Fort Wayne Pride 2026
- 2025-07-25 - 2025-07-26
- Fort Wayne, IN
The Fort Wayne Pride festival has become the biggest lgbtq+Q+ celebration in northeast Indiana, but it started from modest roots. Pride gatherings have been held in the city for decades, yet the annual celebration as locals know it today began in 1998 at Freimann Square. In the early years organisers experimented with different venues, moving from Foellinger Theater to Lawton Park, before settling into Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne. Those early events drew perhaps a hundred people, and they relied on a small circle of volunteers. Over the past quarter‑century attendance has grown into the tens of thousands, and the organisers have formalised their work as a 501(c)(3) non‑profit dedicated to educating the community and staging events that make lgbtq+Q+ people and their allies feel welcomed. Beyond the annual festival, the organisation runs a Pride Center, helps other charities, assists low‑income lgbtq+Q+ families and even offers scholarships. This civic spirit permeates everything they do.
For 2025 the festival returns to Headwaters Park East and West on Friday, **July 25** and Saturday, **July 26**. The location – a pair of plazas tucked along the St. Marys River – has become synonymous with Pride weekend. The board decided to begin the festivities two hours earlier this year, so the kickoff party on Friday now starts at 5 pm instead of the usual 7 pm. That first evening feels more like a family reunion than a formal ceremony. Locals stream through the gates after work, grab something to eat from one of the food stalls and wander between vendors until the music draws them toward the main stage. The early hours feature performances by home‑grown bands before disc jockeys take over; organisers have invited two of the city’s favourite DJs to run a dance party that lasts until midnight. A beer tent provides a place to socialise and cool off, while a handful of vendors set up shop early for those who want to browse without the Saturday crowds. Admission on Friday is five dollars per person, and children aged five and under enter for free as long as they leave after 8 pm. Those nominal fees help cover security, stage equipment and the dozens of small but important expenses that keep the festival running.
Saturday is when the festival truly comes alive. The gates open at noon and remain open until midnight, giving everyone twelve full hours to celebrate. Throughout the afternoon more than 150 vendor and community booths line the promenades on the east side of Headwaters Park. Local businesses sell handmade crafts and Pride‑themed apparel, health organisations staff an extensive resource fair and political groups distribute information about advocacy efforts. Food trucks and stands offer everything from corn dogs to vegan wraps; the organisers have worked hard to make sure there are options for families with children as well as adults who want to sample craft beer in the tent near the main stage. The west side of the park hosts the community stage, KidSpace and workshops. KidSpace, which is free with admission, runs noon to 6 pm and includes games, prizes, crafts, character appearances, drag story time and even a moonwalk. Parents appreciate that there’s a place where youngsters can play safely while still being part of the celebration. For older youth the workshops and yard games around the community stage provide a more age‑appropriate alternative.
Live entertainment is the beating heart of Fort Wayne Pride. There are two stages: the main stage at Headwaters East and the community stage at Headwaters West. On Friday evening the main stage hosts a line‑up that includes Inner Circle Avenue, a sibling trio whose pop‑rock tunes have earned millions of views, and international rap artist Felecia Cruz, whose high‑energy mix of hip‑hop and pop is designed to get the crowd moving. DJ Arora and DJ Big Baby close the night with sets that blend queer anthems across decades. Saturday’s programme features a mix of local bands and dance troupes, building up to the famous drag show that runs from 9 pm until midnight. Between those headliner events there is always something happening on the community stage: theatre groups, family‑friendly drag performances and regional musicians fill the schedule. The entertainment team prides itself on booking performers who reflect the diversity of the lgbtq+Q+ community and its allies, ensuring that attendees see themselves represented on stage.
