EVENTS
We are very excited to host this year’s Old Ellicott City Pride again!
OEC PRIDE WILL BE ON Saturday, June 6, 2026 FROM 12-5PM IN LOT F IN OLD ELLICOTT CITY!
Get your FREE tickets now HERE!
Stay tuned for our other events as well! We currently plan to host our annual art competition, a spring fundraiser, drag nights, and of course Howard County Pride 2026 to close out our season in October 2026 at Symphony Woods at Merriweather Park!
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Get ready to sashay and sip at Drag me to Brunch Pride Edition, where fierce queens meet tasty bites!
Drag me to Brunch (Pride Edition)
Get ready for a fabulous in-person celebration filled with glitter, laughs, and amazing performances! Drag me to Brunch is back with a special Pride twist—expect colorful vibes, tasty bites, and an unforgettable atmosphere on the patio. Bring your friends, your rainbow spirit, and your biggest smile for a brunch like no other. Let’s celebrate love, pride, and all the good times together!
**Drinks and food sold separately.
** Purchase group tickets under 1 name
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May 29th…more information coming soon!
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Stay tuned…more information coming soon
Winter Wonderland Gala
Join us on December 20 for a Winter Wonderland Gala to benefit HoCo and OEC Pride. We will have special performances from our lovely queens including KC Florance, Victoria, Amethyst, Orion, and Alizee. There will be lots of food, cash bar, music by DJ-Deezy, live auction and a fabulous Drag Show. Support Pride and enjoy!
Click here for ticket information!
Howard County Pride!
Howard County Pride has been POSTPONED to October 26, 2025. Vendors, entertainers, sponsors, food trucks, and elected officials, please check your email.
Join HoCo Pride for a vibrant day filled with music, dance, games, food, and resources that honor and uplift our LGBTQIA2S+ community. Everyone is welcome at this free, family-friendly festival to celebrate how far we've come and continue the work of building and fighting for a more inclusive, safe, and thriving community!
Highlights include:
Music, drag performances, aerialists, and more on stage!
Small businesses and independent creators
Local food trucks, food stalls, and concessions!
Community organizations and non-profits providing resources, information, and support
Games and crafts
Old Ellicott City Pride!
OEC Pride's FIFTH ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL: Resist, Inspire, Support, Empower!
Join us on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM at the Howard County Circuit Courthouse Parking lot and the Inn at Mt. Ida for a day filled with celebration, community, and inclusiveness. This event is a time to come together and showcase our pride. There will be Drag, music, food, vendors, exhibitors, games, and more for everyone to enjoy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with others and show your pride! See you there!
We host events that help foster a safe and inclusive environment for people of all ages, sexualities, genders, ethnicities, faiths and creeds. We are very proud to announce Old Ellicott City's Fifth Annual OEC LGBTQ+ Pride Festival and invite everyone to come and celebrate with us!
Click Here to register on EventBrite for Free now!
Click Here to see our list of vendors for this event!
Pride Nite Out
Join us at Oversea Distillery for a wonderful Pride Nite Out!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-nite-out-tickets-1296192880799?aff=oddtdtcreator
HoCo Pride T-Shirt Art Contest!
| Resist, Inspire, Support, Empower |
Howard County Pride is proud to present our annual T-Shirt Art Competition! This competition is designed to provide an excellent opportunity to local Maryland artists in grades K through 12.
You will be entering for a chance to see your art work displayed proudly on our volunteer t-shirt on the day of Pride 2025! Anyone attending the festival will see this art on our volunteers while they are hard at work hosting this year's festival.
This competition is open from March 30 through May 25, 2025. All submissions are due to this form by 11:59pm on Sunday, May 25, 2025. No exceptions will be made. Any submissions made past this time will not be considered/judged.
Submissions can be made here or at https://forms.gle/bHhLbgbYQX3dFoMq6
Please read the rules carefully-- which can be found either within the survey or below:
Avoid beige or pastels—focus on bright, bold, vivid colors.
Yellows are allowed but should be a deeper yellow.
