Spokane Pride Parade & Rainbow Festival
A free June weekend: noon parade downtown, then a festival across Riverfront Park.
Spokane Pride's weekend each June is one of the city's biggest crowds. A parade runs through downtown at noon on Saturday, and the festival that follows fills Riverfront Park with stages, vendors and food. Spokane Pride's executive director told the Spokesman-Review in 2026 that it is technically the largest event in Riverfront Park because it uses almost the whole park.
The main events are free and open to everyone, and the tone is family-friendly during the day. In 2026 the Saturday festival included hundreds of performers across multiple stages, more than 250 vendors, two beverage gardens, family and youth zones, and the fourth annual Two Spirit Powwow. An all-ages dance party at the Lilac Bowl wrapped up the evening.
The surrounding weekend adds more: a Friday kickoff show, block parties on Sprague Avenue, a Sunday market and art shows around town. Visitors are welcome; you do not need to know anyone to join in.
What to see and do
Starts at noon on the second Saturday of June in downtown Spokane. Arrive early for a good spot along the route and check the official route map.
The festival kicks off at 1 p.m. with stages, performers, food and 250+ vendors. In 2026 the main stage area was at the Gesa Credit Union Pavilion.
Dedicated spaces for kids and teens, which makes the daytime festival easy for families.
A powwow built into the festival, in its fourth year in 2026.
A Friday evening kickoff show with drag performances, plus a Saturday block party on Sprague Avenue after the festival.
Saturday evening at the Lilac Bowl, at 6 p.m. in 2026.
Local tips
- Get to the parade route early, or watch from a spot near Riverfront Park so you can walk straight into the festival.
- Plan for crowds and heat. June in Spokane can be sunny and warm; bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
- Riverfront Park is large. Pick a meeting point if you are with a group so nobody gets separated in the crowd.
- Book hotels early. Pride weekend is one of the busier downtown weekends in June.
- Expect street closures downtown. Check the city and Spokane Pride for route and closure details.
- Check Spokane Pride's accessibility page before you go. It publishes accessibility information for the event.
- Bring some cash and a card for vendors and beverage gardens.
- Check Spokane Pride's official site for the exact schedule, since times can change from year to year.
A little history
Spokane's first Pride march took place in 1992. Over the years the event has grown from a march into a full weekend, with the executive director saying attendance has grown tenfold in the past decade.
Spokane Pride is a local nonprofit with an office on East Sprague Avenue. It runs the parade and festival and organizes events through the year, including a first Hillyard Pride on September 19, 2026.
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Questions visitors ask
When is Spokane Pride?
Usually the second Saturday in June. The 2026 parade and festival were on Saturday, June 13. Dates for 2027 had not been announced when this was written; check spokanepride.org.
Is it free?
The parade and festival are free. Some add-on events may charge.
Is it family-friendly?
Yes. The daytime parade and festival are family-friendly and include family and youth zones. Evening events vary.
What time does the parade start?
At noon on Saturday in 2026. Check the official schedule for the current year.
Where does the festival take place?
In Riverfront Park, in downtown Spokane.
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