Visitors to Loudoun’s booming wine region this Pride Month are in for a special surprise as almost 20 wineries have united to create a Pride in the Vines passport program throughout June. This event presented by the Loudoun Wineries & Winegrowers Association allows winery goers to receive a special passport to collect stamps and enter a drawing for prizes ranging from private tastings and vineyard tours to bottles of wine and event tickets. Once participants earn their 10 stamps, they are entered into the drawing.

 

 

pride in the vines flag

PC: @winetrailsandwanderlust

Participating Wineries

The wine community isn’t the only group offering special events to mark Pride Month. Keep your eye out for these other celebrations.

 

Loudoun Pride Festival, June 2

The Loudoun Pride Festival returns to Claude Moore Park, Sterling on June 2. More than 3,000 visitors are expected on top of more than 150 participating businesses. Organized by Equality Loudoun, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary, the event features a craft beverage garden, international cuisine from more than a dozen different food vendors, handmade crafts and assorted Pride merch. This year they are maximizing the event with three stages featuring more than a dozen performances, including queer artists. There is a revamped kids zone with inflatable obstacle courses, face painting, balloon art and so much more. The highlight, however, is the live music and lively drag performance as Dragstravaganza returns to the main stage!

 

Drag Brunches

Drag brunches originated in the 1990’s as a celebration of queer identity and creative expression and have become a vibrant staple in contemporary culture. It’s no surprise that during Pride Month many of Loudoun’s restaurants and wineries are providing drag queens and kings a venue to showcase their talent. Loudoun Kitchen & Bar in downtown Leesburg is kicking off 2024 Pride on June 9 with a Werk Your Pride brunch; enjoy a mouth-watering menu, competitive games and an open bar (21 and up!) while watching extravagant drag show performances by Ms. Khloé Heart and friends. In Ashburn, the urban bar and restaurant City Tap, brings back its annual drag brunch on June 22. Bring your most colorful outfit to enjoy an extensive brunch menu and craft beverages while you marvel over the drag show cast line-up. Fabulous-ness!

 

Attend a Drag Show

Contrary to what people might think, drag shows and drag brunches differ - but only in their time of origin. Drag brunches are the babies of drag shows, which originated during the time of the Stonewall riots in 1969, where drag queens played a significant role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Move a little out west to Purcellville and LGBTQ+ friendly winery, Two Twisted Posts Winery, invites you to the Pride Party Drag Show on June 15. Follow the pride flags hanging on the vines and take a seat on the spacious lawn to enjoy an afternoon of live music, taco trucks, wine and dancing. It’s a celebration this June!

 

To find more local LGBTQ+ events check our events calendar.