Mark your calendars, because Ithaca PRIDE is just around the corner! From June 13th to 15th, our vibrant community will come together to honor love in all its beautiful forms. Whether you're a longtime resident or visiting for the festivities, there's something for everyone to enjoy. To help you make the most of this joyous occasion, we've curated a list of 10 ways to celebrate PRIDE in Ithaca!
1. Pride Opening on Saturday, June 14th!
The Pride Opening Ceremony is an exciting and celebratory event for people of all ages. Located at the Bernie Milton Pavilion, Ithaca Pride Alliance and the Festival Grand Marshal for the year kick off the event with a warm welcome and keynote speech by the Grand Marshal. Following the ceremony is an all-ages dance party hosted by various local DJs and drag queens.
2. Pride in the Park on Sunday, June 15th!
Ithaca’s Pride in the Park is a day of rainbow festivities, community, and so much fun. Local food vendors provide delicious bites and drinks to enjoy during the festival, while local organizations and businesses open booths of goodies and community resources. Many have games and raffles that anyone can enter! Local musicians and performers take the stage in the afternoon for a fantastic display of Pride and talent. Drag Story Hour and the children’s parade also celebrate the children and families that make up our community, both in Ithaca and across the LGBTQ+ network. Pride in the Park is a day-long celebration with something for everyone. We’d also encourage people to visit the other local businesses that are all around us during that time, as we are one block from the Ithaca Commons.
3. Cheers Queers
Walk down to the West end every Friday for Cheers Queers at Rhine House! Drink specials from 8-10 with a rotating series of weekly events consisting of DJ dance parties from Spirit Posse, Queer Trivia from Table For One Trivia, and Queereoke (Queer Karaoke).
4. Thursgays Ithaca
Not just on Thursdays anymore, Thursgays produces weekly Thursday shows at Lot10 on the Commons and shows at 5 and Dime on occasional Saturdays. Stop into Lot10 for Thursgay Happy Hour from 8-10 pm for a specialty menu inspired by the local performers and discounted drinks, and stay for the shows starting at 9:30. Check out show themes and what is all happening every week on Instagram @Thursgays_Ithaca. Drag Bingo, DJ Dance Parties, Trivia, and Drag and Burlesque Shows.
5. Go on one of the self-guided LGBTQ+ history tours
LGBTQ Print Culture Walking Tour of Ithaca is shorter and focused in downtown Ithaca. See locations related to Ithaca's history of LGBTQ publications and shops from the 20th century.
Ithaca LGBTQ History Walking Tour is a longer tour that stretches from Fall Creek to Ithaca College. See many of the notable locations in Ithaca’s queer history while also learning about the role Ithaca and Tompkins County has played in the fight for queer liberation.
On your self-guided tour, stop by Gimme Coffee or Wide Awake, get pizza at LGBTQ+-owned pizzeria Sal's, go to Ithaca Farmer’s Market, see some of our famous waterfalls like Taughannock Falls, Buttermilk Falls, Ithaca Falls and Robert H. Treman Falls, or have lunch at The Alley Cat Cafe, done in partnership with Brown Coat Rescue, which is a cozy cafe with drinks and bites for all diets, and cat people. To enjoy play sessions with the rescue cats, be sure to schedule ahead of time!
6. Go to ReUse
With three local stores, ReUse is a huge part of the Ithaca experience. Visit the downtown location for all things kitchen, outdoor, home, and media. The Clothing reuse center is located in the Triphammer Marketplace and includes furniture and textile crafting goods. Just a few doors down in the marketplace is the Reuse Megacenter which has a lot of everything! From a library of books, magazines, and music, to home goods, kitchenware, and a quilters club, the Megacenter has everything and anything you may need or want. The ReUse centers embody the heart of second-hand community within Ithaca and is a great place to stop and visit.
7. Pick up a souvenir at Sunny Days and stroll the Commons
Sunny Days is located in the middle of the Ithaca Commons and is full of treasures for anyone and everyone. The shop features local goodies such as little snacks and drinks as well as souvenirs like Ithaca Posters, puzzles, mugs, and more! The downstairs and next-door space includes a full print shop where people can customize a clothing item of their own with screen prints designed in-house, or you can buy clothing to be printed in store with hoodies, shirts, hats, and more options to choose from. Upstairs at Sunny Days is an array of trinkets, both locally themed and with some larger brands. It is a cool place to visit and shop around. While you’re there, you can also pick up an Ithaca Pride Alliance t-shirt!
8. Take a class at Hammerstone Carpentry
With one location in Trumansburg and one in Ithaca, Hammerstone Carpentry aims to empower women and gender minorities through craft trades education. While their regular offerings are reserved for women and non-binary participants, they also offer custom workshops open to all.
9. Get a massage at Rasa Spa
Are all of the Pride activities exhausting you? Wind down by booking a massage at Rasa Spa. This beautiful little spa with a few different locations in the area aims to create space for health and wellness through customized massage, body treatments, facials, energy work, waxing, and more. Rasa Spa serves the well-being of the whole person through healing, client empowerment, fostering a mindful community, and cultivating a tranquil, beautiful atmosphere.
10. Go book shopping at Buffalo Street Books
Close out an incredible month of June with a great new book! Buffalo Street Books is a local independent bookstore located in the historic Dewitt Mall. They have any book you may want, from contemporary romance to sci-fi to local history and more. Enjoy the calm ambiance of the store and find your next great read!
Written in collaboration with Ithaca Pride Alliance. The Ithaca Pride Alliance exists to create new and uplift existing safe, inclusive, accommodating, educational, and accessible spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in Ithaca and throughout Tompkins County. For events and resources, go to www.ithacapridealliance.org