Celebrate World Pride with Pike District – Enter Through June 2 to Win Tickets to a Night of Powerful Music and Pride at Strathmore

World Pride 2025 is in full swing, and the Pike District is proud to join the global celebration by giving residents the chance to experience a night of extraordinary music and community! One lucky winner will win two tickets to attend the International Pride Orchestra and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 5 at the stunning The Music Center at Strathmore.

This one-night-only performance will bring together LGBTQ+ musicians and allies from around the world in a powerful symphonic collaboration. The International Pride Orchestra will be joined by the renowned Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., known for their dynamic performances that inspire, uplift, and celebrate queer voices through music.

Expect a dazzling evening filled with orchestral brilliance, vocal power, and a shared spirit of pride, unity, and resilience — all set in one of the region’s most iconic concert venues.

Thanks to Strathmore for generously donating the tickets and supporting LGBTQ+ artistry.

How to enter:

1. Follow the Pike District on Facebook at @pike_district
2. Like the official giveaway post

That’s it — you’re in!

The giveaway runs through June 2, and the winner will be randomly selected on June 3.

Let’s celebrate love, identity and the power of music together. Head to the Pike District’s Facebook page and enter today!

For full contest rules, visit PikeDistrict.org.

Local Performing Arts Companies Will Combine to Present ‘Love Is Love Is Love’ Pride Month Musical Revue in Gaithersburg on June 29-30

The TAPP Consortium of local performing arts companies including the Kentlands Community Players, Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville Musical Theatre and Victorian Lyric Opera Company will combine their talents to present the Pride Month musical revue Love Is Love Is Love on June 29 and 30 in Gaithersburg.

The performances will start at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn. The Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road in Gaithersburg. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the Arts Barn ticket office or online (up to two hours before performances) at Love Is Love Is Love | Gaithersburg, MD (gaithersburgmd.gov).

Love Is Love Is Love will celebrate June as Pride Month with Broadway songs. A musical review with a twist, “Love is Love is Love” travels across many moments in relationships. It ranges from young love-at-first-glance to dating, first kiss, rejection, envy, starting over and letting go. The revue is recommended for ages 15 and up.

Funds raised will support MoCo Pride and the Arts Barn Theatre Seat Fund.

The company for the performance will include Kate Amburgey, John Bartkowiak, Kenneth Derby, Jennifer Georgia, Rebecca Goldberg, Chuck McCarter, Jeff McDermott, Erin McNerney Smith, Jay Thaiyod, Giuliana Weiss and Danny Zheng.

Love Is Love Is Love was conceived and directed by Noel Schoonover. The musical director is Arielle Bayer. Choreography is designed by Katherine and Jacklyn Rogers.

Pride Bus Again Joins Ride On Fleet in Celebration of June as Pride Month

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has again wrapped a Ride On bus to become the Pride Bus that will operate over routes throughout the County through June is celebrated as Pride Month.

The MCDOT Pride Bus is intended to raise awareness of the importance of an inclusive and equitable public transit system. Wrapped with the Intersex-inclusive Pride Progress Flag and adorned with Ride With Pride messaging and neon lights to stand out at night, the bus is dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ+ voices, culture and civil rights. The flag is a reminder of the disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ lives lost to HIV/AIDS, especially in Black and Brown communities, and how anti-LGBTQ+ bias continues to fuel a lack of testing and treatment.

The fare on the Pride Bus is $1, the same as all Montgomery County buses. It is free for seniors and members of the disability community with specialized SmartTrip cards and free for youth with Youth Cruiser cards.

The Pride Bus will be present at the County’s Raising of the Pride Flag ceremony on at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 10, at the Executive Office Building Plaza at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. The Pride Bus will operate on Route 28 in the Silver Spring area on June 30 in support of the Pride on the Plaza event that day in Downtown Silver Spring.

‘Pride in the Plaza’ Organizers Searching for Artists to Design Festival T-Shirt

Organizers of “Pride in the Plaza,” Montgomery County’s annual festival celebrating diverse LGBTQIA+ communities, is seeking creative designs to highlight the t-shirts for the event that will be held in June. The designer of the winning entry will receive a $1,000 VISA gift card.

Pride in the Plaza will be held from noon-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.

“This is a chance to use your artistic skills to help promote a great event in a creative way,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Put your imagination to work and submit a design for the official event t-shirt.”

Design submissions are due by Wednesday, May 15. A contest winner will be chosen by June 1. In addition to a $1,000 VISA gift card to the winning designer, the first 20 submitters will each receive $25 gift cards.

For more information about the contest and to submit a design, visit https://bitly.ws/3huqF

Artists must be Montgomery County residents at the time of submission and be willing to be publicly recognized for their work. Submissions must adhere to the following rules to be considered for judgment:

• Designs must contain the words “Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza 2024.”
• Designs must feasibly fit onto the front of a t-shirt.
• Designs may not contain trademarked or licensed images prohibited from public use.

