Huntington Pride

06/19/2026

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not always granted equally or immediately as it wasn't until two years after the Emancipation Proclamation that slaves were finally free in Galveston, TX on June 19th, 1865.

It also reminds us that our struggles for justice are interconnected. We hold many identities, histories, and experiences at once. To stand for equality is to stand for the human rights of all people.

Here are some Juneteenth events we want to highlight happening in our region:

❤️ Join the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative on Juneteenth for the dedication of a new historical marker honoring freedom seeker and Underground Railroad conductor Asbury Parker.
https://www.facebook.com/events/27930936246509575

💛 Juneteenth Charleston WV: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556895760607

💚 Visit Ashland's 6th Annual Juneteenth: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1402242618590339&set=pb.100064138413021.-2207520000

06/18/2026

Check out this fun pride event put on by Studio 8 this weekend. A chance to show your pride and get a workout in! 🏳️‍🌈

Mat Fusion Pilates on Saturday at 11:15 to celebrate PRIDE ✨

💥 Refreshments & Snacks!
💪 Class passes apply

Learn more about Studio8 and signing up for a class here: https://www.studio8wv.com/

06/18/2026

Natalie is ready for Taps Takeover with Huntington Pride, are YOU? 🏳️‍🌈

3 nights and 3 chances to have a good time while supporting Huntington Pride!

🎤 Monday - Karaoke on the patio with Sarah Essie Riddle
🧠 Tuesday Trivia! Come test your Pride knowledge!
🎵 Wednesday - Singo! It's like bingo with music.

All events are no cover, 21+, and an opportunity to get exclusive Huntington Pride merch! 👕

06/18/2026

ROLL CALL 📣

Who's gonna get perfect attendance this Pride?!

We got your full line up so you don't miss a thing!

🌈

06/17/2026

Tonight! 🌈🍹

Come unwind with your favorite bartenders Wendi & Paul with some whimsical Rainbow beverages at St. Marks!

All specialty drinks and shots are cash only and all proceeds go directly to support Huntington Pride. 💚

Big thanks to Adam Hudson for his work in thinking this up and helping to pull it off as well as all the St. Mark's crew 🫶

06/16/2026

¿🌀 Double feature pride events tomorrow, Wednesday 6/17 🌀

Head over to St. Marks on 4th Ave with our beloved bartenders Wendi & Paul ❤️
Create your own rainbow cocktail 🌈
The drink special and shot special are cash only with all proceeds going directly to supporting Huntington Pride. (Full bar still available as well)

And/or....¿por que no los dos?

☕️ Catch our monthly meet-up at Cicada Books & Coffee a for some friendly hangs, good bites, games, and delicious drinks!

We've scheduled these to allow time to attend both or to catch whichever mood Wednesday has you feeling :)

06/15/2026

🎉 Pride in the Park lineup announced! 🎉

✨ 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔: Zhané Dawlingz Wiley , Adriana P T Fuentes , & Riley Poppy ✨

Thee Nyshyne & Mīss Coyotē will be emceeing the day while Sarah Essie Riddle keeps the tunes spinning.

👑 2026 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕 Mīss Coyotē (Miss Huntington Pride), Cole Maze (Mr. Huntington Pride), Akilu Nagiru (Huntington Pride Icon)

🌈 2026 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝑽 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕 Thee Nyshyne (Miss Rainbow Pride), Crylee Cromwell (Rainbow Pride Icon), Jackson B Nite (Mr. Rainbow Pride)

🪩 Performances from your Huntington Pride Board: Courtnee D. La Ryann, Addison Van Damn, & Douglas Smith

💖 Welcoming back former court and board members: Indigo Richwood, Viki Williams, Dyla Ride, & Nala De La Cruise

🔥 AND the party don’t stop with these fan favorites and drawing winners: KYLi , Alexandria Gem , Jensen Jade, Miss Lady Dior, Slurpie McQueen, Fontina Marie, and last year's Newcomer Battle winner, Kitty Litter

🌟 Newcomer Performance Battle contestants: Vynyx Steele, Nova Skies, Cherry Pop!, Oogana Vohn Jay , & Sera Tonin

🎤 Plus remarks from Willie Carter and a special performance by HART!

(Update to lineup: Dena Cass is no longer able to join us. We wish them the best and a happy pride! Excited to welcome an amazing lineup of performers to Pride in the Park this year!)

It's going to be an incredible day of performances, community, and celebrating Pride. See you in the park! 🌈

06/14/2026

Loving this series from Cabell County Public Library! 🌈

This week’s local history spotlight focuses on Marshall University’s first pride rally, which took place 7 years before Charleston would hold the state’s first pride celebration. While the city of Huntington wouldn’t officially hold a pride celebration until 2019, Marshall’s first rally was organized by the Lambda Society, a student organization that has long advocated for the support and inclusion of LGBTQ individuals. While sources say that Lambda may have been active since the early 1970s, they were not vibrantly visible until 1981.The event was part of Gay and Le***an Pride Week and carried the same unapologetic activism as sparked by the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The rally would take place at the Memorial Student Center before an organized demonstration at old main, however this celebration was heavily protested within the community. Despite complications and hostility as presented by hecklers and inactive law enforcement responses, the rally would largely be supported by the student community. According to Marshall's Parthenon, the campus did not anticipate the level of hostility that would be pressed against participants and event speakers. Despite this outlash, Lambda and supporters of the community voiced that they held no intention of halting celebration, and hoped to garner support with each following year.

06/12/2026

We remember today the 49 beautiful souls who were simply living their truth and taken too soon from us due to violence and hatred 💔

This is a solemn reminder of why we choose to show up not only for the month of Pride but year round.

You can learn more about the work to honor and memorialize them here as well as the opportunity to donate: https://www.pulseorlando.org/Memorial/Memorial-Process