Cincinnati Pride

Teen Zone: We're excited to welcome you to the Teen Zone, curated by local therapist Anika Smith (she/they) owner of Phoenix Soaring Counseling, Brandon Wood (he/him), and Mike Miller (he/him), three community leaders dedicated to creating spaces where LGBTQ+ youth and young adults can feel seen, celebrated, and connected.

This year, the Teen Zone will feature an incredible showcase of emerging drag talent where they will compete for the Newcomer Award Crown Title. The show features 8 contestants ages 18 to 25, who will take the stage to share their artistry, creativity, and pride with our community.

Hosted by the fabulous Jade Nicole
Show starts at 1:00 pm

Come support rising talent, build community, and experience the creativity, confidence, and joy that make Pride so special.

A special thank you to the Diocese of Southern Ohio for sponsoring the Teen Zone and helping us uplift the next generation of LGBTQ+ artists, performers, and community leaders.

Check out phoenixsoaringcounseling.com to learn more about more about Anika’s practice Phoenix Soaring Counseling

Family Fun Zone: The Family Fun Zone, curated by Gia Evangelese (she/her) of Gia’s Balloon Buddies and chaired by Alex Green (he/him), is designed to be a place where kids can play, parents can connect and families can celebrate Pride together.

This year's Family Fun Zone is packed with opportunities for fun, creativity, and adventure. Stop by for interactive games, strike a pose at our photo booth, and keep an eye out for our roaming dino buddies who will be making their way through the zone throughout the day.

We're also thrilled to feature performances and activities from a local q***r owned circus, bringing excitement, wonder, and plenty of smiles to Pride. When planning this space, we intentionally prioritized local, q***r owned, and Black owned artists, performers, and community partners.

A special thank you to EssilorLuxottica for sponsoring the Family Fun Zone and helping us create a welcoming space for all chosen families across our community.

Art Zone: We're excited to welcome you to the Art Zone, curated by Cincinnati artist, educator, and community creative James Reynolds (he/him) of Not Your Average Paint & Sip.

With more than 25 years of experience helping people connect with the arts, James has created a space where everyone can explore creativity, self expression, and community in a fun and welcoming environment.

This year, the Art Zone will feature live body painting by talented local artists, showcasing incredible works of wearable art throughout the day. Feeling inspired? Stop by our interactive body painting station where you can create your own colorful masterpiece and become part of the art yourself.

Find us in Zone A and discover why art has always been an important part of LGBTQ+ culture, storytelling, and celebration.

Special thanks to 20th Century Cincinnati Vintage Modern Expo for sponsoring the Art Zone and celebrating the creativity, individuality, and artistic spirit that make our community so vibrant.

Senior Zone: We invite you to visit the Senior Zone in Zone C, Cincinnati Pride's Community Centered Zone.

Located away from the noise and energy of the main stage area, this space was intentionally created as a place where LGBTQ+ older adults can relax, recharge, connect, and enjoy Pride at their own pace.

The Senior Zone is being curated in partnership with Cincinnati Pride's Intergenerational Council, co-chaired by Megan Neal (she/they), a local q***r social worker, and Kate Poppenhagen (she/her), a doctoral student in gerontology who are passionate about supporting and advocating alongside older adults.

Inspired by best practices from organizations like SAGE, this space focuses on connection, accessibility, comfort, and honoring the generations whose courage helped make today's Pride celebrations possible.

Visitors will find:
💜 A quieter atmosphere away from the busiest festival areas
💜 Seating and cooling resources to help guests stay comfortable throughout the day
💜 Information and resources designed for LGBTQ+ older adults and their loved ones
💜 A welcoming place to rest, recharge, and share stories

Whether you've been attending Pride for decades or are joining us for the first time, we hope you'll stop by and spend some time with us.
Because Pride isn't just about celebrating our future. It's also about honoring the people who helped create it.

We're grateful to Equitas Health for sponsoring the Senior Zone and for their commitment to providing affirming healthcare and support services to LGBTQ+ individuals across every stage of life.

Sober Zone: We're proud to bring back the Sober Zone in Zone C. Located near the Red Gate Stage, the Sober Zone offers a welcoming space to connect, relax, and celebrate with handcrafted alcohol-free mocktails created by local mixologists and a community that understands there are many different ways to experience Pride.

