Ultimate guide to Dayton Gay Pride 2018

Weekend features parade, RuPaul Drag Race winner Raja and contestant Miz Cracker, brunches, beer and high-heeled kickball
June First Friday in Dayton was held June 2 and kicked off the Dayton Pride festival and Light Up the Night. PHOTO / Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

June First Friday in Dayton was held June 2 and kicked off the Dayton Pride festival and Light Up the Night. PHOTO / Tom Gilliam

A legendary Dayton drag queen with be the symbolic grand marshal of a parade set to paint downtown  Dayton rainbow Saturday afternoon

A car carrying a crown won by The Legendary Misty Knight (Sheila BAILEY) will lead the Dayton Gay Pride Parade "in memory of her,"  Randy Phillips, president of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center, said.

>> Legendary 'Queen of Dayton,' who won more than 100 pageants, dies

Scene from the Dayton Gay Pride Parade held in downtown Dayton on Saturday, June 7. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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The parade is just one part of a weekend of events celebrating LGBTQ Pride here in Dayton.

Here is the rundown  that includes info about  food, appearances from RuPaul Drag Race queens,  brunches and high-heeled kickball.

🏳️‍🌈 UNTOLD  TALE

A screening of “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” will kick off the weekend ton

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight,  Thursday, May 31 in The Eichelberger Forum in side of the Dayton Metro Library’s downtown branch,  215 E 3rd St.

From the movie's description of movie: "This award-winning documentary examines the life and work of the creator of "Tales of the City" book series and PBS mini-series, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer..."

🏳️‍🌈 AN AFFAIR TO SING ABOUT 

The Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus will salute the U.S.O. on Saturday, April 8. SUBMITTED PHOTO

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The Dayton Gay Men's Chorus and The Rubi Girls, a Dayton-based comedy drag troupe, will perform Friday at Affair on the Square 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton.

>> MORE: 3 things you should know about The Rubi Girls

The celebrate includes beer and a food truck rally.

>> RELATED: Surprise proposal steals the show at Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus and DCDC concert

June First Friday in Dayton was held June 2 and kicked off the Dayton Pride festival and Light Up the Night.

Credit: Tom Gilliam

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Credit: Tom Gilliam

🏳️‍🌈  BOOZY CRAWL

The Dayton Pride .5K bar crawl to the nearby gay clubs that make up Dayton’s so-called “Fruit Loop” follows the kickoff Friday.

Tickets for the bar crawl are $15 LGBT members and $20 for non-members.  They can be purchased by clicking here. 

Crawl participants will be led to Club Masque, MJ’s on Jefferson, The Right Corner and The Stage Door for a cocktail at each bar.

>> MORE: 7 amazing things to do in downtown Dayton 

THE PARADE

The Dayton area gay and lesbian community celebrate Pride Week with the annual PrideFest & Parade on Saturday, June 5.

Credit: Jan Underwood

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Credit: Jan Underwood

More than 40 groups will take part in the parade that helps paint downtown  red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, the colors of the gay pride parade.

The parade lines up at 11 a.m.

🏳️‍🌈  CROWNS FOR THE NEW COURT 

The 2017 Dayton Pride Court includes community ally Becki Norgaard, court kin Gage Gatlyn; court queen Tina Hightower and community leader Brenden Wynn.

Credit: Dayton LGBT Center

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Credit: Dayton LGBT Center

This year's  Dayton Pride  Parade Court includes community ally Becki Norgaard, court king Gage Gatlyn; court queen Tina Hightower and community leader Brenden Wynn.

>> RELATED:  One of Dayton's most popular drag queens opens up about overcoming addiction

>> RELATED:  What makes Brenden Wynn tick?

Hightower, Dayton’s favorite drag queen in Dayton.com Best of Dayton people’s choice award, and Brenden Wynn, are recent Daytonians of The Week.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

It is the second year for the court will help lead the parade.

“It is to highlight the personalities in our community whether it be a LGBT person or an  ally and the work they they do to advance our community,” Phillips said.

>> MORE:  Why this Daytonian is filming a ‘Hot & Bothered’ queer comedy

 🏳️‍🌈 PRIDEFUL EATS  

A 9 a.m. breakfast Saturday at MJ's on Jefferson, 20 N. Jefferson St., will precede the parade that kicks off at noon from the corner of Second and St. Clair streets and heads to Courthouse Square. A $5 donation will be requested.

Mudlick Tap  House, 135 E. Second St. will host the Party Before the Parade: Pride Brunch 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

A portion of brunch sales  will be donated to the Greater Dayton LGBT Center.

It’s going to be a weekend full of PRIDE! 🎶 Let the Sunshine In 🎶 with this week’s cocktail feature! Middle West...

