This June marks 11 years since the landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage in the ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges. Five years prior, New Hampshire became the fifth state in the nation to recognize these marriages.
Fifty-seven years since the Stonewall Riots, and 56 years since the very first Pride Parade, the LGBTQ+ community continues its long-standing efforts for legal and social equality. Every June, community members and allies alike come together to celebrate and remind each other what (and whom) they are fighting for.
This Friday, Intown Concord will host Concord Pride as part of its monthly First Friday events series. Festivities will kick off at 4 p.m. and take place throughout downtown, concluding at 8 p.m.
The organizations supporting Concord Pride — 603 Equality, ACLU-NH, the Equality Health Center, LGBTQ Outdoors NH, the NH Youth Movement, PFLAG NH, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church — will be on the State House Lawn from 4-5 p.m.
Concord Pediatrics is running kids’ activities throughout the evening, including face painting in the Plaza from 4-7.
Concord Pride is on the move this year, so bring plenty of water! Club Pilates will be hosting a free 30-minute pilates class at both 4 and 5 p.m. on the State House lawn (bring a mat!). Afterwards, the Concord YMCA will host a free Zumba class at 5:30 at City Plaza, with stretches starting at 5. Finishing up the night back on the lawn, Art Around Town is running a free belly dancing class at 6:30, with a Q&A at 7:30.
Sharing Yoga will have its Drag Me to Yoga event from 7-8:30, where attendees can enjoy a beginner-friendly yoga class accompanied by drag performers. For those looking to get their cardio in, Strive Indoor Cycling will have P[RIDE] CLUBBING: The Ultimate Drag Ride at 5:30, with a performance at 6 and mocktails throughout.
Feeling hungry after your workout? Head to Capitol Street, where you can find a variety of food trucks offering grilled goods, pizza, Bundt cakes, and Italian ice.
While you enjoy your food, check out some of the live music happening downtown! Kyle Erickson will be performing in Bicentennial Square, followed by the Concord-based band Trade. Ashborne will be in the Plaza, and live music events will be happening at Arts Alley and Feathered Friend Brewing Co.
Speaking of drinks, Feathered Friends is offering their new Pride beer, and Wine on Main will have free wine tasting from 5-7pm.
Looking for something sweet to pair with your drink? The Social Club Creamery will be open late, and Granite State Candy Shoppe is offering “buy one, get one” ice creams in the square.
It’s not Pride without the arts. The Eleventh Letter Writing Gallery will host Words Matter: Choose Yours with Pride!, where attendees can create word collages with materials provided. Gibson’s Bookstore will also have crafts available, and Penumbra will be hosting a plant swap.
Don’t forget to check out the shops downtown for First Friday deals, you never know what you might find!
And while you’re on Main Street, check out Marathon Sports to pick up your bib from 5-7 p.m. for Equality Health Center’s Concord Pride 5K, happening this Sunday, June 7 at 9 a.m.
Beyond Concord
In addition to Pride festivities in Concord this weekend, Pride gatherings will continue happening throughout the month elsewhere in the Granite State
Events will take place in Windham on Saturday and Milford on Sunday, both from 12-4 p.m., while the Lebanon Opera House has a resource and artisan fair followed by a dance party on Friday, June 12 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Claremont, Nashua, and Portsmouth will all host their celebrations throughout Saturday, June 20.
Finishing up the month, North County Pride will take place in Littleton on Saturday, June 27, with White Mountains Pride in North Conway and Manchester’s Pride Parade and festival that same day.
Find the full list and details at www.aclu-nh.org/new-hampshire-pride-2026/.