Pride St. Charles

Pride St. Charles is a volunteer nonprofit that holds an annual Pride festival for the LGBTQ+ and allied community of St. Charles County. The 2026 festival was held at The Family Arena, and the group also runs programs such as a fall pet parade in Frenchtown.

Pride St. Charles began as a project of the local PFLAG chapter, which hosted the first Pride event in St. Charles County at St. Charles Community College on May 30, 2015. About 3,500 people came despite pouring rain, and a double rainbow appeared at the end of the day. In its second year the festival moved to 370 Lakeside Park in St. Peters and drew about 7,000 people, and in August 2016 Pride St. Charles became its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The third festival moved to Frontier Park in historic downtown St. Charles and welcomed more than 12,000 attendees. The organization credits local residents, businesses and organizations for much of that growth.

Its mission is to promote equality in St. Charles County and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community through positive events, support, education and resources. Along with the yearly festival, the volunteer-run group hosts social and educational events for LGBTQIA+ people and allies throughout the year, under the motto Building Bridges, Building Community.

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.

Pride St. Charles has included festival.

The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. In 2026 it was held June 20, 2026. It usually falls third Saturday of June.