The history of Pridefest

Pride celebrations in New Orleans date back to the early 1970s when the city’s LGBTQ+ community organized various events and activities to commemorate the strides of the movement and advocate for LGBTQ+ equality. 

Celebrations in the city grew each year, and eventually a festival became a staple of Pride, typically held on the Saturday before Father’s Day. Held at various locations including Armstrong Park in Treme and Washington Square in the Marigny, the community now comes to the corner of Rampart Street and Elysian Fields Avenue each June for New Orleans Pridefest, the evolution of the massively successful Pride Block Parties outside the Phoenix Bar that began in 2015. 

The festival is the largest Pride celebration in Louisiana and draws thousands of attendees from the New Orleans metro area, the Gulf South, and from across the United States. Last year’s festival was our largest ever, with 10 entertainment acts on the main stage, 5 different DJs throughout the event, and more than 40 vendor booths. And we’re only getting bigger and better.

In 2024, New Orleans Pridefest, the Phoenix Phoundation takes the wheel producing and presenting the festival. The Phoenix Phoundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to support our LGBTQ+ culture, causes and community. We are excited to provide a safe and inclusive space for all in our community. 

This year, we are excited to introduce our new signature logo for New Orleans Pridefest featuring Gautreaux the Gator, who gives us just the right amount of fierceness and fabulosity that is representative of our community. The New Orleans Pridefest logo was created by New Orleans designer Jack Browning of DJB Design.

And oh, yes, honey, there will be merch! Oh, there will be merch! Watch our site for updates and follow us on social media @nolapridefest.

Phoenix Phoundation Nonprofit, Inc. is registered at 101 Dulac Place, Mandeville LA 70471. Louisiana Charter 44871138N