Iowa City Pride

Iowa City Pride is the nonprofit behind the city's annual Pride festival and parade — one of the longest-running Pride celebrations in the country, tracing its roots back to the early 1970s when University of Iowa students organized some of the Midwest's first gay-liberation marches. Today the festival takes over downtown and the Pedestrian Mall each June with a parade, live music, drag performances, family programming and dozens of community and vendor booths. The all-volunteer organization also coordinates Pride-week events at partner venues around town and serves as a year-round hub connecting LGBTQ+ residents, students and visitors with local resources. It is the clearest front door to queer community life in Iowa City.