Returning for its 24th year, Philly Black Pride Weekend includes festivities and partner events taking place from April 27 to 30, 2023.
PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 2023 – Visitors come from far and wide for Philly Black Pride, an annual four-day Pride event that emphasizes the strength and resilience of Philly’s community of LGBTQ+ people of color.
Held each year during the week of the historic Penn Relays, Philly Black Pride brings together between 3,000 and 5,000 people for a long weekend of celebrations and community building.
A host of citywide events center on the idea of “partying with a purpose,” uplifting the community while highlighting available services, including physical- and mental health resources.
This year’s Philly Black Pride theme is “Black, Joy, Healing” with festivities and partner events taking place from April 27 to April 30, 2023.
“Black Pride is about showing up as my authentic self and empowering those in the Black- and Brown LGTBQ+ community to also fully embrace who they are,” said Le Thomas, president of Philadelphia Black Pride. “This weekend-long celebration aims to spread awareness, foster connection, provide valuable resources and offer our community a safe space to thrive, all while doing what we do best; having fun.”
2023 Highlights:
The Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City in Midtown Village is the official hotel for Philly Black Pride 2023, with events taking place in surrounding neighborhoods and throughout the city.
A sampling of events during the 24th anniversary year of Philly Black Pride is below:
- Thursday, April 27, 2023: The party gets started with a wild night of ballad-belting fun during Late Night Karaoke at Level Up Bar and Lounge with music by DJ KIDROC and food and drink specials all night long (Level Up Bar and Lounge, 1330 Walnut Street).
- Friday, April 28, 2023: Break out the beepers and parachute pants. Throwback ’fits are encouraged during The Skate Jam ’90s & Throwback Party at Rolling Thunder Skating Center, and the best-dressed wins two tickets to Sunday’s Finale Dance Party at Roar (Rolling Thunder Skating Center, 7017 Roosevelt Boulevard).
- Saturday, April 29, 2023: Radical Social Justice group GALAEI hosts a day celebrating Black and Brown excellence during the B.A.B.E. Expo, featuring workshops led by Black and Brown artists, tables from local vendors and community-based organizations, and a variety show starring drag performers of color (William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street).
- Saturday, April 29, 2023: It’s an exclusive and elusive celebration of Black sexuality and sex-positivity during HUSH: The Secret Party, a ticketed event with a dress code of underwear, lingerie and sexy pajamas (location TBA).
- Sunday, April 30, 2023: Leave it all on the dance floor during The Finale Mega Dance Party at Roar, the official wrap party for Philly Black Pride. The indoor-outdoor party goes until 1 a.m. (Roar, 939 N. Delaware Avenue).
Events are open to the public, though some require individual tickets or cover charges.
Stay tuned to the Philly Black Pride’s official website calendar and Instagram account for more info and still-to-be-announced events, including a live podcast, as well as an opening reception and mixer at the Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia honoring the late Michael Hinton, co-founder of Philly Black Pride and a longtime AIDs and housing activist.
Visit the official website for more info.
History:
Philadelphia Black Pride’s mission is to improve the living and social environments of LGBTQ+ people of color in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection through public advocacy and quality social events.
In addition to the annual Philly Black Pride festival, the organization hosts year-round programming to support community development.
About Philadelphia Black Pride:
Philadelphia Black Pride was the birth child of the COLOURS Organization, the only LBGTQ health service organization in Philadelphia primarily serviced by and for people of color. Our mission is to transform the living and social environments of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of color. We aim to create multicultural opportunities that educate, inspire, improve and celebrate the experiences of LGBTQ individuals through programs, policy, advocacy, partnerships and relationship building.
About Visit Philadelphia:
VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy. On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website, visitphilly.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages.
Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the site an effective trip-planning tool. Visitors can also find loads of inspiration on Visit Philly’s social media channels.
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