PRIDE Knows No Season

Stuff We Love

By Lynda Wheatley | June 19, 2021

Up North Pride usually holds its multitude of events celebrating Pride Month every year in late June, but to keep its diverse range of attendees and locals safe from COVID-19, the group canceled the local celebration in 2020. This year, they’re bringing the whole shebang back — for October. Translation: You can celebrate and support the region’s LQBTQ+ community now and later. So plan on attending popular favorites like Drag Night (starring RuPaul’s Drag Race alum BenDeLaCreme!) and the Visibility March Oct. 15 and 16. And this month, make a point to celebrate Pride with a safe and celebratory June warm-up, a visit to local art exhibits celebrating pride in three locations across northern Michigan: Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Farm Club in Traverse City, and Short’s Brewing Company in Elk Rapids. Each display, up until June 30, offers space for artists from the LGBTQIA+ or other marginalized communities to explore the title theme of “Catharsis” while welcoming the public to explore the same and celebrate together after so much time apart. Learn ore about the June exhibits and the October celebration at upnorthpride.com.