Support Us Button Widget

Here’s why Austin celebrates Pride Month in June and August

Austinites are lucky to have two Pride Months each year — but have you ever wondered why?

A group of people participating in a Pride parade walking around with banners, balloons, and flags in downtown Austin

Austinites get to celebrate Pride Month twice a year.

Photo by siyan li on Unsplash

It’s Pride Month in Austin — well, sort of.

The month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ communities is held nationally in June to commemorate the Stonewall uprising, which took place in New York City in June 1969.

But Austin (lucky for us) celebrates Pride twice a year: once in June with the rest of the country, and again in August.

The Austin Pride Foundation hosts Austin’s primary Pride parade in August for several reasons:

  • There’s less competition with other festivals, meaning more people and performers can attend.
  • University students come back into town, and they play a major role in running the festival. Of the fest’s ~400 volunteers, as many as 95% are college students.
  • There are lower chances of rain in August.

So, if you are sad when June is almost over, don’t be. We’ll celebrate all over again in just a few months.

More from ATXtoday
Celebrate the Red Headed Stranger’s birthday with a brief history of his legendary life.
Fans of thrilling, tear-jerking, and frightening films can watch eight films on the big screen this summer.
The western wear brand is kicking off its first Austin store by inviting local stores on the strip to party all weekend.
This weird Austin festival celebrates the gloomy donkey from A.A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” series.
The services offered at local Austin Public Library branches are pretty useful in our books.
It may be Earth Day, but we’re offering tips and tools for supporting Austin’s thriving urban forest 365 days a year.
The winner of Austin FC’s Dream Starter competition started an online platform to help people navigate serious illness and end-of-life care for their loved ones.
The Soundtrack to the Future plan outlines improvements to the venue facades, curb appeal, and safety features.
Mayor Kirk Watson calls Downtown “Austin’s living room,” so we’re speculating on what that means for the rest of the city.
The Mermaid Capital of Texas, home to Texas State University, and riverside town is a great place to take a day trip — we’ve got all the spots to hit when you visit.