Pride in Berkeley: 13 festivals, parades and events this summer

The Pacific Center for Human Growth is hosting Berkeley Pride on Sunday, Aug. 20. Courtesy: Pacific Center for Human Growth

June is Pride Month, and events for people of all ages, abilities, and budgets are firing up throughout the summer in Berkeley to celebrate and honor the history of the LGBTQ+ community and its historical icons.

At the end of August, the Berkeley Pride Festival returns for its second year in a row with the theme “From Joy to Justice,” a continuation from last year’s “Queer Joy” theme.

It “recognizes that our joy is powerful, especially in a time when LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face discrimination and attacks on our rights,” said Matthew Easterwood, co-manager of Berkeley Pride. “This year’s theme honors both the celebration of who we are and the ongoing work of creating a more equitable future.”

The festival will now be at Civic Center Park, a more expansive space than last year’s location on Oxford Street below UC Berkeley’s crescent lawn and Easterwood hopes that it will be an “even more accessible, welcoming, and intergenerational experience” for attendees of all ages and backgrounds.

Explore other Pride events below that are happening in Berkeley in June and beyond.

💥 Watch a screening of the documentary “No Straight Lines,” which illustrates the stories of five pioneering comic book artists who broke the doors open and made LGBTQIA+ lives visible in the comic book world. Director Vivian Kleiman and artist Ajuan Mance will be in conversation for a Q&A session after the screening. Saturday, June 13, 2 p.m. South Branch Library. FREE

😨 Drown in secondhand embarrassment at MORTI-PRIDE, a show where the all-LGBTQ cast will dig up their journals, letters and other artifacts from their teen years to read them to the audience. From awkward first kisses to cringeworthy lyrics, the cast confronts their past in the name of self-degradation. Saturday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. 1317 San Pablo Ave. $25-$35

💬 Take a chance at “Spin a Tale,” a story slam where you spin the wheel to get your prompt and tell a five-minute tale. LGBTQIA+ community members and allies are welcome. Sunday, June 14, 6 p.m. The Marsh. $10-$25

🌈 Get decked out for Pride by making buttons and friendship bracelets — snacks and materials are included. All LGBTQIA+ folks and allies are welcome, as long as children are supervised by an adult. You can also bring your own printed images to make 1 and 1.5 inch buttons. Wednesday, June 17, 3-4:30 p.m. South Branch Library. FREE

🎵 Learn more about the life of jazz musician and trans culture icon Billy Tipton in the documentary screening of “No Ordinary Man.” The documentary provides an in-depth look into Tipton’s life as a trans male musician, as told and complemented by the experiences of contemporary trans performers. Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m. 2087 Addison St. FREE

🎮 Bay Area saxophonist, composer and transgender Asian American Eli Maliwan presents a live quintet version of his solo debut “Elysia Marginata,” which explores video-game inspired cinematic composition from a “jazz nerd” lens. Saturday, June 20, 8 p.m. 2087 Addison St. $15-$25

🎥 The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival is coming to BAMPFA, with the museum showing four international queer films: “Gugu’s World” on Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m.; “Acting Like Women” on Sunday, June 21 at 3:30 p.m.; “Virgina” on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m.; and “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” on Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. $18.50-$19.50

🏒 If you need a reason to (re)watch this year’s most talked-about queer show, come to the Heated Rivalry trivia night with pizza, prizes and activities in store. The event is currently full, but you can still join the waitlist. Thursday, June 25, 5:30 p.m. West Branch Library. FREE

🎷 The Oakland-based musical collective FAGJAZZ presents The Strayhorn Sessions, honoring the jazz works and legacy of Billy Strayhorn, a gay Black jazz musician who collaborated closely with Duke Ellington. Original compositions by the collective will also be played. Saturday, June 27, 8 p.m. 2087 Addison St. $15-$25

🐻 UC Berkeley alums, students, faculty, staff and friends are invited to help represent Cal at the San Francisco Pride Parade by marching together. Time, location and other details will be announced closer to the event. Parade is on Sunday, June 28. FREE

🎶 Jam out at The Freight’s second annual Pride show, featuring performances by women and nonbinary musicians from a variety of genres and backgrounds. The show is curated by musician Vicki Randle and backed by Oakland-based queer female quartet Skip the Needle. Sunday, June 28, 7 p.m. $25-$44

🏳️‍⚧️ The Center for Independent Living is hosting a Disability and Trans/Queer Pride, which will celebrate Pride in the lens of disability justice through live performances, music, art and collective care. A makeup station, quiltmaking and storytelling station, and a quiet/low sensory space will also be available. Saturday, July 11, 1-4 p.m. 3075 Adeline St. FREE

🏳️‍🌈 The Pacific Center for Human Growth is hosting Berkeley Pride 2026: From Joy to Justice, featuring local artists and performers, resource and service providers, community partners and programming for people of all ages. Sunday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Civic Center Park. FREE

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