Pride 2025: Where to Celebrate Across West Michigan

Pride Month (June) is nearly upon us, and lucky for those of us who love a good party or festival, the end of May, all of June, and the first half of July are filled with pride festivals around the region for 2025.

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The History Behind Pride

Pride started as a riot. That would generally give something a negative connotation, but not when it comes to this. The first Pride festivals and parades were held in 1970, on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which were in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

Grand Rapids' First Pride Celebration

Locally, the first Pride celebration in Grand Rapids was held in 1988. Back then, Grand Rapids Pride was held at Rosa Parks Circle (then called the Monroe Amphitheater). Since then, the festival in Grand Rapids has continued to grow, and many other Pride celebrations have started across the region.

READ MORE: Michigan's Ultimate Flower Festival Guide 2025

These days, you'll find Pride festivals in big and small towns all over West Michigan. This year, festivals are being held in Newaygo, Kalamazoo, Lowell, Muskegon, Saugatuck/Douglas, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Greenville, Holland, South Haven, Big Rapids, Battle Creek, and Middleville. And those are just in our area - there are a ton of other festivals being held throughout the state (including the Upper Peninsula) over the next couple of months.

The best part about pride is that no two places celebrate it exactly the same. If you're looking to get out and celebrate Pride, you're sure to find a festival that's the perfect fit for you.

Check out the list and details below, and if I missed a festival, please reach out to wendy.reed@townsquaremedia.com, and I'll add it to the list!