In celebration of the local LGBTQIA+ community and its allies, save the date for these Phoenix Pride events and dining specials that give back this Pride Month.
June 2 to August 27: “WORK! COLOR! LIGHT!” at FOUND:RE Contemporary
FOUND:RE Contemporary and FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel welcomes its newest series of exhibitions, “WORK! COLOR! LIGHT!” “WORK!” honors the hard work and dedication of Arizona-based queer artists who use their creativity to explore the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. This series of vibrant exhibitions will debut with an opening reception at FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel on Friday, June 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. “WORK!” ends July 30, while “COLOR!” and “LIGHT!” end August 27. For more about FOUND:RE Contemporary, visit foundrecontemporary.com.
Tickets: Admission to the June 2 event is free, and attendees can reserve space via eventbrite.com.
June 3: Pride Party in Downtown Tempe
From 7 to 10 p.m. June 3, CenterPoint Plaza hosts Downtown Tempe’s Pride Party featuring drag entertainer, Barbra Seville. In addition to entertainment, revelers can enjoy a silent disco, food, beer and wine, along with other surprises. For more information, visit www.downtowntempe.com.
June 3: Pride Party After Party at Skysill Rooftop Lounge
The Westin Tempe hosts Tempe’s official Pride Party After Party at Skysill Rooftop Lounge. Following Downtown Tempe’s first-ever Pride Party, taking place June 3, Skysill will keep the celebration going from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The after-party is hosted by Barbra Seville, and party-goers can expect a DJ and specialty Pride-themed cocktails, as well. The cocktails will be available throughout the entire month of June at Skysill Rooftop Lounge, the resort’s Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits and for in-room dining; 10 percent of the proceeds to Mulligan’s Manor, the only LGBTQIA+ nonprofit group home serving youth in Arizona.
Tickets: Admission is $20 in advance; $30 at the door. To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com.
June 17: D-backs Pride Night
The sixth-annual D-backs Pride Night is at the plate Saturday, June 17, at 7:10 p.m. as the D-backs take on the Cleveland Guardians. The first 10,000 fans in attendance at the Phoenix Pride event will receive a Pride Bag courtesy of Vizzy Hard Seltzer.
Tickets: Tickets are available now starting at $27 at www.mlb.com.
All Month: Pride Cocktail at Toca Madera
Noble 33, the international hospitality group known for its restaurant concepts including Scottsdale’s Toca Madera, will be offering a specialty Pride cocktail across its U.S.-based concepts for all of June. For each cocktail sold, $2 will benefit the National LGBTQ Task Force, an organization dedicated to advocacy and equality. For more information, visit www.tocamadera.com.
All Month: Pride Punch at Morning Squeeze
Morning Squeeze honors Pride Month with a new variation of its annual Pride Punch. Watermelon Fizz is the theme for this year’s Pride Punch ($10). The drink blends watermelon pucker, watermelon puree and pineapple with tequila and a spicy simple syrup–all topped with float of bubbly soda and a candy rainbow ribbon. The special-edition Pride Punch will be available at Morning Squeeze’s three locations in Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale for the month of June. For more information, visit morningsqueeze.com.
All Month: Rodeo Queen Ice Cream at Churn
Churn in Phoenix has launched a limited-edition ice cream flavor, Rodeo Queen, available throughout Pride Month. With every scoop purchased, Churn will donate $1 to One Community, whose mission is to bring workplace equality and equal treatment in housing and public accommodations for the LGBTQIA+ community in Arizona. Rodeo Queen features sweet cream ice cream with lemon curd, lemon cupcake and strawberry syrup and topped with a pink cowboy hat. For more information, visit www.churnaz.com.
All Month: Elixir of Love at Maple & Ash
All month long, guests of Maple & Ash in Scottsdale can order up the Elixir of Love ($22), an enchanting combo of Tito’s, rhubarb, hibiscus passion fruit, citrus and foam. A portion of each drink sold is donated to PHX Pride. For more information, visit www.mapleandash.com.
Save the Date
Oct. 21 and Oct 22: Phoenix Pride Festival
The two-day celebration of the LGBTQIA+ and allied communities raises funds for Phoenix Pride Community Programs and sets out to educate the public about the civil rights battle facing the LGBTQIA+ community. The Phoenix Pride event, taking place this fall–Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 at Steele Indian School Park–attracts more than 40,000 attendees and features 150-plus entertainment performances and 300 exhibitors. For more information, visit phoenixpride.org.