Columbus Pride Festival and March

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Carnival & ParadeColumbus
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
Duration2 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forMasks, paradesColumbus Pride traces to a single nonprofit
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type
The story

Columbus Pride Festival and March in Columbus

The Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March is an annual LGBTQ+ celebration held on downtown Columbus, Ohio streets each June. Organized by Stonewall Columbus, the event grew from a small 1981 gathering and a roughly 200-person 1982 march into one of the Midwest's largest Pride events. It pairs a public march with festival stages, live entertainment, and community resource booths.

Its scale and civic importance make it a key Ohio Pride row.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Columbus Pride traces to a single nonprofit, Stonewall Columbus, founded in 1981 as Stonewall Union by local activists responding to an attempt to plant a Moral Majority chapter in the city

02

The mystery stays covered

The same organization that led roughly 200 marchers in 1982 now coordinates a two-day event that local reporting says drew crowds in the hundreds of thousands in 2025

03

The city starts moving

The march and festival unfold on the same downtown streets each year

04

The water draws everyone in

It has also been a site of real reckoning, most visibly the 2017 arrests of the 'Black Pride 4' protesters, which pushed the organization to confront criticism over policing and inclusion

05

The old stones answer

In 2021 Stonewall Columbus added a permanent public art piece, Pride Circles, and in 2025 received an Ohio Historical Marker

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The event centers on a public march retracing the route of the original 1982 march

Water and renewal

Living ritual

followed by festival programming with community resource booths staffed by local LGBTQ+ organizations

The sacred route

Living ritual

Stonewall Columbus

The local code

Living ritual

the founding nonprofit

Tradition 5

Living ritual

leads the march each year

Tradition 6

Living ritual

and the festival grounds include the permanent Pride Circles public art installation near the organization's Short North community center as a year-round marker of the event's roots

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Downtown Columbus logistics matter.

What to wear

Casual, rainbow-friendly summer wear is the norm: shorts, tank tops, comfortable walking shoes, and sun protection, since the march and festival take place outdoors on paved downtown streets...

Safety

At Columbus Pride Festival and March, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Columbus

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map39.96 N, 83.00 WOpen in Google Maps

Columbus, OH

TransportDowntown Columbus logistics matter.
Stay areaColumbus

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Columbus via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Columbus, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, rainbow-friendly summer wear is the norm: shorts, tank tops, comfortable walking shoes, and sun protection, since the march and festival take place outdoors on paved downtown streets in June heat. Many attendees wear Pride colors or flag-themed clothing, but there is no formal requirement.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Columbus Pride Festival and March?

Columbus Pride Festival and March is listed for Past edition: 13–14 June 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Columbus Pride Festival and March take place?

The festival is listed in Columbus, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Columbus, OH

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLstonewallcolumbus.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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