June is Pride Month - Celebrate with these Community Events
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, reflect on history, and recognize the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels safe, seen, and supported.
Pride Month celebrations will take place throughout June in Down East Maine and across the state. We’ll continue to update this article as new event details are shared, so you can stay connected to opportunities to celebrate, learn, and show support.
History of Pride Month
In the 1960s, homosexual acts were illegal in most U.S. states, and LGBTQ+ people were often met with discrimination and routine police harassment, especially in places meant to offer connection and belonging.
Pride traces its roots to the Stonewall Uprising of June 28, 1969. In the early morning hours, police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village, a welcoming gathering place for LGBTQ+ individuals in the community. Instead of dispersing, patrons and neighbors stood together and resisted. What followed were several days of protest that marked a turning point, transforming frustration and fear into collective action and advocacy.
While not the first act of resistance, Stonewall became a catalyst for a growing movement for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. and beyond. In the months and years that followed, new advocacy groups formed, including the Gay Liberation Front, and the first Pride marches were organized in 1970.
Today, Pride Month carries that legacy forward. It’s a time to celebrate progress, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and continue building communities rooted in respect, inclusion, and care.
Towns and cities across Maine host pride festivals, parades, drag shows, and more. While Maine generally has strong protections for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, it’s more important than ever to celebrate Pride this year in a show of solidarity, reaffirming our collective commitment to honor and cherish every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Hancock County
MAY 8th, 2026 Heated Rivalry themed dance party (click here for more info)
Bar Harbor Pride
Saturday, June 6
Saturday, June 6, 1 to 5 p.m., in the parking lot in front of Reel Pizza and Bar Harbor Congregational Church, 33 Kennebec Place, Bar Harbor. If you would like to be involved in the festival or have questions, please email barharborpride@gmail.com.
Bucksport Pride
TBA
Specific details for the 2026 Bucksport Pride event are not yet finalized in public schedules. Typically, Bucksport Pride hosts local community gatherings in June, often featuring events at The Alamo Theatre.
Ellsworth Pride
Sunday, June 7
Join in the 6th annual Ellsworth Pride Festival on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Knowlton Park, Ellsworth. This free, family-friendly event brings people together to celebrate inclusion, connection, and pride. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Event highlights include youth activities such as drag queen story time and a public art installation led by the Ellsworth High School Gender and Sexuality Diversity Alliance (GSDA); a stage featuring LGBTQIA+ leaders and performers; food vendors; an LGBTQIA+-focused marketplace; a nonprofit information fair; and public health outreach with relevant resources for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The festival is open and inclusive to all, with no cost to attend for individuals, nonprofits, or small businesses. For more information visit www.healthyacadia.org/he-ellsworth-pride.
Gouldsboro Pride
Sunday, June 21
Gouldsboro Pride will host a welcoming “Cookie Share” celebration at Gazebo Park on Sunday, June 21, at 1 p.m., honoring LGBTQ+ families and Father’s Day. Community members are invited to gather with friends and neighbors for an afternoon of connection, sweet treats, and shared pride. Attendees are encouraged to bring cookies, brownies, or candy to share, along with drinks, lawn chairs, and picnic supplies. The event will also include guest speakers and a food drive supporting the Schoodic Food Pantry, with donations of canned and dry goods appreciated. This family-friendly gathering offers a joyful way to celebrate community, generosity, and Pride across the Schoodic Peninsula.
Peninsula Pride
TBA
Celebrate Pride Month with Peninsula Pride, offering a vibrant lineup of events across Blue Hill throughout June. All events are free and open to all. Information for 2026 has not yet been posted. Visit peninsulapride.me or contact bluehillpeninsulapride@gmail.com.
Washington County
Downeast Pride
Sunday, June 28
Celebrate Pride in Eastport with a full afternoon of activities on Sunday, June 28, beginning with Water Street happenings from 12 to 3 p.m. Community partners including Peavey Library, Tides Institute and Museum of Art, Sweeties Downeast, A Boatload of Books, and Bingville will host creative, family-friendly activities such as rainbow streamers, pride crafts, and more. Vendors and community organizations will be tabling at the Sutherland Amphitheater and City Hall parking lot during the same time.
Live entertainment kicks off with Minor Characters from 1–2 p.m., followed by Curbside Queens from 2:30–3:30 p.m. at the amphitheater. The Pride March begins at 3:30 pm, gathering at the Sutherland Amphitheater and proceeding to the Eastport Arts Center, where the celebration continues with a family-friendly Pride Tea Dance from 4–6 p.m. In case of rain, events will be held at the Eastport Arts Center. For more details, visit downeastrainbowalliance.com/pride.
For more information about Pride Month celebrations in your community and around the state, visit https://www.outmaine.org/.