Mobile Rainbow Pride 2025
- 18-19 October 2025
- Mobile, AL
For more than four decades, Mobile’s PrideFest has served as the beating heart of the lgbtq+Q community along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The earliest versions of the celebration were modest affairs in Bienville Square, organized by volunteers in the late 1970s who simply wanted to carve out a public space where queer people could feel safe and visible. Over the years the gathering grew and changed, eventually evolving into a stand‑alone organization known as Rainbow Pride of Mobile. By the early 2020s the annual festival was drawing thousands of people and more than fifty vendors to Cooper Riverside Park. Those steady gains speak to the passion of the volunteers and the resilience of a community that has kept Pride alive through political backlash, hurricanes and everything in between.
The 2025 edition of PrideFest will take place over two days, Saturday and Sunday, 18–19 October 2025, at Arlington Park next to Airbus in Brookley Field. Organizers chose the waterfront park because their longtime home at Cooper Riverside Park is undergoing construction. Saturday’s festivities run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., while Sunday’s schedule is a bit shorter, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The new venue overlooks Mobile Bay, and there’s plenty of room to spread out on the grass, wander among vendors and take in performances. Admission remains free, and attendees of all ages are welcome.
Entertainment has always been at the heart of PrideFest, and 2025 will be no exception. The lineup typically mixes local musicians, drag performers, DJs and dance troupes. Expect afternoon sets by Gulf Coast bands playing everything from rock and country to R&B, followed by drag shows hosted by beloved queens from Mobile and beyond. In previous years the program has included spoken‑word artists, stand‑up comics and choir performances that bring a touch of church revival to the proceedings. With two days to fill, there’s time for established headliners and emerging talent to share the stage.
The vendor and community village is another big draw. Rainbow Pride of Mobile grew the event from a handful of tables into a marketplace featuring more than fifty booths. Local artisans will be selling everything from handmade jewelry and quilts to soaps and screen‑printed T‑shirts. Food trucks and pop‑up eateries will keep the crowd fed with Southern favorites and international dishes. Equally important are the resource tables staffed by nonprofits and advocacy groups. Visitors can pick up information about HIV testing, talk to mental health providers, learn about local support groups or register to vote. Rainbow Pride of Mobile’s mission is to “empower a vibrant community through thoughtful leadership, community building, and strong partnerships,” and the resource village is where that mission comes to life.
Beyond the marketplace and main stage, the festival offers plenty of spaces to relax and connect. A kids’ area with crafts and games makes it easy for families to participate. Volunteer coordinators circulate throughout the park to ensure everyone feels welcome and to answer questions. There are shaded tents for older attendees who want to escape the midday sun, and quiet corners where folks can take a break from the crowds. Dogs on leashes are common, and you’ll often see pets sporting rainbow bandanas.
The two‑day format also creates room for reflection. Organizers often schedule a moment of silence or a reading of names to honor community members who have been lost to violence, disease or neglect. Speakers from local organizations take the mic to talk about issues ranging from trans rights to youth homelessness. PrideFest has always been a celebration, but it’s also a platform for education and activism. When the festival was smaller it served primarily as a safe gathering; now it also amplifies the voices of those working year‑round to make Mobile a more inclusive city.
If you’re traveling from out of town, Arlington Park is only a short drive from downtown Mobile and the cruise terminal. Hotels near Government Street and the historical district offer easy access to festival shuttles, though parking at the venue is available on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Consider arriving early to explore some of the city’s other attractions like the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park or the historic Oakleigh House Museum. Mobile’s food and nightlife scene is also thriving, so leave time to wander Dauphin Street and discover why locals say the Port City was “born to celebrate.”
Rainbow Pride of Mobile is run entirely by volunteers, and they are always looking for new people to lend a hand. Whether you want to help set up chairs, manage social media, hand out water, or contribute a few dollars to keep the festival free, your involvement matters. Vendor applications, sponsorship packages and volunteer sign‑up forms are available online. Check the official PrideFest page regularly for updates on performers, market openings and any schedule changes as construction at Cooper Riverside progresses. However you choose to participate, know that your presence helps sustain one of the South’s longest‑running Pride traditions.
