Pride Month, celebrated every June in the United States since 1999, commemorates decades of LGBTQ civil rights activism and marks the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York that sparked the movement. Sonoma County has long been at the forefront of gay rights activism, and each year the Pride celebrations grow more colorful.
This year is no exception as the county is going all in on the rainbow-filled community festivities. Here is where to celebrate Pride in Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Pride
Sonoma County’s annual Pride Month celebration will kick off with a free pride-flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. on June 1 atop the Rosenberg Building in Santa Rosa (306 Mendocino Ave.). Sonoma County Pride will present various events across the county, including its main festival weekend, June 5-7, in downtown Santa Rosa. sonomacountypride.org
Transgender Rally – For Our Rights! June 5
Sonoma County Pride will host a Transgender Rally from 4-7 p.m. June 5 at Santa Rosa’s Old Courthouse Square. The rally aims to support and uplift transgender and nonbinary individuals with speakers and community resources. Speakers, performers and special guests include Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride; E. Samuell MacLaughlin, a member of Santa Rosa’s Manzanita Harmony choir; Diana Dreams, a singer-songwriter and community organizer; and Tiesa Meskis, new Sonoma County Pride board member and trans rights advocate. Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Pride 2026 Kickoff Party, June 5
Shady Oak Barrel House will host Sonoma County Pride’s Kickoff Party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., June 5, at its Santa Rosa taproom. Hosted by drag performer Fantasia Royale Gaga, the party will include dance music by DJ Dyops and drag performances by Bay Area entertainer Tila Pia, Petaluma performer La Adriana Falana and drag king Divonte West. Doors open at 9 p.m. The 18-and-over drag show starts at 11 p.m., with dancing before and after. General admission is $20. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite. Shady Oak Barrel House, 420 First St., Santa Rosa
Sonoma County Pride Parade and Festival, June 6
The 41st annual Sonoma County Pride Parade will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, June 6, from Fremont Park down Fourth Street to Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa. The Pride Festival immediately follows the parade and will include live entertainment, a marketplace, local artists, community resources and interactive experiences. Dance-music artist Kristine W will headline the festival, which will also include performances by Los Angeles-based queer music artist BleachX; host and drag entertainer Fantasia Royale Gaga; Bonesurf, resident DJ at the Rainbow Cattle Company; and nonprofit Cheer San Francisco. Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Pride After-Party at La Rosa, June 6
Sonoma County Pride will hold its after-party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., June 6, at The Lounge at La Rosa. Fantasia Royale Gaga will host the 21-and-over party, featuring music by DJ Beverly Chills and drag performances by Princesses Poncha, Mary Vince and Kochina Rude. General admission is $20. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite. La Rosa | Tequileria & Grille, 500 Fourth St., Santa Rosa
Pride Pool Party at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, June 7
Sonoma County Pride will host its pool party from noon to 5 p.m., June 7, at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. Hosted by Fantasia Royale Gaga, the 18-and-over party will include music by DJ Jaymeebaaby. General admission is $45 and reserved loungers (includes admission) are $125. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite. Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville
Pride Stand-Up Comedy Night, June 19
Sonoma County Pride’s “Tokes & Jokes” stand-up comedy night will be held from 6-10 p.m., June 19, at The Lounge at Mercy Wellness in Cotati. Comedian Marcus Williams will headline the 21-and-over event, which will also feature special guest Tila Pia, live DJ music, cannabis tastings and herbal cocktails. Tickets range from $25 to $200. Purchase tickets on EventHi. The Lounge at Mercy, 7950 Redwood Drive, Suite 16, Cotati
Sonoma Valley Pride
Founded by Out in the Vineyard owner Gary Saperstein and local designer Matthew Long in 2020, Sonoma Valley Pride held the first official Pride gathering with the mayor in 2023 and arranged city-approved Pride banners around the Plaza in June. Sonoma Valley Pride will hold its three-day Pride celebration from June 12-14. sonomavalleypride.com
Pride Kickoff Gathering, June 2
Before its annual Pride weekend, Sonoma Valley Pride will kick off Pride month with a meet-up at the Tuesday Night Market at 5 p.m. on June 2 on the Sonoma Plaza. Sponsored by Picnic Potential and presented by Sonoma Valley Pride in collaboration with Sonoma GayDar, the gathering offers the LGBTQ community and allies a chance to connect and enjoy the market together. Guests are welcome to bring food and drinks to share. Free to attend; RSVP on Facebook. Sonoma Plaza, 453 First St. E., Sonoma
Rise with Pride Concert, June 12
The Sebastiani Theatre will host “Rise With Pride,” an inaugural concert presented by and benefiting Sonoma Valley Pride, on June 12. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. and the all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. The show will feature Portland musician J. Graves and Bay Area drag performers Kochina Rude and Tila Pia. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for youth under 21. Purchase tickets online. Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St. E., Sonoma
Pride Dance Party at General’s Daughter, June 13
Sonoma Valley Pride will host a Pride dance party from 7-10 p.m., June 13, at the soon-to-reopen event venue The General’s Daughter in Sonoma. The evening will include music by Marylouise Pels of the DJ duo Posso, food for purchase from Costa’s Tacos in Sonoma and wine from Pangloss Cellars and Winery Sixteen 600 (included with ticket purchase). Tickets are $30. Purchase tickets online. The General’s Daughter, 400 W. Spain St., Sonoma
2026 Plaza Pride Festival, June 14
Sonoma Valley Pride’s annual music and arts festival will be held from 2-5 p.m. June 14 on the Sonoma Plaza. The community festival will include food, live music, guest speakers, queer artists and makers, face painting and a photo booth with costumes and props. Free to attend; food and wine available for purchase. Learn more online. Sonoma Plaza, 453 First St. E., Sonoma
Cloverdale Pride
The town of Cloverdale will celebrate its second annual Cloverdale Pride Weekend from June 18-21 with several festivities.
