WORCESTER—Worcester is ready to shine this weekend as the city celebrates Pride Worcester, marking more than five decades of LGBTQ+ visibility, resilience, and joy. The festivities bring together thousands of participants, performers, and community members, offering a kaleidoscope of events that extend well beyond the main festival.
The heart of the weekend is Saturday’s Pride Worcester Festival, returning to downtown with more than 200 local vendors, artists, and makers. Main stage performances kick off at 3 p.m. on Franklin Street, featuring acts such as Roxxxy Andrews and a lineup that highlights the city’s vibrant queer talent.
Festival-goers can also witness the crowning of the new Royal Worcester Court, with Shanez’e Johnson, E’mani D’ior, and Sierah Leone taking the stage, while outgoing First Majesty Dale LePage performs to honor the legacy of the previous court.
Earlier in the day, the downtown streets come alive with the Pride March, beginning at 2 p.m. outside Femme Bar in the Canal District. The march, expected to include more than 600 participants, winds through downtown, merging energy and celebration into a powerful expression of solidarity.
“In a year that marks over 50 years of Pride in Worcester, and amid a national climate that continues to challenge the safety and visibility of LGBTQIA+ communities, this festival means more than ever,” said Ariana Dello Stritto, Pride Worcester festival director. “Thousands of people will gather in the heart of our city to celebrate joy, resilience, and love downtown. We’re proud to stand in solidarity with our community, our allies, and the hundreds of local businesses and organizations who show up to say: You belong here.”
Complementing the main event, Worcester’s Pride weekend includes a diverse array of additional celebrations. The New England Botanic Garden hosts a pride celebration Friday evening, combining lush gardens, a craft beer garden, artisan vendors, live music, and drag performances. Meanwhile, Mechanics Hall invites attendees to explore the Queer AF Ethereal Beings showcase, a multi-sensory celebration of trans and queer expression headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Raja. For those seeking reflection amid the revelry, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church offers a family-friendly Rainbow Worship Service, complete with interactive prayer practices and music led by queer clergy.
Saturday night continues the celebrations with the Bearspray After Party at Cocktail Garden & Kitchen, featuring a meet-and-greet with Roxxxy Andrews, while MB Lounge hosts Worcester’s biggest Pride block party, bringing together drag, DJ sets, and community fundraising in a high-energy, all-ages-adult-friendly setting.
From its first “Gay Pride Week” in 1975—when a hundred participants marched from City Hall down Main Street—to the present day, Worcester’s Pride events have grown into a cornerstone of local culture. What began as a protest for recognition and equal rights has evolved into a vibrant festival that draws tens of thousands, reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to celebration, visibility, and inclusion.
Did we miss anything? Send editor Charlene Arsenault a message at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org.
