A guide to the best Austin Pride Week events

The East Austin children's museum is celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer families (and LGBTQ adults with kiddos in their lives) with an evening of drag queen storytime, cooking classes, and a mini-Pride parade, among other activities. 

The Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is kicking off Pride week early with a well-stocked bat cruise. Burro Cheese Kitchen is providing the snacks and Deep Eddy Vodka, Mighty Swell and Austin Eastciders are on drinks. A DJ will be on the upper deck, where you can dance as the bats fly overhead at dusk, but you can always retreat to the air conditioning on the lower deck. The Yeti store is hosting a pre-cruise happy hour from 4-6pm, but make sure to get to 220 S Congress by 6:30pm—the boat departs at 7pm. A portion of the event's proceeds will go toward an LGBTQ scholarship fund. BYOB. 

Pride Week kicks off with an evening spent hopping around some of Austin’s best gay bars. Start at BT2 at 8pm, then strut your way through Iron Bear, Highland, Rain on 4th, Sellers and Oilcan Harrys until the clock strikes midnight and we all turn into pumpkins (kidding, we’re definitely finding the after party). Prizes are given away at each location.

It’s not Sunday without brunch, and it’s not Pride without Big Gay Brunch. Stop by the Rattle Inn for a full brunch buffet from Trudy’s Tex-Mex, plus $2 mimosas, $14 carafes, beats by DJ Tony Castro Jr., and special appearances by Nadine Hughes, Sya Nyde and Lady Grackle.

Bring a chair to the theater's courtyard for an outdoor screening of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, the tale of three drag queens who drive across the country in a Cadillac convertible to compete in the Drag Queen of America pageant. Food trucks will be on site and quoting along is encouraged.

Make. It. WERK. Hosted by the fabulous Bianca Del Rio and Coco Peru, the 5th annual WERK Fashion Show features stunning threads from Project Runway designers (Peach Carr from Season 8, Stanley Hundson from Season 11, Justin LeBlacn from Season 12), along with special performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants. Proceeds benefit the Austin LGBTQ Community Center.

Come early for the glitter bar with body paint and stay late dancing by gay artist Jim Hodge's installation "With Liberty and Justice for All." The jams are compliments of local queer DJs and the food is free. You'll also find some cocktails to drink up on the roof, though this party is all-ages and in partnership with Equality Texas and Out Youth.

Gather 'round for storytime with your favorite queens at this weekend morning event put on by the Austin International Drag Foundation and Austin Pride.

Pride's official women’s party helps close out the week with a party at Sellers Underground hosted by Lesbutante and The Boss—plus special guest host Sada Bettencourt from the Real L Word. Dance to the tunes of Elle G and DJ Rocabye at Pride's most babe-ly event.

Presented by the Austin Gay & Lesbian Pride Foundation, the 27th annual Austin Pride Festival kicks off the final day of a festive week celebrating our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Headliners at the festival include Betty Who, Lisa Lisa, Mykki Blanco, AB Soto and others, with drinks, food, games and booths supporting local non-profits rounding out the fest.