Fall River Pride Committee announces festival, prom, pride night, and more as part of 2026 Pride season

Fall River – The Fall River Pride Committee has announced its 2026 Pride season, featuring a full calendar of events celebrating LGBTQ+ pride, visibility, community, and inclusion throughout the greater Fall River area. This year’s Pride theme, “Louder Than Ever,” reflects the strength, resilience, and joy of the LGBTQ+ community while highlighting the importance of visibility and unity during a time when community connection matters more than ever. 

The 2026 Pride season officially begins with a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Thursday, June 5th at 4:00 PM at Fall River Government Center. Community members, local leaders, and supporters are invited to gather as the Pride flag is raised in recognition of Pride Month. 

The celebration continues with the annual Fall River Pride Festival on Sunday, June 7th from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Centered around this year’s theme, “Louder Than Ever,” the festival will feature entertainment, community organizations, local vendors, food, music, and family-friendly activities like an obstacle course, a blowup slide, and games, as well as a wrestling show for the first time. 

“I am so excited that we are coming together for our 7th Annual Pride Festival,” says committee president Sean Connell, “and we’re doing it louder than ever! Why? Well each year we’ve seen horrid backlash to LGBTQ people just existing. Check any post about it in any Fall River page. There will be so many comments calling us heinous things like child abusers. More ‘mild’ comments like this is sick, why do we have to have gay pride, where’s straight pride, and other talking points that we hear against us coming from the very top of the political world. We have pride because we had to riot and protest to be allowed to exist. We celebrate all the progress we’ve made in being included in society. We cherish the moments that June allows us to connect with our community and build bridges with those friends, allies, and supporters who seek understanding. We have multiple events across the month outside of our festival as well. Proms for youth and adults alike. A 21+ event at a brewery where adults can enjoy a drink, enjoy some food, and come together in love and unity, and on July 18th our first ever community awards banquet. I look forward to June with pride because pride for one means pride for all.” 

On Thursday, June 12th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the committee will co-host a Junior Pride Prom with Greater Fall River ReCreation and their safe spaces outreach program for youth, providing LGBTQ+ youth and allies with a safe, affirming, and celebratory space to enjoy music, dancing, and community connection. Ages 12-17 are welcome. 

On Friday, June 26th, the committee will present a special 21+ Pride Night at Canned Heat located at 52 Ferry Street. The evening will include food, dancing with a live DJ, and a drag show as community members gather for an adults-only celebration of Pride. 

The month concludes with a Pride Celebration Service and Community Picnic on Sunday, June 28th at 5:00 PM at Church of the Holy Spirit on Rock Street. This special worship service is presented in partnership with three other local churches and will offer an affirming and welcoming spiritual space for LGBTQ+ individuals, families, friends, and allies. 

“Rev. K+, the rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Tiverton, Rhode Island, and I are thrilled to celebrate Pride Month at Church of the Holy Spirit with our colleagues from Saint Michael’s Episcopal in Bristol, RI and Amicable Church UCC in Tiverton, RI.”, says Father James Medley of Church of the Holy Spirit. “We know the church hasn’t always been a friend to the LGBTQIA+ community, but we believe we are all loved and cherished by God and our job is to spread that love unconditionally. We look forward to welcoming our beloveds in the Pride community to an evening filled with fun, fellowship, and God’s love.” 

The season concludes on Saturday, July 18th with a Community Recognition Ceremony from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Cultural Center located at 205 South Main Street, honoring individuals and organizations whose contributions have positively impacted the LGBTQ+ community. This ceremony will also include announcements for the committee’s speech contest winners along with the recipients of our inaugural Fall River Pride Committee Father James Medley Scholarships. Immediately following the ceremony, the committee will host an 18+ Senior Pride Prom from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The evening will include dinner, music, dancing, and the crowning of the Fall River Pride Committee’s Royal Court for the 2026-2027 season.

The Fall River Pride Committee encourages all residents, families, allies, and visitors to participate in this year’s events and help celebrate a Pride season that promises to be louder, prouder, and more united than ever before.