NWA Pride Parade 2015 / Staff photo
The 11th annual Northwest Arkansas Pride celebration is set to begin this weekend.
Several events are planned from June 16-25, including a volleyball field day, happy hour, pub crawl, a family night, interfaith potluck, drag shows, and other events culminating in the annual Pride Parade on Dickson Street on June 24.
Staging for the parade begins at 9 a.m. on the square, and the parade will start at 11 a.m. The route will make its way down Dickson before ending at Old Main lawn on the University of Arkansas Campus.
After the parade, a festival is planned on the Fayetteville square featuring vendor booths, a beer garden, a dance party, community speakers, and more.
Organizers say the event has grown to become the largest Pride Event in Arkansas, drawing participants from all over the region.
Proceeds raised during NWA Pride events help to fund the free services and resources provided by the Northwest Arkansas Center for Equality, a nonprofit grassroots organization serving the LGBT community in Benton and Washington counties.
A full schedule of events for this year’s pride week festivities is below. For more information, visit nwaequality.org.
NWA Pride 2017 Schedule of Events
Friday, June 16
What: Top Diva Show featuring Jujubee
Where: C4 Lounge, Fayetteville
Time: 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 18
What: Volleyball Field Day
Where: Memorial Park, Bentonville
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Monday, June 20
What: Family Night
Where: Terra Studios, Fayetteville
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Wednesday, June 21
What: Happy Hour
Where: Tavola Trattoria, Bentonville
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 22
What: Diva Drag Bingo
Where: Foghorn’s on 15th, Fayetteville
Time: 7 p.m.
What: PRISM presents: a grown & sexy kickback* (80s Disco night featuring DJ Robert Bell)
Where: Maxine’s Tap Room
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 23
What: Pub Crawl
Where: Dickson Street, Fayetteville
Time: 6 p.m.
What: After Party & Drag Show
Where: C4 Lounge, Fayetteville
Time: 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 24
What: Arkansas-Missouri Railroad Shuttle Train
Where: Dickson Street and Baum Stadium, Fayetteville
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
What: NWA Pride Parade
Where: Dickson Street, Fayetteville
Time: 11 a.m.
What: NWA Pride Festival
Where: Town Center Plaza, Fayetteville
Time: 12 p.m.
What: Arkansas Pride Ride – Drag Train
Where: Dickson Street, Fayetteville
Time: 3:45 p.m.
What: Last Saturday Variety Show – Pride Edition
Where: American Legion Post, Fayetteville
Time: 7 p.m.
What: White Party
Where: C4 Lounge, Fayetteville
Time: 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 25
What: Interfaith Potluck
Where: Spirit of Peace, Fayetteville
Time: 12:30 p.m.
(*Not an official Pride Week event, but worth mentioning)
