So far, 20 events are planned by five main groups through June 29, covering games, live music, vendor fairs, art, drag, film, education, exercise — and food.
The events kick off with a new May 21 Family Picnic; include the two big fests June 2-3 and June 17; and end with a night at the ballpark June 29. In between are another 14 events, most of which have free admission. The events are happening all throughout the Quad Cities in both states, including Davenport, Moline and Rock Island.
Quad Cities Pride events mostly free or benefitting nonprofits
New additions to this year’s Pride events include many more opportunities to share a Pride month meal. You can choose among four different Pride meals: a free outdoor picnic May 21, an up-scale multi-course meal June 10, a mid-priced educational dinner June 15, and a free potluck June 17.
Both of the big festivals happening June 2-3 and June 17 are putting out extra efforts to attract more food vendors this year, too.
Also new this year: a chance to share spoken word, comedy, live performance or something else at Open Mic Night May 19, and a possible interfaith gathering June 2 before the big festival.
Some things that are the same this year: drag shows are happening at both big festivals June 2-3 and June 17. Rock Island’s waterfront Schwiebert Park is home to the big June 2-3 event for the second straight year, and Moline is home for the second straight year to the annual Pride Parade, and third straight year to the Pride Party at Bass Street Landing.
Here’s a rundown of all the Quad Cities area LGBTQ+ Pride events planned so far, with links to where you can find information you need on each event:
- May 15, Mon.: QC Pride in Memory presentation, 6:30 p.m., Davenport Public Library. FREE.
- May 19, Fri.: Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., Rooster’s, Rock Island. If you’d like to take the mic, sign up in person by 5 p.m. FREE; portion of food/drink proceeds go to QC Pride.
- May 21, Sat.: Pride Family Picnic, Millennium Park, Moline. Hot dogs and buns provided; sign-up available for side dishes. FREE.
- June 1, Thurs.: QC Unity Pride Movies at the Figge: “Holding the Man,” 6:30 p.m, Figge Art Museum, Davenport. FREE.
- June 1, Thurs.: NoH8 Photo Shoot, 6 p.m., MCC of the Quad Cities, Davenport. Free for first 200 people, $25-40 benefits NoH8 outreach.
- June 2-3, Fri, Sat.: Quad Cities Pride Festival, 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday. $10 daily admission.
- June 4: Pride Service and Potluck, 11 am, MCC of the Quad Cities, free.
- June 4: Pride Drag Brunch, 2:30 p.m., The Diner, Davenport, $30.
- June 8, Thurs.: Family Night at the SkatePark. 6 p.m. Eldridge Skatepark and Community Center, FREE.
- June 9: Teen Pride Party, 11 a.m., Moline Pubic Library. FREE.
- June 10, Sat.: Red Ribbon Gala, The Bend XPO, East Moline. $80 admission to benefit the health and mental health outreach of The Project of the Quad Cities.
- June 11, Sun.: QC Unity Pride Movies at the Figge: “Four Moons,” 4 p.m., Figge Art Museum, Davenport, FREE.
- June 15, Thurs.: Nurturing Community: A Village Project Dinner. 6 p.m., The Current, Davenport. $35 to benefit The Village Project for LGBTQ+ education.
- June 16, Fri.: Pride Paint Night. 6:30 p.m., Clock Inc., Rock Island. $40 includes supplies and benefits Clock Inc.’s support, education and social work on behalf of LGBTQ+ adults and youth.
- June 17, Sat.: Banned Book Story Hour, RAYGUN. Davenport, FREE.
- June 17, Sat: Unity Pride Parade, 2:30 p.m., Moline. $50 to register to walk in the parade. Free to line the streets and watch. Sign up as a parade participant here by June 1.
- June 17, Sat.: Pride Party at Bass Street Landing, 3:30 p.m., Moline. FREE.
- June 18, Sun.:Â QC Unity Pride Movies at the Figge: “Tomboy” 4 p.m., Figge Art Museum, Davenport. FREE.
- June 19, Mon.: Pride Bingo, 6:30 p.m., Raccoon Motel, Davenport. $5 a card to benefit Clock Inc.
- June 25, Sun: Pride 5K Walk Run and Roll, $25-$40 to benefit TPQC health and mental health programs.
- June 25, Sun: QC Unity Pride Movies at the Figge: “Joyland,” 4 p.m., Figge Art Museum, FREE.
- June 27, Sat.: Pride Potluck, 6 p.m., Rock Island. FREE
- June 29, Thurs.: Pride Night with the River City Bandits, 6 p.m., Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport. $15, with free rainbow koozie and pint glass while supplies last.
Groups leading Pride events are TPQC, QC Pride, Figge Art Museum, Clock Inc. and QCPA
The run of events involves these five main groups:
- The Project of the Quad Cities: this nonprofit provides physical and mental health services to LGBTQ+, BIPOC and other marginalized populations in 20 counties in Iowa and Illinois. It’s offering five events through the Quad Cities this Pride season, including its premier Pride event June 17, Pride at Bass Street Landing.
- QC Pride: this nonprofit started the first QC Pride celebrations years ago and still coordinates the annual Pride Parade, also happening June 17. QC Pride also helps present a film series at the Figge Art Museum.
- Figge Art Museum: in addition to hosting all kinds of multi-cultural arts and education events, the nonprofit Figge collaborates with Clock Inc. and has hosted Pride Month film showings for years.
- Clock Inc.: this nonprofit provides counseling, support groups and social opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth throughout the Quad Cities area. Clock holds at least three Pride events this year, including a Pride Paint Night June 19.
- Quad Cities Pride Alliance: this is the rebranded version of the for-profit Quad Cities Pride Festivals that has coordinated the Quad Cities Pride Festival June 2-3 since about 2018. The group says it’s applied to become a nonprofit and expects to receive confirmation any day of its new charity status. QCPA also plans to hold more events throughout the year from here on.
Also helping out to coordinate the events: the nonprofit groups Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD), One Human Family QCA, Progressive Action for the Common Good, MCC of the Quad Cities, Quad Cities Pride in Memory, and Free Mom Hugs-Quad Cities.
Deadlines coming to sign up as sponsors, vendors, parade entries, runners
Key dates are coming fast for those who want to sign up as more than attendees or observers.
Friday, May 19: last day to sign up as a sponsor for Quad Cities Pride Festival through the Quad Cities Pride Alliance. Also, last day to sign up for the early-bird vendor rate ($125 to $150). Rate increases to $175 May 20.
Fri., May 26: last day to register as a sponsor for the Red Ribbon Gala, or order tickets to attend.
Thurs., June 1: Early deadline to sign up for Pride Parade entry, though entries will be accepted until day before the June 17 parade if space allows.
Mon., June 12: last day to sign up as a sponsor or vendor ($40 a table) for Pride Party at Bass Street Landing. Also, last day to sign up for the June 15 dinner at The Current.
Sat., June 24: last day to sign up to walk, run or stroll in the Pride 5K Walk Run and Roll. $25-40.
For a look back at TRM’s coverage of previous Quad Cities Pride celebrations, check out our 2022 Photo Gallery of Quad Cities Pride Events or the 2021 Photo Gallery of Quad Cities Fall Pride. If you have a Quad Cities Pride event to add to this list, email reachus@therealmainstream.com.