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Stonewall Columbus Pride guide: What to know for this weekend's celebration
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival returns this weekend, welcoming thousands Downtown to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
The 44th Pride in Columbus, the march and festival remembers the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a series of conflicts between police and LGBTQ+ protesters that stretched over six days. The celebration also serves as Stonewall Columbus' largest fundraiser, benefiting community programs and annual operations.
Out in Ohio: Stonewall Columbus gets ready for Pride 2025
The city's first Pride march happened in 1981 with just 200 people. Today, Stonewall Columbus Pride welcomes more than 700,000 visitors. Watch the latest episode of Out in Ohio in the video player above.
This weekend's festival begins at 4 p.m. on Friday at Goodale Park and runs until 10 p.m. with food, more than 200 vendors, nonprofit organizations, community resources, and live entertainment across two stages with a DJ and dance pad. Friday's entertainers include host Amber Knicole joined by a lineup of 'allies and accomplices who have shown unwavering support and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.'
The celebration continues at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with Stonewall's Pride march at Broad and High streets, moving north on High Street to Buttles Avenue and landing at Goodale Park. Guests can reserve a premium viewing space with 'Pride on High' at Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Parlay Sporting Club and Kitchen, or El Vaquero.
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Pride on High tickets benefit four local charities and programs supporting the LGBTQ+ community: Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Mozaic by Equitas Health, Stonewall Columbus and Equality Ohio.
The festival resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Entertainers include Bronze Avery, a Los Angeles-based pop singer-songwriter and producer, and Figgy Baby, an internationally touring, non-binary Mexican rapper.
The festival will also feature a dedicated 'Wellness Area' with the Columbus Department of Public Health, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Equitas Health. Guests will find rapid HIV testing and other resources.
In preparation for the march and festival, there are a number of street closures to be mindful of. There will be residents-only access beginning mid-afternoon on Friday for the following:
Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue
Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street
Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street
Russell Street between High Street and Park Street
Milay Alley between High Street and Park Street
Poplar Ave between High Street and Park Street
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For the Saturday march, the following will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., or until cleanup has been completed:
High Street between Buttles Avenue and Rich Street
Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue
Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street
Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street
High Street between Main Street and Broad Street
Rich Street between Third Street and Front Street
Town Street between High Street and Front Street
State Street between Third Street and Front Street
Part of Stonewall's Pride celebration includes designating this year's Leader of Pride, recognizing an individual or group who use their voice to speak out in support of members of the LGBTQ+ community in central Ohio and beyond. This year's recipient is Slammers, a storied lesbian bar at 202 E. Long St.
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NBC4 will be streaming the parade from Pride on High, and anchor Colleen Marshall will be hosting the march along with Amber Nicole and Virginia West.
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