One of the things that makes Zone C unique this year is that there will be no alcohol vendors in the area, helping create an environment where community, conversation, and connection take center stage.

The Sober Zone wouldn't be possible without the incredible team leading it. This year's Sober Zone is chaired by Jess Tedder (he/him), Chris Logan Carter (he/him) and Sean Schray (they/them). Together, they have worked to create a welcoming space where people can connect, celebrate, and experience Pride without alcohol. Their vision for the Sober Zone reflects what Pride is all about: community, belonging, and making sure everyone has a place where they feel comfortable being themselves.

Special thanks to Myriad Genetics and GeneSight for sponsoring the Sober Zone and helping create a welcoming space where community members can connect, celebrate, and experience Pride in an alcohol-free and drug free environment.

Join our friends right down the road from the festival for a night to remember! 🌈🌈

🌈Celebrate Pride!🌈
Join Hard Rock Cincinnati for your pride after party with A DJ Duel Featuring DJ Boywife and DJ Ruze!
Enjoy their specialty cocktails and mocktails all night as 50% of each goes to Cincinnati Pride!

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966.

Welcome to the Health & Wellness Zone in Zone C, our newly expanded Community Centered space.

Chaired and curated by local q***r Therapist, Mike Sauer (they/them), this space was created with a simple idea: Pride isn't just about celebration. It's also about caring for ourselves, caring for each other, and building stronger communities.

Inspired by SAMHSA's Eight Dimensions of Wellness, the Health & Wellness Zone has been designed as an interactive wellness carnival where visitors can explore emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, intellectual, and social wellbeing through hands-on activities, games, presentations, and community conversations.

Throughout the day you'll find:

✨ Finding Q***r Joy with Therapist Drew Simri
✨ Guided meditation sessions led by Robin Klebau and Reiki Master Chantelle Luttrell
✨ A community drum circle and group meditation
✨ Mindfulness through art with the Taft Museum
✨ Financial wellness activities with q***r financial advisors Stef Adams and her wife
✨ Physical wellness resources from Hoxworth
✨ Interactive experiences from the Cincinnati Art Museum Art Van
✨ Video games, community activities, affirmations, and opportunities to connect with others

🗓️ Featured Schedule
11:00 AM Finding Q***r Joy with Drew Semory
12:00 PM Q***r Meditation Session with Robin Klebau
1:00 PM Drum Circle & Group Meditation
2:00 PM Conversation with End of Life Doula David Copeland
3:00 PM Meditation with Reiki Master Chantelle Luttrell
4:00 PM Mindfulness Through Art with the Taft Museum

All day long, visitors can participate in wellness activities, explore resources, and complete a Pride wellness scavenger hunt for prizes.
Whether you're looking for a moment to recharge, learn something new, meet community members, or simply take a break from the crowds, you'll find a place for yourself in Zone C.

We're grateful to Caracole for sponsoring the Health & Wellness Zone and for their longstanding commitment to improving the health, housing, and overall wellbeing of our community.

Better with Pride. Better for ALL.
We’re so excited to present our most accessible event to date, and we hope you can join us!
Want to donate to the work that we do? Visit our LinkTree in our bio or scan the QR code!

Sensory Refresh Zone: We're excited to introduce the Sensory Refresh Zone in Zone C.

Located away from the busiest parts of the festival, this space was created for anyone who needs a break from the noise, crowds, heat, or activity that comes with a large event. Whether you need a few minutes to cool down, recharge, regulate, adjust your sensory environment or simply enjoy some quiet, you're welcome here.

The Sensory Refresh Zone will offer a calmer environment where festivalgoers can step away from the stimulation of the festival and return when they're ready.

This space was developed with guidance from Cincinnati Pride's Accessibility Committee and support from Independence Alliance and Treehouse Cincinnati. Community members with lived experience and professional expertise served as Accessibility Consultants throughout the planning process and helped us think intentionally about accessibility and inclusion throughout the festival experience.

Visitors will find a lower-stimulation environment with seating, cooling resources, opportunities to reduce sensory input, and space to take a break from the noise and activity of the festival. Whether you're neurodivergent, disabled, managing anxiety, navigating sensory sensitivities, or just feeling overwhelmed by the heat and crowds, you're welcome here.

If you need a moment to reset during the day, we'll be here.