The **Pride March** remains a cornerstone of the weekend. In 2025 construction downtown and increasing participation mean that the march will step off at 2 pm from a new location near the fountain on the north side of Headwaters East. Marchers wind through surrounding streets, waving flags and chanting before returning to the festival plaza just before 3 pm. Local businesses and nonprofits are welcome to participate and are encouraged to email the organisers for details. Spectators often line the route to cheer, and many choose to join the march spontaneously. The march connects the social atmosphere of the festival with Pride’s activist origins and reminds participants that visibility and solidarity are still important.
An event of this scale requires clear guidelines to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Fort Wayne Pride is smoke‑free except for a designated area inside the venue. Outside alcohol, pets and weapons are prohibited. Bag checks are conducted at the gate, and uniformed and plain‑clothes police officers as well as volunteers are on site to respond to any issues. Children aged five and under must leave after 8 pm due to crowd density and the more adult nature of the late‑night entertainment. There is accessible seating at both stages and American Sign Language interpreters on hand during the Saturday night show. Parking is available throughout downtown, and there is a shuttle running during festival hours. These rules might seem strict, but they come from years of experience and feedback from attendees; the aim is to ensure that the festival remains welcoming for everyone.
What sets Fort Wayne Pride apart is how intertwined it is with the broader community. The organisation behind the festival operates year‑round, hosting dances, art shows, educational events and support groups, and it has built a network of volunteers who put their hearts into creating a safe space. Board members include educators, medics, engineers and activists who each bring their own perspective on what Pride should be. That mix of backgrounds helps the festival honour its protest roots while also embracing its role as a family‑friendly celebration. The Pride Center, which opened in 2022, has become a hub for the lgbtq+Q+ community; festival proceeds help keep its lights on and allow the organisation to support other local charities and low‑income families. The festival’s success also creates ripple effects: local musicians and drag artists gain new audiences, small businesses sell their crafts to visitors from around the region and volunteers form friendships that last long after the weekend is over.
The 2025 edition of Fort Wayne Pride aims to build on that legacy. Two days of music, parades, food, crafts and camaraderie will transform Headwaters Park into a kaleidoscope of colour and joy. Whether you come for the Friday dance party, the Saturday family activities, the raucous drag show or simply to walk in the march, you will find a community ready to greet you. And even as the crowd cheers for performers and browses vendor stalls, the spirit of Pride remains rooted in the simple desire to be seen, heard and valued. That spirit is what has carried Fort Wayne Pride from a small gathering of friends to a festival that draws people from across the Midwest. Each July the city on the three rivers shows what it means to stand together, and 2025 will be no exception.
Official Website
For 2025 the festival returns to Headwaters Park East and West on Friday, **July 25** and Saturday, **July 26**. The location – a pair of plazas tucked along the St. Marys River – has become synonymous with Pride weekend. The board decided to begin the festivities two hours earlier this year, so the kickoff party on Friday now starts at 5 pm instead of the usual 7 pm. That first evening feels more like a family reunion than a formal ceremony. Locals stream through the gates after work, grab something to eat from one of the food stalls and wander between vendors until the music draws them toward the main stage. The early hours feature performances by home‑grown bands before disc jockeys take over; organisers have invited two of the city’s favourite DJs to run a dance party that lasts until midnight. A beer tent provides a place to socialise and cool off, while a handful of vendors set up shop early for those who want to browse without the Saturday crowds. Admission on Friday is five dollars per person, and children aged five and under enter for free as long as they leave after 8 pm. Those nominal fees help cover security, stage equipment and the dozens of small but important expenses that keep the festival running.
Saturday is when the festival truly comes alive. The gates open at noon and remain open until midnight, giving everyone twelve full hours to celebrate. Throughout the afternoon more than 150 vendor and community booths line the promenades on the east side of Headwaters Park. Local businesses sell handmade crafts and Pride‑themed apparel, health organisations staff an extensive resource fair and political groups distribute information about advocacy efforts. Food trucks and stands offer everything from corn dogs to vegan wraps; the organisers have worked hard to make sure there are options for families with children as well as adults who want to sample craft beer in the tent near the main stage. The west side of the park hosts the community stage, KidSpace and workshops. KidSpace, which is free with admission, runs noon to 6 pm and includes games, prizes, crafts, character appearances, drag story time and even a moonwalk. Parents appreciate that there’s a place where youngsters can play safely while still being part of the celebration. For older youth the workshops and yard games around the community stage provide a more age‑appropriate alternative.