Posted by Mudlick Tap House on Wednesday, May 30, 2018

The Barrel House 417 E Third St., will partner with PFLAG Dayton for a special Print and Pints event  11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday.

A special Pride beer from Braxton Brewing Company will be tapped. A $1 of  every pint sold will be donated to PFLAG Dayton.

You are going to be downtown celebrating PRIDE, so stop into The Barrel House and have a pint and thank them for...

Posted by PFLAG Dayton on Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Wheat Penny Over and Bar will have its annual Pride Brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Brunch menu will include  pizzas, fried chicken and waffles, eggs benedict, egg sandwiches,  warm powdered sugar dusted warm beignets with crème anglaise and chocolate sauce and Kiki’s special Pride cocktails.

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar GAY PRIDE Brunch 🌈🌈🌈 Please join us for PRIDE BRUNCH! Sunday, June 3rd 10am – 3pm We’re...

Posted by Wheat Penny Oven and Bar on Thursday, May 31, 2018

 🏳️‍🌈   FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVAL 

Dayton LGBT Pride Weekend 2015 kicked off with The Rubi Girls' incredible voyage to Courthouse Square on Dayton Link Ride Share Bike for the Affair on the Square Friday, June 5. The parade the next day was fun and oh so festival. There were floats, cars a band and a fantastic showing by  MJ's on Jefferson. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley read a supportive proclamation, performed a mass commitment ceremony and announced that she would make tome to marry same-sex couples free of charge once the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal. Photos by Amelia Robinson

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The Pride festival lasts until 4 p.m. on Courthouse Square.

The event includes kids’ activities, performances on the main stage and 70 booths, those serving food and beer included.

Main stage entertainment will be hosted by Miss National Comedy Queen Amanda Sue and Sky Black.

Performers include Dare2DefyINNOVAtheatre;  Holly BerryJohnny Justice Black; Oliver DixonJasmine Miller & Co.; Amaya SextonOhio Brass & ElectricSpringfield Arts Council's cast of "Oliver;" the cast of MJ's on Jefferson; Sabrina Caprice HearttRedd Valentine; Olivia JaneV. Master ChadLucky & Mikayla DeniseShampaine Austin Lee & Leah Halston and Miss Masque and Miss Masque Newcomer 2018. 

🏳️‍🌈  UP IN THE CLUB

E.L. Hubbard photography Club Masque celebrated Pride Night, a part of LGBT Pride Week, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Inaya Day and Taylor Dane performed, and even Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin was there. Were you?

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Pride will be celebrated by Dayton's downtown gay clubs: Club Masque, 34 N. Jefferson St.; Stage Door Musical Bar, 44 N. Jefferson St.; The Right Corner, 105 E. Third St.; and MJ's on Jefferson.

Raja , the winner from the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race,  will be at Masque 11 p.m. Friday.

There will be a free meet and greet following her performance.

Miz Cracker will be at the club 11 p.m. Saturday.

Doors open at 8 p.m.  There is a $15 cover. 
Table reservations are available.

THIS FRIDAY!!!! RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE SEASON 3 WINNER- Raja Gemini will be here!!!! Hosted by Carrie J Summer Featuring our new Masque royalty and the MASQUE MEN!!!!!!

Posted by Masque on Tuesday, May 29, 2018

PRIDE!!!! This coming Saturday, June 2nd! We have Miz Cracker at Masque from Rupaul's Drad Race season 10! FREE MEET...

Posted by Masque on Thursday, May 31, 2018

>> MORE: 6 of the best, crispiest tater tots in Dayton 

This FRIDAY AND SATURDAY at MJ's on Jefferson!!!

Posted by Alexis O'Hara on Wednesday, May 30, 2018

PRIDE at Masque!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRIDAY, June 2nd. T.G.I.F. (That guy is fine) male revue featuring...

Posted by Masque on Wednesday, May 31, 2017

 🏳️‍🌈   PLAY BALL

PFLAG's "Running with PRIDE 5K Run/Walk" is at 9 a.m. at Welcome Park, 1601 S. Edwin C. Moses Boulevard behind Welcome Stadium. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.

Visit pflagdayton.org for more information.

The third  annual Spikes & Heels kickball tournament is set for  11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday  at  Burns-Jackson Park on Burns Avenue in Dayton.

There will be food trucks and beer tents.

Free agent  registration is $15.  free agent participants will be added to teams.

Team registration for non-profit and community members teams is $65.

Registration for business team is $100.

Teams will battle to be named Spikes & Heels Champ.

There will be awards for best dressed team, best cheerleaders and best tent decorations.

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