KC PrideFest returns this weekend. Here’s what to expect and how to go
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- KC PrideFest returns for its 51st year at Frank A Theis Park June 5–7.
- Our Spot KC hosts the festival for the first time after last year’s sponsor losses.
- Festival features stages, parade, health village, gaming tent, vendors, and tattoos.
From flash tattoos to tie-dye and firebreathers to drag king Tenderoni, patrons can expect a classic 51st KC PrideFest when the event returns to Frank A Theis Park this weekend.
From June 5 through 7, Our Spot KC will host KC PrideFest — marked by the theme “It’s All Ours.” Organizers plan to deliver performances from local performers and those with national followings, food options, community resources that connect to year-round assistance, and the vibrant Pride Parade.
Previously organized through community effort and backed by sponsors, the festival is being hosted by local nonprofit Our Spot KC for the first time. The change has not been without controversy in both the way it was handled and the decision as a whole. But James Moran, public relations and education director at Our Spot, says the shift will not change the festival in any noticeable manner — it mostly provides financial security following last year’s $200,000 loss in sponsors.
KC Pride also comes after Kansas City officials repealed and then proposed a plan to ban conversion therapy in the city. After the May 21 repeal of the ban in response to legal concerns, 6th District Councilmember Johnathan Duncan apologized for his “wrong decision.” Several days later, a petition was launched by Kansas City activist Justice Horn to bar Kansas City Council members from this year’s celebration.
Despite controversy, Moran says he looks forward to the “sea of rainbows, everybody with a smile on their face and everybody starting from a place of ‘I accept you.’”
“The beauty of PrideFest is that it means so many different things to different people. For many folks it’s a chance to express themselves in ways that aren’t available during the rest of the year,” Moran said.
What to look for at KC PrideFest 2026
Two stages will host numerous performers over the course of the weekend, including music from Selene & the Chingona Band, Amira Wang and Baby Tate. Drag performers including Daya Betty, Vanessa Mateo and Kornbread Jeté have all been featured in the TV show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Several tents and community areas are making reappearances at this year’s PrideFest. Expanding focus from STI testing, the health village is also bringing back mammography scans and introducing diabetes tests and blood pressure readings. In conjunction with Our Spot KC’s mission to provide year-round services, the village will offer onsite connections to services that can be reached outside the confines of the weekend.
“Especially for those in our community who may not be made to feel comfortable accessing care in a traditional setting, being able to start that relationship in a setting like Pride really makes it a lot easier to start those connections,” Moran said.
Mental health practitioners, alternative health providers, massage therapists, Reiki practitioners and a yogi can all be accessed at the wellness tent. An education tent will provide free education and resources regarding topics from deciphering Title IX to end-of-life care and self-advocacy.
A partnership with KC Game On, a local gaming organization, will be returning with video and board games. “There are some folks I know who come to Pride and camp out at the gaming tent all weekend long, just because they have so much fun with their peers,” Moran said.
Various shirts, water bottles and jewelry will be available for purchase. Each shirt can be customized at a tie-dye station.
For a more permanent memento of the 51st KC PrideFest, a fully functional tattoo shop will be onsite for flash tattoos for the second time. It was first done at the 2024 festival. In a tent along Oak Street, predetermined, non-color designs can be selected and tattooed by local artists. Inspectors will be onsite to ensure sanitation, and customers must provide their IDs and complete a brief screening to participate.
Between performances and activities, patrons can select from desserts, East Asian cuisine, classic festival food and more to fuel for the festivities. Vegan and vegetarian options will be available.
Schedule for the festival weekend
With a home base at Theis Park on 47th & Oak St., patrons have options for their Pride experience. Here’s what the three days have in store:
Friday, June 5
Art, concert and drag performances from both local and national talent can be viewed from 5-10 p.m. at the main stage, located on the south end of the park. Food trucks and vendors will be open.
Saturday, June 6
A spirited staple of KC Pride, floats and members of the LGBTQIA+ community will march starting at Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard. Moving south, the route turns on Mill Creek Parkway to end at Theis Park. The parade is scheduled to last from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The park opens at noon, where food trucks, vendors and tent areas can be explored. Both stages will host all-day entertainment.
Dedicated substance-free and family-friendly zones provide an alternative space to explore Pride.
Sunday, June 7
Family and community day provides a space for younger audiences to explore the embrace of KC Pride. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the north side of the park, all ages are welcome to watch fireblowers and bubble-makers, slow down with a storytime and more.
Parking, rules and important things to know
Passes for entry can be purchased on the KC Pride website or at the gate using cash or card. A three-day pass costs $20, an adult one-day pass costs $10, and children 12 and under can enter for free.
There are a few things to note when arriving at the festival:
- The east entrance at the roundabout inside the Kauffman Memorial Garden parking lot also serves as a pickup and dropoff point
- The west entrance is on Oak Street near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
- Expect lines at the gated entry points
- Rideshare dropoff is at 4800 Rockhill Road
- Attendees can use RideKC Bus Route #47, riding to the intersection of Main Street and 47th for a $2 fare
Free parking options are available:
- UMKC Cherry Street Garage at 5115 Oak St. (levels 2 and up)
- Church of the Resurrection Brookside at 5144 Oak St.
- For accessible parking, Kauffman Memorial Garden at 4800 Rockhill Road
- All public garages in Country Club Plaza
Moran reminds attendees that no food or drink is allowed at entry, though empty water bottles are allowed. Accommodations for medical purposes can be made, and water stations are available upon entry. Any bag bigger than a clutch must be transparent and will be inspected upon entry.
Rain or shine, Moran says the festival will happen — so dress for the weather and stay updated as it changes. Currently, the National Weather Service calls for mid-to-high 80s and a moderate chance of rain.
