Happy Pride Month everyone! Park Circle in North Charleston will host 35 events across multiple local businesses to celebrate Park Circle Pride, a new annual festival of events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. This week-long itinerary benefits two organizations local to Charleston, Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) and We Are Family Charleston. So scroll on through and check out these awesome events that I curated just for you, and happy Pride!

Sunday, June 13

Yas Queen Bingo Pride Brunch

Where: Caroline’s Aloha Bar

When: 12:30PM-2:30PM

Event Details: Happy Pride Month! Let's celebrate this Sungay Fungay by showing our pride! Reservations are required! $15 per table (Reservation fee will be deducted from your tab). Stop by in person, or call us to secure your table! 843-769-0228. This event is sponsored by Firefly Spirits so there will be plenty of fun cocktails and naughty prizes from Badd Kitty Charleston. Yas Queen Bingo Brunch is X-Rated. No kids allowed! Adults enter at your own risk. 

Wednesday, June 16

2021 Charleston Pride Rainbow Run/Walk 5k

Where: Low Tide Brewing

When: 6-8PM

Event Details: Come chase the rainbow with Low Tide and the Ad Astra Endurance Project as we complete the Charleston Pride 2021 Rainbow Run/Walk 5k on Wednesday, June 16th. The 5k will take place between 7-8 pm, after which you can mingle while enjoying a special Pride themed glitter beer, Dough Boys Pizza , and some fabulous giveaways until 10 pm. Meet at Low Tide at 6:00 PM for pre-race line up, photos, and fun. All ages, abilities, and identities are welcome!! Come for the run/walk or to just have a good time with the group! Water bottles recommended for all participants. Dress loud, run fast, and be #proud!

Monday, June 21

Palmetto Community Care Proceeds Night at Frothy Beard Brewing

Where: Frothy Beard Brewing

When: 4-8PM

Event Details: To celebrate Pride Month, Frothy Beard will donate $1 from each pint sold to Palmetto Community Care. Earlier this month, they had a similar event that benefitted Charleston Pride. Palmetto Community Care provides support to those living with HIV or AIDS in the Lowcountry. They provide medical care, everyday resources, and emotional support. So head on over to Frothy Beard and have a few pints while supporting this great organization.

Saturday, June 26th

End of the Rainbow Drag Brunch Takeover

Where: LG’s By the Creek

When: 11am-3pm

Event Details: Get ready to party at this Drag Brunch Takeover hosted by Crystal Guysir w/DJ Trevor D plus Ebony Wood, Symone N. O'Bishop, and Jordan Sophia Alexander!! There will be brunch food and drink specials and giveaways! It’s Park Circle Pride’s last Drag Brunch during Pride Month and it's a Benefit for We Are Family! 

Thursday, June 3rd

Deja Vu II: A Tribute to Rita Taylor 

Where: Jackrabbit Filly (located at 4628 Spruill Ave #101, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 5 PM - 9 PM

Event Details: Deja Vu II was one of two gay bars in North Charleston, owned by the one and only Rita Taylor. Rita’s bars were a safe space for many LGBTQ+ for 34 years, and encouraged many to kickstart their drag careers. Now, Jackrabbit Filly now stands where Deja Vu II once was and in order to pay tribute to Rita Taylor, Jackrabbit Filly will be featuring wings inspired by Rita and serving up a special Grand Marnier Cocktail. All of the proceeds will benefit We Are Family, a Charleston non-profit organization supporting leadership development in marginalized youth.

Pride Happy Hour on the Patio

Where: Madra Rua (located at 1034 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 5 PM - 8 PM

Event Details: Pride Happy Hour on the Patio is hosted and performed by Drag Queens Mercy Madison & Symone O’Bishop, with performances by aerial artist Scarlett Ray and live music DJ Richburg. There will be food and drink specials, prize giveaways, and games! This event is 21+ only.

YAASSS QUEEN Bingo

Where: Holy City Brewing (located at 1021 Aragon Ave, Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 7 PM - 10 PM

Event Details: If you’re looking for great food, cold beer, and fun games with prizes - HCB is the place to be! Caroline’s Aloha Bar is coming to take over Holy City Brewing along with the Charleston Pride organization. This event is 18+ only.

Friday, June 4th

Wind Down Dance Party

Where: Firefly Distillery (located at 4201 Spruill Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 3 PM - 7 PM

Event Details: Celebrate Pride month and dance the day away with DJ Beck Danger on the back porch of Firefly Distillery! This is a family friendly event for all ages. There will be specialty Pride-themed cocktails, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the We Are Family Charleston non-profit organization and Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) social justice organization.

