Philly Pride Month Restaurant Guide, 2025
- eileen strauss
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
Every June since 1970, PRIDE Month has been celebrated across the United States and around the world, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City—a mass uprising sparked by a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. To honor that pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, activists organized the first Pride March, held in New York City on June 28, 1970.
Originally dubbed Gay Pride Week, Pride Month has evolved into both a vibrant celebration of identity and a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for equality. Each year, cities light up in rainbow colors, parades fill the streets, and communities come together in a shared spirit of solidarity and support.
The Philly Connection
Philadelphia’s dining scene plays a starring role in these celebrations, offering something for every budget and taste. From rainbow-hued pizzas and colorful bagels to vibrant confections and festive cocktails, local eateries creatively show their pride, uplift their communities, and foster inclusive spaces.
Whether it’s the Pride March in Philly’s iconic Gayborhood, a celebration in the Poconos, or events on the Atlantic City boardwalk, restaurants across the Delaware Valley are preparing to embrace Pride Month with Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.
Philly Area PRIDE Month Celebrations
In 2025, Philadelphia's Pride Month will feature events throughout the city, including Philly Pride Weekend starting on May 30th, with the main March and Festival taking place on Sunday, June 1st.
Philly Pride Weekend: May 30th to June 1st
A three-day city-wide celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, history, and community, filled with food, friends, and festivities.
Pride Weekend kicks off with Pride Around the City, a powerful display of LGBTQ+ visibility and unity as the city unveils the largest Pride flag in Philly history, spanning 600 feet, which will be carried through iconic locations across the city starting at the Art Museum and ending in the Gayborhood!
A night of music, performances, and community connections, visitors can celebrate in style at the Pride Promenade at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the city’s stunning cultural landmark. Honoring the beauty and strength of the LGBTQ+ community, guests can dress-to-impress or simply come as they are and soak in the experience.
The Philly Pride March & Festival: Sunday, June 1st
Kicking off the final day of the weekend, The Philly Pride March unites thousands of community members, activists, and allies in a powerful display of LGBTQ+ visibility and solidarity.
Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Philadelphia Gayborhood, 13th & Locust Streets
After the march, the celebration continues at the Philly Pride Festival, featuring drag performances, musical acts, shopping, a Community Resource Fair, and plenty of restaurants from around the city serving delicious cuisines from around the world.
How Restaurants Can Engage with PRIDE
Restaurants in Philadelphia can engage with Pride celebrations in various ways. Here’s how!
Be a Vendor: Restaurants can apply to be vendors at the Philly Pride Festival, showcasing their business and connecting with the community.
Sponsorship: Sponsoring events like the Pride March or Pride parades demonstrates support and provides valuable visibility.
Participate in the March: Restaurants can encourage staff and customers to participate in the Pride March, showing unity and support.
Cross-Promote: Collaborating with other LGBTQ+-friendly businesses can boost visibility and create a wider impact.
Official Pride Bar Crawl: June 14th
This “Party-with-a-Purpose” takes participants through some of Philadelphia’s most inclusive bars and pubs, filled with vibrant music, laughter, and a whole lot of Pride.
More than just a pub crawl; The Philly Pride Bar Crawl is a celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion; and a chance to drink, dance, and create moments that won’t soon be forgotten.
Family Pride Day at the Franklin Institute: June 1st
A special day of programming for the whole family that highlights the contributions of Philadelphia organizations that help uplift, educate, and nourish the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
Pocono Pride Festival: June 2nd
Folks who prefer lakes and mountains to beaches and big cities, head north for the Pocono Pride Festival on Sunday, June 2 from noon to 5 p.m. This year's celebration will have more than 100 vendors and performances across two stages.
New Hope Celebrates Pride Parade: May 17th
Just north of Philadelphia, the New Hope Celebrates Pride Parade stands out as the only Pride parade in the U.S. that crosses a state line. A tradition going back more than 20 years, the riverfront communities of New Hope and Lambertville come together every year to host New Hope Celebrates , one of the first Pride parades of the season.
