PRIDE 2021 Arts & Culture Activities

2021 PRIDE Arts & Culture Activities

Most events are FREE events, some require tickets
Events take place a different venues throughout New Haven

Join us throughout PRIDE New Haven and explore the creative side of the LGBTQ+ community. From art exhibitions to drag shows, live music to exploring our community’s local history – PRIDE New Haven has it all. Check out below all of our Arts & Culture programming below, most of which is FREE.

Arts & Culture programming is a vital component of the Center’s mission and annual programming. The Center is the curator of the only LGBTQ+ exclusive gallery series in Connecticut, prior to COVID-19 was the producer of the only LGBTQ+ centric performing arts series in the State and an investor in LGBTQ+ artists with more than $25,000 being invested in Connecticut LGBTQ+ artists annually.

The PRIDE Arts & Culture programming was curated by Center Executive Director Patrick J Dunn.

Thank you to our PRIDE Presenting Sponsors

PRIDE 2021 Arts & Culture Events Schedule

PRIDE Drag Brunch
Sunday, Sept 12 @ 11:30a

Te Amo Tequila, 182 Temple St, New Haven

Drag brunch is always a blast of fun! Big hair, high heels, amazing talent and delicious food – what could be better way to kick-off your 2021 PRIDE New Haven! Drag brunch will feature performances by Ivanna, Midnight, Frankie M. Cyanide, and Mz. October May Lay and with DJ Edgewood. The host for the Drag Brunch will be no other than Connecticut’s queen of impersonation Loosey LaDuca.

10% of all sales support PRIDE New Haven and our artists.
No tickets required, reservations strongly encouraged! Find on Open Table or click here.
We are using Te Amo Tequila’s regular menu.

Thank you to our sponsor Te Amo Tequila.

Art Opening : Drawing in Spanglish
Monday, Sept 13 @ 6:00p

New Haven Pride Center, 84 Orange Street, New Haven

The New Haven Pride Center’s Great Room Gallery exhibits talented LGBTQ+ artists from across Connecticut throughout the year and has featured the works of more than 30 artists since it was launched at the end of 2017.

Drawing in Spanglish features the artwork by two New Haven Latinx artists, Juancarlos ‘JC’ Soto and Jesús Abraham Morales Sánchez. This exhibition includes works with deep connections to JC and Jesús’ cultural heritage, activism, and identities.

FREE program.

Thank you to our sponsors New Haven Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.

Weekday Concert : Ladies Night
Wednesday, Sept 15 @ 6:00p

North Haven Fairgrounds, 290 Washington Avenue, North Haven

Join us for the first of our three weekday concerts. The first concert will feature some of Connecticut’s most recognizable queer woman musicians for a lovely night of music under the evening sky. The evening will feature performances by Lesbian music icon Carrie Ashton and quirky and theatrical Queer indie rock band Semaphora. The evening will also feature food truck Caribe Soul who will have some tasty treats and a cash bar and beer garden provided by Gotham Citi.

FREE program.

Thank you to our sponsors Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Yale New Haven Health, and New England Brewery.

Performance : Drag on the Edge
Wednesday, Sept 15 @ 8:00p

Gotham Citi, 84 Orange Street, New Haven

Join us for an explosive exploration of the art of drag. Every style and form of drag is valid as performance art and we are bringing together some of Connecticut’s most incredible drag artists to showcase the vast variety of drag art. From edgy performances and political statements, to drag of many genders and expressions – drag can be anything and everything. The show will include performances by Chai, Ambrosia Black, Frankie M. Cyanide, Paxx Headroom, Glass Staine, Rory Roux Lay and Ram Shackle and with DJ Ephraim Adamz. Drag on the Edge will be hosted by one of New England’s most recognizable drag artists, Rhode Island’s Complete Destruction.

Thank you to our sponsor and PRIDE Co-Producer Gotham Citi / Empire Entertainment.