Design should be simple, eye-catching, and easy to process in 5second or less
NO hate speech, vulgar imagery, and offensive words/phrases are allowed
Must include:
The organization: “HoCo Pride”
The Date: “October X, 2025”
The theme: “Resist, Inspire, Support, Empower"
File submissions may be .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .pdf, .ai, .eps, .gif, .bmp, .psd, however .PDF, .AI, or .EPS are preferred.
Artists will be judged on the following criteria:
Communication of the Theme
Creativity
Composition
Overall impression
Please address any questions to info@howardcountypride.org
Winners will be announced on June 8, 2025 at OEC Pride!
All submissions will be judged by the HoCo Pride Planning Committee
Please include a short reflection (max: 500 words) of what your design means to you, and how designing your art has allowed you to connect/learn more about diversity and inclusion
This competition is designed to offer a platform to recognize artists within our community. As such, artists are allowed to tastefully include their signature within the work, as long as it does not obstruct/distract from the overall design/artwork. We understand that being a part of our community comes with non-disclosure of our identity sometimes-- which is why we will only be accrediting artists in our marketing materials upon the request of the artist sent to info@howardcountypride.org. We hope this allows you a space to thrive.
Only one submission is permitted per person--anyone found to have made multiple submissions under the same or different names will be disqualified from the competition. If you would like to amend your submission prior to May 25, 2025 at 11:59pm, please make sure to email info@howardcountypride.org so we are aware of the resubmission and can delete the previous one made.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Abby Hendrix at info@howardcountypride.org.
Happy Hour @Union Jacks!
Ride the rainbow to the HoCo Pride Happy Hour at Union Jack’s on Pi Day—Friday, March 14! Join us starting at 5:30 PM for an evening of fun, community, and celebration.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages while sipping on our Pride Drink Special (available for purchase). Plus, don’t miss out on our Pi-themed raffles in honor of the day!
Cost: $10 ($5 for students)
Volunteers: If you've volunteered with us this year, we’d love to thank you with free admission! (And if you’re 21+, enjoy a free drink on us!) Contact Alex@howardcountypride.org to let him know you’ll be joining.
The celebration continues at 8:00 PM with free admission to Union Jack’s live Irish band—because why stop the party?
All ages welcome! (Alcohol will be served for 21+)
Get tickets now here!
Pride Night at Toby's Dinner Theatre
Join HoCo Pride for PRIDE NIGHT at Toby’s for 9 to 5 The Musical!
With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 is based on the smash hit movie. Three unlikely friends take control of their office and learn there is nothing they can’t do! Pushed to the boiling point, the female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot!
Sunday, February 9. 2025 - Doors open at 5:00 pm. Guests should arrive by 5:15 pm. Show starts at 7:00 pm.
Adult tickets are $77.00. This includes 15% gratuity on the price of the ticket(s). Additional gratuities are appreciated. If you are interested in purchasing tickets for childrent 12 and under, please contact us at info@howardcountypride.org.
9 to 5 with Toby's Dinner Theatre!
Thank you for celebrating with us through the wonderful musical 9 to 5!
HoCo Pride @ Color Burst Park
At this annual event, we will recognize community members and give out awards to students that participated in the design contest co-sponsored with the Howard County Public Schools and the Howard County Library System. In addition, we will have a Pride Pet Parade, Pet Costume Contest, and Drag Story Time. Join us for this family friendly event!
Get tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hoco-pride-at-color-burst-park-2024-tickets-899151806257
Proud Innovation: Learn from LGBTQ+ Innovators
Don’t miss a special online event celebrating the remarkable work of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) innovators. Take this opportunity to hear a discussion on creating change, building legacies, securing funding, and networking.
Fundraiser: The White Oak Tavern
Our friends at The White Oak Tavern are hosting a fundraiser! A portion of the proceeds helps support HoCo Pride!
Check out some of our past events!
2025 Events
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Join HoCo Pride for PRIDE NIGHT at Toby’s for 9 to 5 The Musical!
With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 is based on the smash hit movie. Three unlikely friends take control of their office and learn there is nothing they can’t do! Pushed to the boiling point, the female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot!