Set along the beautiful Delaware River, this Pride festival connects two towns in two different states by the New Hope & Lambertville Bridge, with the highlight of the parade, the unveiling of their 100ft. Rainbow Equality Flag.
Kicking off in Lambertville, NJ, the parade marches across the Delaware over the 120-year-old Lambertville-New Hope Bridge to New Hope, PA, uniting two towns, two states, and the entire LGBTQ+ community.
This year's New Hope Celebrates festivities are scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2025, featuring a colorful procession of floats, marching bands, and community groups. The parade culminates in a lively Pride Fair at Pride Park in New Hope, offering live entertainment, family-friendly events, and food vendors.
How Restaurants Can Get Involved
Restaurants can join as official Pride Partners. This partnership supports the LGBTQ+ community and provides visibility during the festival. Partners are encouraged to host events, offer promotions, or contribute in other meaningful ways.
Enter Best Cocktail Contest
From May 2 to 18, 2025, participating bars and restaurants in New Hope and Lambertville can enter the Best Cocktail Contest. This friendly competition invites establishments to create and serve Pride-themed cocktails. Customers can sample these drinks and vote for their favorites, adding a fun and interactive element to the festivities.
Be a Vendor
The Pride Fair, held at Pride Park in New Hope, features a variety of vendors offering food, drinks, and merchandise. Restaurants interested in participating must submit an online application to be considered. Accepted vendors will have the opportunity to showcase their offerings to thousands of attendees.
Host Pride-Themed Events
Leading up to and during Pride Week, restaurants can host themed events such as drag brunches, live music nights, or special Pride menus. These events not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community but also attract patrons looking to join in the festivities.
Join the Parade
While the parade itself is a community-wide event, restaurants can participate by sponsoring floats, marching groups, or providing refreshments along the parade route. This involvement shows support and adds to the vibrant atmosphere of the parade.
More Philadelphia Area Pride Events
Chestnut Hill Pride: June 22nd
Chestnut Hill's second annual Pride Party comes later in the month. Scheduled for Saturday, June 22, the party is happening from 2-5 p.m. at NoName Gallery on Germantown Avenue.
Delaware County Pride Parade: June 1st
The Delaware County Pride Parade will march down State Street in Media on Saturday, June 1. Performances will take place along the 1-mile parade route.
Bucks-Mont PRIDE Festival: June 30th
The fourth annual Bucks-Mont PRIDE Festival will happen Sunday, June 30 from 12-5 p.m. at the Abington Art Center. This year's free event will have both indoor and outdoor activities, music and resources.
South Jersey Pride
From festive cocktails to rainbow confections, local Jersey chefs are crafting menus that honor identity, diversity, and deliciousness.
Jersey Pride, Asbury Park: June 2nd
The 32nd annual Jersey Pride celebration will take place Sunday, June 2 in Asbury Park. The 2024 parade is set to start at noon at Asbury Park City Hall. The festival, which features performers, food vendors and community groups, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cape May Pride: June 20th
Equality Cape May is hosting a Pride March on Thursday, June 20th along the promenade to the Convention Center, followed by a family-friendly afterparty at the Inn of Cape May from 7 to 10 p.m.
Haddon Township Parade & After Party: June 6th & 8th
The Haddon Township Pride Parade and After Party are scheduled for Thursday, June 6th from 6-10 p.m. on Haddon Avenue. Organizers also plan to host a Drag Queen Story Hour at a yet-to-be-disclosed location on Saturday, June 8th.
Ocean City Pride Fest: June 1st
The 2024 OC Pride Fest is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 and kicks off at 9 a.m. with a Pride Walk. The following celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ocean City Civic Center.
More Ways to Show Your Pride
There are many ways restaurants can show support for the LGBTQ+ community every day, but Pride month is a time to wave your rainbow flag especially high.
