Gateway City Pride Parade and Festival

Gateway City Pride Association is a Laredo nonprofit that organizes the city's annual Pride parade and festival. The 2026 parade started at St. Peter's Plaza downtown and ended at Embassy Suites, where a free festival followed with bingo, an educational program, a costume contest, a lip sync battle and drag performances. The 2026 event was the sixth annual edition.

Gateway City Pride Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aims to educate and unite the communities of Laredo and build understanding and support for LGBTQIA+ people and allies. It also honors the history of the movement by commemorating Stonewall and other historical events and figures.

The association has worked with the city on several firsts. On June 10, 2021, the City of Laredo issued its first proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month, alongside the association, PILLAR, Equality Texas and others. On October 30, 2023, the association and Equality Texas worked with the city to proclaim October as LGBTQ+ History Month, with a video message from Rodney Wilson, who founded the observance.

On December 1, 2023, the group and local partners held a Rock the Red event for World AIDS Day, which also recognized people with LGBTQ+ Ally Awards and Volunteer of the Year Awards. Its board meets monthly to plan special events and fundraisers through the year, and businesses can sponsor the annual festival.

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.

Gateway City Pride Parade and Festival has included parade, festival, drag performances, educational program and costume contest.

The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. In 2026 it was held June 13, 2026. It usually falls june.