Capitol City Pride

Capitol City Pride is a three-day Pride weekend in Bismarck organized by Dakota OutRight, a volunteer-led LGBTQ+ nonprofit. The 2026 weekend included a Pride mixer, a Pride celebration on the Capitol grounds and an interfaith service. All events are free.

Dakota OutRight, which organizes Capitol City Pride, grew out of decades of organizing in North Dakota. Its roots include Dakota Good Friends, a Bismarck group started by Dan Tokach, Ron Hildahl and friends that hosted Pride events, dances and social gatherings. Dakota OutRight formed from that group in 2004, with Sherri and Vickie Paxon in leading roles, and its early work included Q-Talk support sessions and Bismarck Pride. Brad Perkins also started Caring Community Contacts, a support group for HIV-positive community members.

Over time the group shifted its focus from entertainment toward advocacy and community organizing, and programs such as QTalk and QSpace gave LGBTQIA2S+ North Dakotans places for honest conversation and simply being together. Its logo, a rainbow bison, is meant to reflect both community strength and ties to the land and people of the Dakotas.

Between Pride weekends, Dakota OutRight runs a crafting hangout, a roller skating meetup for all skill levels, a casual coffee gathering and board office hours open to anyone. Pride weekend relies on volunteers for setup, check-in, wayfinding and kids activities, and the 2026 events were funded by local businesses and community partners.

Pride events celebrate LGBTQ+ people and mark the Stonewall uprising of June 1969. Most combine a parade or march with a festival of performers, community groups, vendors and food.

Capitol City Pride has included festival, pride mixer, interfaith service and vendors.

The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. In 2026 it was held June 12-14, 2026. It usually falls second weekend in June.