Submissions will be judged by the committee based on the criteria outlined below.

• Originality: Is it unique and original?
• Artistry: Is it an eye-catching and beautiful piece of artwork?
• Reproducibility: Is it simple enough to reproduce on a large number of t-shirts in a variety of colors?
• Vision: Does the design creatively reflect Pride in the Plaza's values of trans inclusion, accessibility and intersectionality?

For more information about the contest, contact Emily Brown at 240-773-1172 or Emily.Brown@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.

More information about Pride in the Plaza is available at LiveInYourTruth.org. To learn more about services, including HIV and STI testing, visit DoItForYouMC.org.

Ride with Pride Bus’ Adds to Celebration of June as Pride

The Montgomery County Maryland Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has unveiled a “Ride with Pride” themed Ride On bus to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies during June, which is recognized as Pride Month.

Wrapped with the Intersex Progress Pride Flag, adorned with Ride with Pride messaging and neon lights to stand out at night, the bus is dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ+ voices, culture and civil rights.

In addition to the Pride Bus, all MCDOT buses will have #RidewithPride poster displays on board in June, with a QR code that will direct to a web page with information about the historical and cultural significance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass, Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Woods, Councilmembers and members of the Montgomery Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly rode the bus on June 1 on its inaugural journey to a ceremony to raise the Progress Pride Flag outside of the Executive Office Building in Rockville.

“The Ride with Pride Bus is both a symbol of our commitment to social justice and equality and a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community,” said County Executive Elrich. “Montgomery County is the most diverse County in the State and one of the most diverse in the nation. The Pride Bus serves as a signal that the County is a safe and welcoming environment for anyone who lives, works or visits here.”

The Pride Bus will be deployed on bus routes throughout Montgomery County. Riders are encouraged to post photos of the bus to social media with the tag #RideWithPride.

“I am proud to unveil this bus, the first of its kind in Maryland, as a symbol of support to our LGBTQ+ employees, customers and the greater community,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Public transportation plays a vital role in creating a safe and equitable society, and we have a particular duty to uplift groups that have historically been marginalized.”

Riders hoping to catch the Pride Bus can check the MCDOT #RidewithPride page for a general schedule. Look for photos of the Ride On #RidewithPride bus in motion on the MCDOT social media channels or by following the #RideWithPride hashtag. Riders are encouraged to post and share their bus photos in support.

Pride Month Events Continue with Pride in the Plaza Events

Montgomery County’s celebration of June as Pride Month continues with special events of varying types. The events will include “Pride on the Field” in White Oak on Friday, June 24, and Pride in the Plaza activities on Sunday, June 26, in Silver Spring.

Friday, June 24: Pride on the Field: An LGBTQ+ Field Day.

Montgomery County Recreation Department and Unmatched Athlete will partner for a day of outdoor games and sports from noon-4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at the White Oak Recreation Center. No matter your athletic ability, there will be something fun for everybody. Following Pride on the Field, there will be activities at the recreation center’s new LGBTQ+ Safe Zone from 7-10 p.m. Register here.

Friday, June 24: Pride in the Park: Movie Night

Bring a blanket or lawn chair for a cozy outdoor screening of the film Saturday Church in Jesup Blair Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 24. Bring your own food and drink or purchase refreshments from Silver Branch Brewing and an on-site food vendor. The movie will begin at sundown. Saturday Church takes the viewer through the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a boy who is struggling with his gender identity and faith. Ulysses uses music and fantasy to navigate his life in the inner city, meeting many new friends along the way that help him discover his freedom of expression and passions. No tickets are required for this event. Presented by Montgomery Parks. More information here.

Saturday, June 25: MOCO Pride Youth Picnic

MoCo Pride Youth, the LGBTQ+ student advocacy group of Montgomery County Public Schools, has organized an afternoon of food and socializing for LGBTQ+ youth in Downtown Silver Spring’s Woodside Urban Park from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. All LGBTQ+ teens are welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are MCPS students. Get free tickets.

Saturday, June 25: Pride in the Park: Youth Open Mic

Do you have a notebook full of poetry you want to share with the world, or a song that needs an audience? All LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are invited by MoCo Reconnect to spend some time behind the microphone sharing their poetry, stories, songs, and any other creative musings from 3-5 p.m. at Woodside Urban Park on Saturday, June 25. Woodside Urban Park is located at 8800 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. More information here.

SUNDAY, June 26: Pride in the Plaza Festival!

Come out and show your pride in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring for a fun, all-day, outdoor festival celebrating LGBTQ+ community, health, well-being and joy. The festival is free. Get tickets now.

Festival highlights will include:

• Local LGBTQ+ artists, businesses and supportive nonprofits.
• Free HIV testing.
• Drag Queen Story Hour: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• LGBTQI Pride Show & Drag Duels Finale: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
• Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball: 5-8 p.m