It’s been three years since the last full-fledged Utah Pride Festival, so organizers are working to make it bigger than ever.
The parade route is longer. The festival space is bigger, and with more vendors and events.
“People are ready and excited to show Pride and return to pre-pandemic conditions,” said Tanya Hawkins, co-CEO of the Utah Pride Center, which organizes the annual celebration of Utah’s LGBTQ+ community.
Here is a rundown of the events of Pride Week, May 29 to June 5 — leading up to the Utah Pride Festival in Washington Square on June 4-5, and the Utah Pride Parade on June 5.
The lead-up
Drag Queen Sunday Brunch • Sunday, May 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Twist Bistro, 32 Exchange Place, Salt Lake City • Full brunch menu, a variety of mimosas, and entertainment from Utah queens. Patio open. For 21 and older. $30, plus cash bar. Limited seating available.
Retro Sun-Day Dance Party • Sunday, May 29, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. • The Exchange, 32 Exchange Place, Salt Lake City • Music of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. $10 cover charge, plus cash bar.
5K Family Fun Run • Monday, May 30, 8-11 a.m. • Jordan Park, 1060 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City • A family fun run along the Jordan River Parkway. Full rainbow attire is encouraged. Free admission, or $5 with a runners’ bib, or $20 for bib and t-shirt.
Memorial Day Pride Picnic • Monday, May 30, noon to 3 p.m., Jordan Park, 1060 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City • Family-friendly picnic after the 5k, with lawn games and party music. Bring your own picnic, or buy a burger or hot dog for a small donation. Free admission, or $5 for burger or hot dog, plus chips and soda or water.
LGBTQ+ Film Screening • Tuesday, May 31, 7 p.m. • Salt Lake City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City • A screening of “Changing the Game,” Michael Barnett’s documentary about transgender inclusion in sports. Presented in partnership with Damn These Heels and the Utah Film Center. Free.
(Turner Jumonville | courtesy Superfilms!) Mack Beggs, top, wrestles for the Texas girls state championship, in a moment from the documentary "Changing the Game," which is scheduled to screen Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 7 p.m., at the City Library auditorium in Salt Lake City — one of the events of Utah Pride Week.
Pride Month Flag Raising • Wednesday, June 1, midday (time TBD) • City Hall, 451 S. State St., Salt Lake City • Raising the Pride flag over City Hall, with a proclamation for Pride Month. Free.
Pride Story Garden Exhibit Opening • Wednesday, June 1, 6 p.m. • Salt Lake City Library, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City • A mini-garden of stories, on display June 1-17 in the City Library’s atrium. Ribbon cutting and punch reception for the opening. Free.
Pride Interfaith Service • Thursday, June 2, 7 to 9 p.m. • First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, 777 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City • A service organized by the Utah Pride Interfaith Coalition. Free.
Youth Pride • Friday, June 3, 6 to 8:30 p.m. • Washington Square, 451 S. State St., Salt Lake City • An outdoor dance party on the grounds of the Utah Pride Festival, open to ages 13-20. Indie rock band Glass Beach is the headliner; local drag artists and musicians also will perform. The theme is “Youth Pride: We Are the Future.” $10.
Rainbow Rally & Glow March • Friday, June 3, starting at 8:30 p.m. • Starts at Utah State Capitol, 350 N. State St., Salt Lake City, ends at Salt Lake City Library Plaza, 250 E. 450 South, Salt Lake City • A rally for equal rights for LGBTQ+ youth, the trans community and “the right to say gay in the 21st century.” Rally starts at 8:30 p.m. at the Capitol; the march starts at 9:30 p.m. from the Capitol to the library plaza, ending at 10:30 p.m. Free.
Rainbow Glow Rooftop After Party • Friday, June 3, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. • 700 South, between State and Main (in front of Purgatory, 62 E. 700 South), Salt Lake City • A 21-and-older afterparty, with neon color as the suggested dress code. $10 cover charge, plus cash bar.
The festival
Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5 • 1-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday • The 2022 Utah Pride Festival happens on Washington Square, 451 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Food trucks, vendors, nonprofit organizations, and performance stages.
Saturday’s headliners: Justin Utley, rock singer from Salt Lake City, at 7 p.m.; Shaed, indie pop trio, at 8 p.m.; DJ GSP, dance music, at 9 p.m.
(Utah Pride Center) Indie-pop trio Shaed is one of the headliners scheduled to perform at the Utah Pride Festival, June 4 and 5, 2022, at Washington Square in Salt Lake City.
Sunday’s headliners: Saliva Sisters, comic singing trio from Satl Lake City, at 2 p.m.; Mila Jam, singer and LGBTQ+ activist, at 3 p.m.; Dev, singer/rapper, at 4 p.m.
(Utah Pride Center) Singer/rapper Dev is one of the headliners scheduled to perform at the Utah Pride Festival, June 4 and 5, 2022, at Washington Square in Salt Lake City.
The parade
Sunday, June 5 • The Utah Pride Parade starts Sunday at 10 a.m. The route begins at 200 South and 200 West, goes east along 200 South, turns right at 400 East, travels south along 400 East, then another right at 700 South, and continues west to the end point at 200 East.
Most of the parade route is within two blocks of Washington Square, 451 S. State St., Salt Lake City — the grounds for the Utah Pride Festival.
Premium viewing areas are at 200 South and West Temple, 200 South and 400 East, and 700 South and 300 East. They include an emcee, judges, water station, Pride merchandise store, first aid, ADA seating, seating for Pride passholders, and restrooms.
Free admission to attend the parade.
(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Tickets
Passes
8-day pass • $125 for a rainbow pass; $250 for a VIP pass; with extras included. Go to UtahPrideCenter.org for details.
3-day pass • $75 for a rainbow pass; $200 for a VIP pass; with extras included. Go to UtahPrideCenter.org for details.
Bonus packs
$40 • Youth 4-pack, good for ages 10-20, Saturday or Sunday.
$50 • Family 4-pack, Saturday or Sunday.
$60 • Friends 4-pack, Saturday or Sunday.
$150 • Flex 10-pack, either day.
$300 • Flex 20-pack, either day.
Individual tickets
$25 • Two-day weekend combo, good for both days.
$25 • One-day unicorn ticket, good for Saturday or Sunday, includes $10 scholarship donation.
$15 • One-day adult ticket, 21 and older, good for Saturday or Sunday.
$10 • One-day youth ticket, 10 to 20 years old, good for Saturday or Sunday.
$10 • Youth Pride, 13 to 20 years old, good for Friday night.
Present Pride ticket or bar code to ride UTA bus, TRAX or FrontRunner free on Saturday and Sunday. (Not applicable to Youth Pride tickets.)
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