Pride Happy Hour at The Beet, June 18-21
The Beet Restaurant & Wine Shop will host a special happy hour from 3-6 p.m. every day during Cloverdale Pride Weekend. It will also host a Pride Dance Party with a live DJ playing favorite dance hits from 9:30 p.m. until close on June 19. The kitchen will stay open late. Free entry. 116 E. First St., Cloverdale, 707-669-5080, cloverdalebeet.com
Pride Movie Night in Cloverdale, June 18
The Cloverdale Performing Arts Center will celebrate Cloverdale Pride with a screening of the 1995 film “To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar” from 6-9 p.m. June 18. The movie follows three New York City drag queens — played by Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo — on a cross-country trip that gets sidetracked when they break down in a small town. A reception with a DJ, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be held after doors open at 6 p.m. The film begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. Purchase tickets online. 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-894-2214, cloverdaleperformingarts.com
Friday Night Live with Earl Thomas, June 19
Grammy-nominated blues singer Earl Thomas and his band will perform a free, outdoor show from 6-9:30 p.m. June 19, at the Cloverdale Plaza, as part of the town’s Friday Night Live at the Plaza concert series. Thomas has claimed he’s the “first openly gay bluesman” in the genre’s 200-year history. All ages welcome. Cloverdale Pride T-shirts will be available for purchase. Cloverdale Plaza, 122 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, facebook.com/FridayNightLiveAtThePlaza
Community Day at the Plaza, June 20
Pride Weekend’s Community Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 20, at the Cloverdale Plaza. KJ Fullsend will host an open-air karaoke all afternoon, and crafts store Knotty Nook will have arts and crafts for all ages on the square. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Papa’s Pizza and The Butcherman food truck. The afternoon festivities will be followed by an art gallery reception from 2-4 p.m. at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery. The reception — featuring the works of artist James William Moore — will include wine, small bites and live music from Steve Tellez and KJ Jones. Free entry. Cloverdale Plaza and CAA Gallery at 204 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdaleartsalliance.org
Drag Bingo Brunch, June 21
La Tequila Mexican Restaurant will host a drag bingo June 21 featuring brunch and a show. Doors open at 11 a.m., a brunch buffet starts at 11:30 a.m. and the drag show starts at 12:30 p.m. with hostess Blanca Salchicha Chicharron de la Cruz, her sidekick Lazy Susan and more drag queens. Tickets are $60 per person and include brunch, two bingo cards, drag performances and special prizes. Drinks will be available for purchase. Purchase tickets online. La Tequila, 134 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-669-2363, mexicanrestaurantcloverdale.com
More exciting Pride events
Queer Trailblazers of Sonoma, June 18
An evening of storytelling and live music recognizing Sonoma Valley’s LGBTQ trailblazers from 5-7 p.m. June 18 at the Sonoma Community Center. Light appetizers and drinks available. The event benefits the center’s Queer Art Club. The main event is 18-and-over, and the after-party from 7-9 p.m. at Pangloss Cellars (35 E. Napa St.) is 21-and-over. Tickets are $40-$50. Purchase tickets online. Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma
Priscilla, Queen of the Center! June 20
The Sonoma Community Center, in partnership with Out in the Vineyard, will host its Pride Night celebration from 5-9 p.m. June 20 at the center’s Secret Garden and Redwood Grove. The event, inspired by the 1994 film “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” will include a cocktail hour, family-style dinner, live drag performances and a post-show dance party with DJ music. General admission is $150 per person and a VIP Experience is $500 per couple. Learn more and purchase tickets online. Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma
Pride Happy Hour at Martin Ray, June 27
Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery will host a Pride happy hour from 3-6 p.m., June 27, at its Santa Rosa tasting room. The happy hour event, a benefit for the Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, will include an auction, light bites and wine by the glass or bottle. Guests will have a chance to try the estate’s recently released 2025 PRIDE Cuvée. Carpooling and ride-sharing are encouraged, as parking is limited. Tickets are $30. Purchase tickets on Tock. 2191 Laguna Road, Santa Rosa, 707-908-8993, martinraywinery.com
Gay Wine Weekend, July 17-19
Out in the Vineyard’s 15th annual Gay Wine Weekend will return July 17-19 to Sonoma Valley. While it’s after Pride Month, the three-day event hosted by Gary Saperstein’s Wine Country events company is among the most anticipated LGBTQ festivities in the county.
The weekend will include a VIP opening reception at The Lodge at Sonoma and a series of winemaker dinners at select Sonoma Valley restaurants on July 17; winery tours around Sonoma County and a “Twilight Dance” at Cornerstone Sonoma on July 18; and a drag queen brunch with wine auction at The Lodge at Sonoma and a closing pool soiree at a private Wine Country estate on July 19.
Tickets for select events range from $75 to $250. A Magnum VIP Pass ($1,200) includes access to all events over the weekend, and a VIP Party Pass ($575) includes access to all the parties but not the tours and dinners. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit local nonprofit and HIV/AIDS network Face to Face. Purchase tickets online. outinthevineyard.com
Did we miss a local Pride event? Let us know at maci.martell@pressdemocrat.com.