Why is Austin Pride celebrated in August? What you need to know about Pride in the Texas capital

Pride celebrations traditionally take place in June, on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a series of riots against the New York City police. The riots were sparked by unjustified police violence at the Stonewall Inn, a New York City LGBTQ bar, from June 28 to July 3, 1969, which catalyzed changes in LGBTQ rights and visibility.

The following year, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago became the first American cities to hold a Gay Pride Day, on June 28, 1970. Houston established its own Pride celebration in 1979, followed by Dallas in 1983. While Austin’s Pride celebrations date back to April 1970, they were not officially sanctioned until 1990 with the creation of the Gay and Lesbian Pride Fiesta.

The theme for this year’s Austin Pride is “Queer Cabaret: Glamour and Glitter Unleashed.” What’s on the schedule of events and why is Austin Pride happening in August? Here’s what you need to know.

When is Austin Pride 2024?

The main celebration of Austin Pride 2024 is Saturday August 10The festival will take place at Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., the parade will start at the Capitol, proceed down Congress Avenue and end at Congress Bridge/Cesar Chavez Street.

Who will perform at Austin Pride 2024?

Saucy Santana will headline under the Queer Cabaret banner, joined by Mariah Balenciaga, Isabella Lovestory, Arya, Salina EsTitties, Kerri Colby and Adore Delano.

The full program and list of artists have not yet been released.

How much are tickets for Austin Pride 2024?

Tickets to the festival start at $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 7 to 17. Admission is free for children ages 6 and under. Tickets can be purchased online or at the festival gate.

Pride is free and open to the public.

Why is Austin Pride in August?

Pride celebrations run from June to August, allowing more students to participate in the festivities. While Houston and Dallas host Pride in June, a Pride in August or September welcomes UT Austin students back to campus for the fall semester.

The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation moved the event to September in 2011. It has been held in August since 2015. No official events were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Better entertainment options are also more accessible to Pride organizers in late summer, as there is less competition for Pride shows and vendors than in June.

Austin Pride is the largest HIV testing day of the year in Central Texas. Several local HIV service organizations will be conducting testing at the festival.

This article was originally published on the Austin American-Statesman: Why is Austin Pride in August? See the 2024 festival and parade schedules