Live entertainment is the beating heart of Fort Wayne Pride. There are two stages: the main stage at Headwaters East and the community stage at Headwaters West. On Friday evening the main stage hosts a line‑up that includes Inner Circle Avenue, a sibling trio whose pop‑rock tunes have earned millions of views, and international rap artist Felecia Cruz, whose high‑energy mix of hip‑hop and pop is designed to get the crowd moving. DJ Arora and DJ Big Baby close the night with sets that blend queer anthems across decades. Saturday’s programme features a mix of local bands and dance troupes, building up to the famous drag show that runs from 9 pm until midnight. Between those headliner events there is always something happening on the community stage: theatre groups, family‑friendly drag performances and regional musicians fill the schedule. The entertainment team prides itself on booking performers who reflect the diversity of the lgbtq+Q+ community and its allies, ensuring that attendees see themselves represented on stage.
The **Pride March** remains a cornerstone of the weekend. In 2025 construction downtown and increasing participation mean that the march will step off at 2 pm from a new location near the fountain on the north side of Headwaters East. Marchers wind through surrounding streets, waving flags and chanting before returning to the festival plaza just before 3 pm. Local businesses and nonprofits are welcome to participate and are encouraged to email the organisers for details. Spectators often line the route to cheer, and many choose to join the march spontaneously. The march connects the social atmosphere of the festival with Pride’s activist origins and reminds participants that visibility and solidarity are still important.
An event of this scale requires clear guidelines to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Fort Wayne Pride is smoke‑free except for a designated area inside the venue. Outside alcohol, pets and weapons are prohibited. Bag checks are conducted at the gate, and uniformed and plain‑clothes police officers as well as volunteers are on site to respond to any issues. Children aged five and under must leave after 8 pm due to crowd density and the more adult nature of the late‑night entertainment. There is accessible seating at both stages and American Sign Language interpreters on hand during the Saturday night show. Parking is available throughout downtown, and there is a shuttle running during festival hours. These rules might seem strict, but they come from years of experience and feedback from attendees; the aim is to ensure that the festival remains welcoming for everyone.
What sets Fort Wayne Pride apart is how intertwined it is with the broader community. The organisation behind the festival operates year‑round, hosting dances, art shows, educational events and support groups, and it has built a network of volunteers who put their hearts into creating a safe space. Board members include educators, medics, engineers and activists who each bring their own perspective on what Pride should be. That mix of backgrounds helps the festival honour its protest roots while also embracing its role as a family‑friendly celebration. The Pride Center, which opened in 2022, has become a hub for the lgbtq+Q+ community; festival proceeds help keep its lights on and allow the organisation to support other local charities and low‑income families. The festival’s success also creates ripple effects: local musicians and drag artists gain new audiences, small businesses sell their crafts to visitors from around the region and volunteers form friendships that last long after the weekend is over.
The 2025 edition of Fort Wayne Pride aims to build on that legacy. Two days of music, parades, food, crafts and camaraderie will transform Headwaters Park into a kaleidoscope of colour and joy. Whether you come for the Friday dance party, the Saturday family activities, the raucous drag show or simply to walk in the march, you will find a community ready to greet you. And even as the crowd cheers for performers and browses vendor stalls, the spirit of Pride remains rooted in the simple desire to be seen, heard and valued. That spirit is what has carried Fort Wayne Pride from a small gathering of friends to a festival that draws people from across the Midwest. Each July the city on the three rivers shows what it means to stand together, and 2025 will be no exception.
Official Website