Bluegrass Pride Concert

Where: Commonhouse Aleworks (located at 4831 O’Hear Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 6 PM - 9 PM

Event Details: We are in luck because the monthly First Friday BBQ celebration aligns perfectly with the live Bluegrass Pride concert (and the only event of it’s kind in Charleston)! Come on by for a belly full of BBQ and enjoy live music from the LGBTQ+ Bluegrass group, The Empty Bottle String Band starting at 6PM!

Live Opera Performance & First Wives Karaoke

Where: Ships Wheel (located at 1033 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: Opera (7 PM - 8:30PM), Karaoke (8:30 PM - 10:30PM)

Event Details: Enjoy the live Small Opera pop-up performance of a variety of opera, musical theater and crowd favorites! Make sure you grab an ice-cold hard cider from Ships Wheel to wet your whistle, because after the opera performance you get to become the star of your own show at the First Wives Karaoke pop-up! This event is family friendly, for all ages. 

Saturday, June 5th

Mardi Gras Brunch

Where: LoLA (located at 4830 O’Hear Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Event Details: The Lowcountry Louisiana seafood kitchen is celebrating Pride month Mardi-Gras-style all day long with delicious food specials, pride-themed specialty cocktails, and all the beads you can carry!

The Junction Junction Drag Brunch Function 

Where: The Junction (located at 4438 Spruill Ave, North Charleston 29405)

When: 12 PM - 3 PM 

Event Details: The Junction is proud to welcome it’s first ever Epic Drag Brunch on Saturday! The event will be hosted by the one and only Drag Queens Carmella Monet Monroe, Mercy Madison, and Kymmya Starr. The Junction is taking walk-ins and limited reservations for this event, open to all ages!

Stardust Tattoo Pride Special

Where: Stardust Tattoo (located at 1019 Aragon Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 12 PM - 8 PM

Event Details: If you’re looking to get some ink, or get entered in to a costume contest to win a $500 (best dressed couple) or $250 (best dressed single) tattoo giftcard, you don’t want to miss this. Show off your new ink with a burger and beer special afterwards over at Holy City Brewing!

Live Music on the Patio

Where: Holy City Brewing (located at 1021 Aragon Ave, Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 5 PM - 8 PM

Event Details: Come hang out and lean into the music of Americana-Rock with hints of Bluegrass and Reggae by the local Charleston band Rene Russell & the Bottom End. The trio just released their debut record, Dream The World Anew, which was written out of personal experience with the message of changing one’s circumstances and making the world a better place. I can tell you right now that this band is a must-see, as I’m jammin’ out to their new album as I write this.

Art Walk: Vendors in the Alley

Where: Commonhouse Aleworks (located at 4831 O’Hear Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: 6 PM - ON

Event Details: The alleyway from the Commonhouse to the Literate Bookstore will be filled with local artists and vendors selling handmade and local art, gifts, crafts, jewelry, and more!

Music Bingo & Late Night Dance Party 

Where: Southern Roots Smokehouse (located at 1083 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405)

When: Bingo (7 PM - 10 PM) Dance Party (10 PM - On)

Event Details: Southern Roots is throwing the family-friendly party of the Pride weekend with Beats, Brews, & Bingo hosted by Chelsea Tirone and their co-host Jordan Sophia Alexander

Sunday, June 5th

‍St Patti's Drag Brunch

Where: Madra Rua

When: 12 PM - 4 PM

Event Details: This fun, family-friendly drag brunch event hosted by Patti O’Furniture is raising funds for We Are Family Charleston and Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA).  Come be entertained for brunch on Sunday with performances by Diamond Giovanni, Victoria Vixen, Oliver Clothesoff, and music by DJ Lunchbox.

Live Music by Jay Van Raalte

Where: Commonhouse Aleworks

When: 5 PM - 8 PM

Event Details: The last event of the Park Circle Pride Week festivities will be performed by Jay Van Raalte. Jay is a groovy solo artist and guitarist in multiple groups, featured in Reverend Guitars and publications by the College of Charleston, holds the 2018 Charleston City Paper Guitarist of the Year award, and is sure to put on an amazing show at Commonhouse Aleworks this Sunday! This is a family-friendly event.

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Be sure to check out the full schedule of events and performers at www.parkcirclepride.com and follow me on Whim for live reports from the events!

Stay tuned and get excited for the upcoming Charleston Pride Festival 2021 from September 4th to September 11th!

We encourage you to continue celebrating Charleston Pride long after Pride month is over! Here are some helpful resources to make donations and/or become a part of Charleston Pride:

• Charleston Pride
• Alliance for Full Acceptance
• We Are Family Charleston

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