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Ride the rainbow to the HoCo Pride Happy Hour at Union Jack’s on Pi Day—Friday, March 14! Join us starting at 5:30 PM for an evening of fun, community, and celebration.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages while sipping on our Pride Drink Special (available for purchase). Plus, don’t miss out on our Pi-themed raffles in honor of the day!
Cost: $10 ($5 for students)
Volunteers: If you've volunteered with us this year, we’d love to thank you with free admission! (And if you’re 21+, enjoy a free drink on us!) Contact Alex@howardcountypride.org to let him know you’ll be joining.The celebration continues at 8:00 PM with free admission to Union Jack’s live Irish band—because why stop the party?
All ages welcome! (Alcohol will be served for 21+)
Tag your crew and let’s make this a night to remember!
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OEC Pride is partnering with Union Jacks for a fabulous fundraiser! Drag all night, fierce queens, and a sizzling Drag auction. Don’t miss the sparkle! Come support OEC Pride. The show starts at 6:30 pm, doors open at 4:00.
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Join us for the 5th annual OEC Pride. Held in the courthouse parking lot and the Inn at Mt. Ida. We will have music, drag, food trucks, vendors, games, tie dye, beer garden and more. Bring the family and while here, participate in our scavenger hunt in OEC for great prizes. This is a free event.
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Join HoCo Pride for a Loud and Proud Happy Hour to help raise money for Howard County Pride. There will be drink specials, raffles, drag show and more. The event is free but we do ask you to register and donations are appreciated.
If weather allows, the event will be held outside on the patio.
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Join the Inner Arbor Trust and HoCo Pride for a vibrant day filled with music, dance, games, food, and resources that honor and uplift our LGBTQIA2S+ community. Everyone is welcome at this free, family-friendly festival to celebrate how far we've come and continue the work of building and fighting for a more inclusive, safe, and thriving community!
Highlights include:
Music, drag performances, aerialists, and more on stage!
Small businesses and independent creators
Local food trucks, food stalls, and concessions!
Community organizations and non-profits providing resources, information, and support
Games and crafts
2024 Events
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Awards Ceremony Pride Pet Parade Pet Costume Contest Drag Story Time Crafts Games lots of pride fun!
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This year, we are celebrating Finding Vibrance Everywhere at our 5th annual HoCo Pride Festival!!
Our Pride festival is a vibrant, family-friendly event that brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity, promote equality, and foster a sense of community. The festival will feature a variety of activities, including live music, entertainment, vendors, food trucks, and games.
Our goal is to create a welcoming space where everyone can feel proud of who they are and who they love.
2023 Events
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Thank you for such a wonderful event of games, mingling, and making new friends!
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Our inaugural launch of our 2 art competitions: submit your work for a chance to see your art decorate the streets ahead of Pride!
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Our inaugural T-Shirt Art Competition for K-12! In partnership with HCPSS and HCL, we are excited to offer students the opportunity to see their art on our merch!
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We are very excited about our First Annual HoCo Pride Restaurant Week. Thank you to all the restaurants that have joined us as partners this week+ by showing their support by supporting HoCo Pride. Each restaurant will be donating a certain percentage of their proceeds that night to support HoCo Pride. We hope you can join us for our kickoff event at The White Oak Tavern on June 11 and we encourage you to visit are other PRIDE supporters throughout the week. To see all participating restaurants and specials, click here. Please note that some restaurant will require you to bring a flyer or share that you are there supporting HoCo Pride.
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Join us on Friday, June 23, 2023 from 8-10pm for a night filled with love and powerful performances! This Open Mic is open to anyone who would like to perform. Hosted by the fabulous Bella Naughty!
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Chalk! Tie Dye! Lawn Games! And more!
Join us Sunday, June 25 from 6:30-8:30pm at Colorburst Park in the Merriweather district for a fun evening in the park! At 7:30pm, we will also be presenting 3 community engagement awards and announcing the winner of our T-Shirt Art Competition!
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HoCo Pride was proud to present this years HoCo Pride Festival on Sunday, October 15, 2023!
Thank you for joining us in Symphony Woods @ Merriweather park from 11-4pm for amazing fun, festivities, and entertainment!
Past 2024 Events
PAST 2023 EVENTS:
*Events are added as they are announced/planned! Please check back regularly for updates!