salt City Market has tons of great food options to explore!
Saturday, JUNE 14
12 pm: Manlius Pride Festival
Seneca Street Brew Pub (315 E. Seneca St, Manlius, NY)
Now in its fourth year, the Manlius Pride Festival returns for an evening of celebration, solidarity, and community spirit. Enjoy live music, theatrical performances, local art vendors, food trucks, and a joyful, inclusive atmosphere at Seneca Street Brew Pub.
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
6:30 pm: CNY Pride Weekend Kickoff Party
cAloft Syracuse Inner Harbor (310 W. Kirkpatrick St, Syracuse, NY)
Get the CNY Pride party started with the official CNY Pride weekend kickoff party, featuring live entertainment.
saturday, JUNE 21
11 am: CNY Pride Parade
12 - 5 pm: Festival
The CNY Pride Parade and Festival is a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, held annually at Progress Park in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. The 2025 event is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, beginning with the parade at 11am, followed by the festival from 12pm to 5pm.
The parade features an energetic, colorful procession along Solar Street and West Kirkpatrick Street, showcasing the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.
The festival offers live entertainment, over 80 vendors, food and beverages, and a family-friendly area with activities for all ages. CNY Pride is committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment for all.
6 pm: Pride Picnic
Wolf’s Den (617 Wolf St, Syracuse, NY)
Don’t miss the Pride Picnic hosted by the Wolf’s Den - good food and great company in a safe and inclusive space for all. Bring your friends and your fabulous self!
doors open at 8 pm: Pride After Party
Song and Dance (115 E Jefferson St, Syracuse, NY)
Cap off your Pride Festival day in Syracuse with a dazzling night of drag and dancing at the Song & Dance Pride After Party, headlined by Jaida Essence Hall, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 and a fan favorite from the all-winners edition of All Stars 7.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
9 PM: New! Revolutionary Love Dance Party
Salt City Coffee & Bar (484 S. Salina St, Syracuse, Ny)
Close out Pride Month with one chance to dance! Join us for the new Revolutionary Love Dance Party at Salt City Coffee & Bar and come connect and celebrate community, love, and liberation one more time.
Organized in Collaboration with Come Out CNY
Several new events this year are presented in partnership with Come Out CNY. What began as Syracuse Guerrilla Gay Bar - monthly pop-up events to foster queer community - has grown into a broader movement to showcase CNY as a vibrant, welcoming place to live and visit.
CNY Pride is also supporting partner celebrations in:
Manlius – June 14
Cazenovia – June 28
Rochester and Cortland – July 19
for more information, visit comeoutcentralnewyork.com.