Arts & Entertainment

Annual Black Pride Ball to take place on May 27

Event will bring ballroom energy and beauty to people’s homes

Published

4 years ago

May 20, 2021

From left: Rome Mugler, Legendary Bris Ebony and Legendary Markise Prodigy

To kick start Pride festivities for this year, the DC BLK Pride and the Ballroom Council will be hosting the 2021 Annual Black Pride Ball on Thursday, May 27, at 7 p.m.

The event — which will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube — is sponsored by Damien, Xfinity, and the Center for Black Equity, and the hosts will include Icon Jack Mizrahi Gucci of FX’s “Pose” with DJ Tony Play, among a list of other respected figures in the ballroom community.

This year’s Black Pride Ball will be a celebration that brings together the Black LGBTQ community to reflect on its tenacity, resilience, and all-around dynamic nature.

“With all of our trans sisters being killed and the Black community as a whole, I think it’s really important for us to take time and celebrate ourselves, each other. It’s important that we remind each other that we’re still here and are going to get through this,” says Duante Brown-Balenciaga, one of the event’s co-chairs. “We’ve always been resilient and it’s important to make sure that we take this time to celebrate ourselves.”

Contestants will be able to compete in nine different categories including Vogue Fem, Female Figure Face and High Fashion Streetwear, and earn cash prizes of up to $1,000. The event will focus on awareness for the LGBTQIA+ and Black and Brown communities, and there will be mental health and HIV testing resources available for participants.

As preparations for Pride month during a time that has been challenging for the queer community begin, Brown-Balenciaga wants the event’s attendees to take away one main thing from the event: Authenticity.

“We want people to take away from it that you can be creative, be your complete self, own yourself, and don’t have to conform or try to be anything you’re not,” he says.

Related Topics:2021 Annual Black Pride Ball Ballroom Council DC BLK Pride Duante Brown-Balenciaga

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Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns bigger than ever with two-day WorldPride celebration

Published

13 hours ago

April 15, 2025

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier will be extended to a two-day celebration in honor of WorldPride coming to D.C. this year. Taking place on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at The Wharf, this year’s event promises more entertainment, more community, and more pride than ever before — all set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of our nation’s capital.

With the addition of Friday, the party kicks off at 3 p.m., with the inaugural WorldPride Boat Parade at 7 p.m. As an Official WorldPride Partner event, the boat parade will feature 30 decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. For information on signing up for the boat parade contact Stephen Rutgers at [email protected].

Saturday’s signature Pier Party kicks off at 12 p.m., featuring a drag show, DJ’s, streaming of the WorldPride Parade, and the iconic Fireworks Show Presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation — one of D.C. Pride’s most anticipated spectacles.

“We’re expanding Washington Blade Pride on the Pier to reflect the excitement and momentum building for WorldPride in D.C.,” said Blade publisher Lynne Brown. “It’s a celebration of our community’s progress and a powerful reminder of the joy and visibility Pride brings to the heart of our city.”

Now in its seventh year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access, hosted bars, and private viewing areas for the boat parade and the fireworks show. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Friday VIP: 5-9 p.m., enjoy an air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, cash bar and complimentary drink.

Saturday VIP Session #1: 2-5 p.m., enjoy an air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, catered food, and an open bar.

Saturday VIP Session #2: 6-9 p.m., enjoy the air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, catered snacks and dinner, and open bar with a front-row view of the fireworks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq., S.W., Washington, D.C.)
📅 Dates: Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7, 2025
🛥️Boat Parade: 7 p.m. (June 6). 🎆 Fireworks Show: 9 p.m. (June 7)
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP

Event sponsors include Absolut, Capital Pride, DC Fray, Infinate Legacy, Heineken, Leonard-Litz Foundation, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Relish Catering, Washingtonian, and The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePierDC.com