Visitors to Loudoun’s booming wine region this Pride Month are in for a special surprise as 15 wineries have united to create a Pride in the Vines passport program throughout June. This inaugural 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. During the ever-popular Taste of Rosé weekend on June 10-11 participants earn double stamps.  

“Every person gay or straight is welcome,” said Pride in the Vines co-founder Teri Riggs, owner of Forever Farm & Vineyard and Vice President of the LWWA. “One of the things we emphasize is inclusion and Pride is the perfect time to invite everyone out to DC’s Wine Country®.”

Besides Forever Farm & Vineyard, the other wineries making up the Pride in the Vines Wine Trail are: 

The month-long celebration will end with special events at participating wineries including drag brunches, live music and more.

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 4

The second annual Loudoun Pride Festival returns to Claude Moore Park, Sterling on June 4 from 1-7 p.m. with more than 3,000 visitors expected on top of more than 100 participating businesses. Organized by Equality Loudoun, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, the event features a craft beverage garden, international cuisine from more than a dozen different food vendors, handmade crafts and assorted Pride merch and a Glitter Stage for face painting and a magician. The highlight, however, is the live music on the Rainbow Stage with a thrilling line-up featuring The Reagan Years, Crash the Limo, Dragstravaganza! and many more.

 

Pride Night, Tarara Summer Concert Series, June 10 

The ever-popular Saturday summer music series at Tarara Winery is back and on June 10 will celebrate Pride Night. The event will be headlined by award-winning Maryland blues rockers the Kelly Bell Band, a six-piece combo that will perform hits from albums of theirs such as Phat Blues Music. The support act is powerhouse Virginia grunge rockers Elizabeth’s Furnace. On top of all the food, wine and music, the Pride “LOVE” letters are being delivered for display at the event.

 

Lovettsville Pride 2023, June 17

Lovettsville welcomes all to its annual Lovettsville Pride party on the town green June 17 from 2-6 p.m. There will be a kids’ art and crafts area, an art auction with proceeds going to the Lovettsville Food Bank, multiple food and refreshment stands including Kona Ice and Bomb Burger and of course a range of merchandise.

lovettsville pride

 

Loudoun County Pride Art Exhibition

Throughout June, Loudoun artists of all ages, backgrounds and styles will showcase selected works in the Loudoun One Gallery of the county government building in downtown Leesburg. Submissions are from LGBTQ+ artists and allies and either themed to celebrate Pride or simply be the artists own style and vision. To help raise funds for the Loudoun LGBTQ+ Community Center, artists have the option to auction their pieces through the Equality Loudoun website.