Pride-Inclusive Staff Training
Conduct training sessions with your staff to promote inclusivity and sensitivity. Educate your team about LGBTQ+ issues, appropriate language, and respectful behavior to ensure a welcoming experience for all customers.
Host LGBTQ+ Fundraisers
Organize fundraisers for local LGBTQ+ organizations or charities. Consider donating a portion of your Pride Month sales to a local LGBTQ+ cause. It’ll not only show that your restaurant is putting money where your mouth is, but it’ll ring loudly with your customer base.
Rainbow Tasting Menu
Create a rainbow tasting menu with colors that change each week of June.
Invite customers to come in on the first week to taste-test your “green” menu filled with specials ranging from healthy salads and smoothies to green beer.
The next week, create a “purple” menu including items like eggplant parm and plum salad.
“Red” week could include anything from pizza to pasta, and red velvet cake to sangria Pride Punch punch.
Then feature creative twists on Mac ‘n cheese and corn-on-the cob on “yellow” week.
Entice customers to come back each week to receive a stamp on a loyalty card which they can turn in for a free menu item in July. Alternatively, you could name each day of the week with a theme color, making Mondays blue day, Tuesdays red day, and so on.
Using colors across your menu in the month of June is a simple, fun, and chic way to show your support.
Experiment with Rainbow Recipes
When it comes to food, Pride Month is the perfect opportunity to experiment with color, flavor, and fun new recipes. From Over-the-Rainbow Bagels to colorful Ombre Cookies, pride recipes are great ways to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community throughout the month of June.
Try these rainbow recipes to show your support.
After you’ve decided how colorful your support will be, don’t forget to take all that to your social media channels with banners about your promotions, menu specials, and donations. Posting insider stories will go a long way to show your support and help drive traffic to your restaurant.
Offer LGBTQ+ Employee Resources
Create or support LGBTQ+ employee resource groups within your restaurant. This provides a platform for your LGBTQ+ staff to feel comfortable, connect and support one another, and share their experiences.
Dig Deeper
After adding color to your menu and media presence, dig deeper into supporting the LGBTQ+ movement by getting in touch with the community in your own backyard. Talk to your staff about their personal connections to the Pride movement and ask for their input about ways to show your support.
Consider donating a portion of your Pride month sales to a local LGBTQ+ cause. It’ll not only show that your restaurant is putting money where your mouth is, but it’ll ring loudly with your customer base. When customers see that dining at your establishment means supporting what they believe in, you become more than a business – you become a part of a team.
Collaborate with Local LGBTQ+ Artists, Musicians, and Performers
Host events featuring LGBTQ+ artists, musicians, or performers. This collaboration not only shows support but also provides a platform for local talent to showcase their skills.
Pride-Themed Promotions
Offer Pride-themed discounts, promotions, and special offers throughout the month. This can include happy hours, brunch specials, or themed dining experiences. Collaborate with other LGBTQ+-friendly businesses in your area by pooling your marketing efforts, creating cross-promotions, or hosting joint events to celebrate Pride Month.
FAQs
Do I need to be an LGBTQ+-owned business to celebrate Pride?
Not at all. Pride is about showing support, inclusivity, and allyship. Any restaurant can participate respectfully by celebrating diversity and creating a welcoming space for all.
What’s the best way to promote my Pride Month efforts?
Use social media to spotlight your Pride-themed dishes, share stories behind them, tag local LGBTQ+ groups, and use relevant hashtags like #PrideMonth and #LGBTQAlly to boost visibility and engagement.
Take Away
With many Pride events just weeks away, now’s the perfect time for restaurants to start planning their menus, promotions, and social media campaigns.
Whether you’re mixing a signature cocktail for New Hope’s Best Cocktail Contest, serving up rainbow-inspired specials, or hosting your own Pride-themed event, a little preparation goes a long way. By joining the celebration early, your business can proudly take part in a movement that feeds both hearts and communities—one dish, drink, and post at a time.
By Eileen Strauss