$10 Ticket or $5 Virtual Access
Tickets can also be purchased at the door

Buy Tickets

Weekday Concert : Family Night
Thursday, Sept 16 @ 6:00p

North Haven Fairgrounds, 290 Washington Avenue, North Haven

Join us for the second of our three weekday concerts. The second concert will feature some fabulous family-friendly fun for a great family get away under the evening sky. The evening will feature performances by Western Massachusetts’ drag sensation and cosplay artist ChibiCon and the circus hula hoop artist BringtheHoopla. There will also be some fun family-centric activities from our friends at Town Green District and Artist & Craftsman Supply New Haven. The evening will also feature food truck Caribe Soul who will have some tasty treats.

FREE program.

Thank you to our sponsors Yale New Haven Health, GLSEN Connecticut, Avangrid Foundation, and Center for Advanced Reproductive Services.

Weekday Concert : Black Pride Night
Friday, Sept 17 @ 6:00p

North Haven Fairgrounds, 290 Washington Avenue, North Haven

Join us for the third of our three weekday concerts. The third concert will feature some of our most talented Black Queer community members. The evening will feature performances singer-songwriters Taija New and Myles Jeh, New Haven rap artists Indigaux, and spoken word artists Versatile Poetiq and Anne:Gogh. The evening will also feature food truck Caribe Soul who will have some tasty treats and a cash bar and beer garden provided by Gotham Citi.

FREE program.

Thank you to our sponsors Yale New Haven Health, and New England Brewery and presented in partnership with Black Lives Matter New Haven.

PRIDEfest
Saturday, Sept 18 @ 12:00p

North Haven Fairgrounds, 290 Washington Avenue, North Haven

Join us at the North Haven Fairgounds where 6 hours of PRIDE entertainment and activity await you! Family-fun activities, food vendors, artist booths, information booths, and whole lot of LGBTQ+ performers take center stage for one of Connecticut’s largest annual events. This year’s PRIDEfest will be hosted by Xiomarie LaBeija and Sparkle A. Diamond. Read more!

FREE program.

Thank you to our sponsor and PRIDE Co-Producer Gotham Citi / Empire Entertainment.

LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour
Sunday, Sept 19 @ 10:30a & 12:30p

New Haven Pride Center, 84 Orange Street, New Haven

Take a special walking tour through New Haven’s LGBTQ+ history with Pride Center founder and LGBTQ+ historian John D. Allen, Ed.D. Hear about Connecticut’s first sodomy hanging, the long history of LGBTQ+ icons and their relationships with New Haven, and even a few of the cruising hot spots that have long survived Connecticut’s changing legal landscape.

FREE program.

Drag Brunch : TropiSoul La-La
Sunday, Sept 19 @ 12:00p & 2:00p

Drag brunch is always a blast of fun! Big hair, high heels, amazing talent and delicious food – what more do you want on a Sunday early afternoon! TropiSoul La-La Drag brunch will feature performances by saxophonist Marc Esposito, and drag artists Barbara Joan Streetsand, Sparkle A. Diamond, and Bonnie Petit and will be hosted by Center Board Member Dolores Dégagé Hopkins.

$35 Tickets (includes brunch and one mimosa)
There are two seatings

Thank you to our sponsor Soul de Cuba.

Buy Tickets

CT Connection
Sunday, Sept 19 @ 2:00p

Virtual Program, steamed on facebook and YouTube

CT Connection is a regular talk show created by our friends at the Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut with the goal of highlighting the incredible LGBTQ+ activists, community leaders, and organizers of Connecticut while also raising money for their charity beneficiaries which include the New Haven Pride Center. Hosted by Emperor 22 Vu and Empress 22 Miss Frank with special guest host Lord Kyle R. Edwards.

In this show the focus is on Transgender activism with special guests Mia Lozada, Natasha Rose Lombardi, and Mel Cordner, and performance guest Rory Roux Lay.

FREE program.

PRIDE Tea Dance
Sunday, Sept 19 @ 4:00p

168 York Street Cafe, 168 York Street, New Haven

Closing out PRIDE New Haven, as always, is the PRIDE Tea Dance at 168 York Street Cafe! Join us at New Haven’s oldest LGBTQ+ space for a late afternoon social event. Come down from the busy week of PRIDE with an easy going social event with DJ Chris Gallo and DJ Tina Colon.

$5 Ticket at the Door

Thank you to our sponsor 168 York Street Cafe.