Pride · Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket Pride Festival
2027 dates not announced yet · usually June
About Woonsocket Pride Festival
Woonsocket Pride holds an annual festival at River Island Park. The six-hour event includes drag performances, local artists, speeches from community leaders, food trucks, vendors, and tables from local organizations and resource providers.
Woonsocket Pride has roots in protest. In 2020, when Rhode Island Pride coordinated virtual Pride flag raisings with cities across the state, Woonsocket's administration at the time would not take part. After pressure from local activists and the one openly queer city councilor, the council passed a Pride resolution, and organizers held the flag raising on their own. In 2021 they partnered with Rebuild Woonsocket on the first Woonsocket Pride festival, and after repeated obstacles from city hall the day became a rally and march from River Island Park to WWII Memorial Park.
The city approved a permit in 2022, and hundreds attended in 2023, when about a dozen organizations offered mobile HIV testing, voter registration, harm reduction, family and youth support and crafts with the Harris Library. In 2024 the planning committee formed its own 501(c)(3) with Rebuild Woonsocket's blessing, and a new mayor and council worked with organizers. The next festival had more than 80 organizations, vendors and artists, close to six hours of performers and speakers, and more than 1,000 attendees.
The group's mission is to unite the LGBTQ+ community of Woonsocket and Northern Rhode Island while stepping away from corporate involvement and centering those most affected by oppression, especially BIPOC, transgender and nonbinary people. Beyond the festival, it focuses on fundraising, peer support, advocacy and visibility.
Summarized from the organizer's own website.
What to expect
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.
Woonsocket Pride Festival has included festival and drag performances.
The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. In 2026 it was held June 14, 2026. It usually falls mid June, a Sunday.
- Festival
- Drag performances
Where it happens
Woonsocket Pride Festival is held at River Island Park in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. It is one of 6 Prides in Rhode Island on this calendar.
Other nearby Pride festivals
- JunTBA2027Celebrate with Pride FranklinFranklin, MA7 miles away
- JunTBA2027North Attleborough Pride FestivalNorth Attleborough, MA9 miles away
- JunTBA2027Attleboro Pride Flag Raising and WalkAttleboro, MA12 miles away
- JunTBA2027Rhode Island PrideFest & Illuminated Night ParadeProvidence, RI13 miles away
- JunTBA2027Seekonk Pride (Love Lives in Seekonk)Seekonk, MA15 miles away
Questions about Woonsocket Pride Festival
- When is Woonsocket Pride Festival 2027?
- The organizer has not announced 2027 dates yet. In 2026 it was held June 14, 2026. It is usually held mid June, a Sunday.
- Where is Woonsocket Pride Festival held?
- Woonsocket Pride Festival takes place at River Island Park in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
- What happens at Woonsocket Pride Festival?
- Events have included: festival, drag performances.
- Who organizes Woonsocket Pride Festival?
- Woonsocket Pride Festival is organized by Woonsocket Pride. Their official site is woonsocketpride.org.
- What other Prides are near Woonsocket?
- The closest others on this calendar are Celebrate with Pride Franklin in Franklin, MA (about 7 miles); North Attleborough Pride Festival in North Attleborough, MA (about 9 miles); Attleboro Pride Flag Raising and Walk in Attleboro, MA (about 12 miles).
LGBTQ-owned businesses around Providence
See allEat, stay and shop with LGBTQ-owned businesses while you are in town. Ownership on every listing is sourced, never guessed.
