The history of New Orleans Pridefest

Pride celebrations in New Orleans date back to the early 1970s when the city’s LGBTQ+ community organized various events and activities to commemorate the strides of the movement and advocate for LGBTQ+ equality. 

Celebrations in the city grew each year, and eventually a festival became a staple of Pride, typically held on the Saturday before Father’s Day. Held at various locations including Armstrong Park in Treme and Washington Square in the Marigny, the community now comes to the corner of Rampart Street and Elysian Fields Avenue each June for New Orleans Pridefest, the evolution of the massively successful Pride Block Parties outside the Phoenix Bar that began in 2015. 

The festival is the largest Pride celebration in Louisiana and draws thousands of attendees from the New Orleans metro area, the Gulf South, and from across the United States.

In 2024, Gautreaux the Gator, who gives us just the right amount of fierceness and fabulosity that is representative of our community. The New Orleans Pridefest logo was created by New Orleans designer Jack Browning of DJB Design.

New Orleans Pridefest is a registered nonprofit, whose mission is to support our LGBTQ+ culture, causes and community through its annual festival each June.

If you’re looking for Official New Orleans Pridefest merchandise, click here and stock up! And don’t forget to follow us on social media @nolapridefest.

See you on Saturday, June 14, 2025, for New Orleans Pridefest 2025!