Arkansas LGBTQIA+ events

Pride! 365 logo with a rainbow-colored skyline and curved lines

Central Arkansas Pride celebrates Pride here in Arkansas on the third Saturday of our history month in October. Established in 2013, Central Arkansas Pride is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization fueled by volunteers.

Our team’s mission is to create events and programs that educate, unite, and inspire with the goal of building a strong LGBTQIA+ community and our allies in Arkansas. PRIDE is to be Celebrated 365

The LGBTQIA+ PRIDE movement is a vibrant, inclusive movement of affirmation, dignity, equality, and visibility that honors the LGBTQIA+ community, our history, achievements, and ongoing struggle for equality here in Arkansas and around the world.

PRIDE serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of acceptance, diversity, and love. It brings together individuals, organizations, and communities to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and celebrate progress toward a more inclusive society.

Ways to participate 365:

-Register to Vote

-Visibility Matters: Attend PRIDE and community marches and festivals

-Volunteer with us, creating safe events

-Educate Yourself and Others (see our resource page)

-Support and Advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ Organizations

-Show support on Social Media

“We have PRIDE because we are not free. Pride was, is, and always will be a protest.

Our protest is fighting for our rights, our artists performing,

the subtle and loud ways we showcase our rainbows to find safety or joy, especially now.

Our protest is love, and it is strong”. ~Fernando Zweifach Lopez Jr

The Pride movement, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, originated from the Stonewall riots in 1969. This sparked a wave of activism and led to the first Pride marches, commemorating the Stonewall Inn(Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY) uprising. The first Pride marches took place in New York city, Chicago, and Los Angeles, on June 28 1970. Prides now occur throughout the year, featuring parades, marches, and community celebrations.

Entrance gate with rainbow flags and a sign indicating Stonewall National Monument, managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service.
Historical marker for the Stonewall Inn, describing its significance as a site for LGBTQ+ activism and its status as a New York State Historic Site since 2016.
Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center sign with Pride-themed decorations and a quote about bravery and equality.
A colorful poster featuring a smiling woman with a floral headpiece, surrounded by vibrant flowers. Text on the poster reads 'Joy and Defiance.'
A smiling woman with gray, curly hair wearing a colorful dress with blue and purple tulle accents.
A woman with dark, wavy hair wearing a white jacket over a red top, smiling at the camera.

SAVE THE DATES

14th annual 2026

Arkansas PRIDEFest Weekend

Thursday, October 15th: Ms/Mr/Mx Central Arkansas PRIDE Pageant 7- 11 pm

Friday, October 16th: Arkansans for Autonomy (2- 5 pm)

& Meet and Greet (5-10 pm)

Saturday, October 17th: PRIDEFest and Parade, 11 am-6 pm

Sunday, October 18th: Brunch 11 am-130 pm

Applications are now OPEN!

Join us in this multiday inclusive cultural community celebration!‍ ‍

Arkansas PRIDEFest Applications
People participating in a pride parade, waving rainbow and LGBTQ+ flags, wearing colorful rainbow-themed costumes, and walking down a city street with tents and buildings in the background.
People participating in a Pride parade, holding rainbow flags and flags representing LGBTQ+ pride, with some wearing rainbow-themed socks and clothing, on a city street with tents and trees in the background.
A decorated white pickup truck participating in a pride parade, adorned with colorful balloons, rainbow flags, paper decorations, and a 'Good Vibes' sign, with tents and people in the background.
A GMC vehicle decorated with Arkansas RAPS graphics and rainbow flags is participating in a parade. Several people are inside and around the vehicle, and there are colorful inflatable palm trees and a banner in the background.
A parade float with women waving and smiling during a pride parade, decorated with rainbow flags, banners, and a large sign reading "Mom Hugs" in rainbow colors. The float features a woman standing and waving from the top, wearing sunglasses and a "Free Mom Hugs" shirt.
Group of people participating in a parade holding a banner that reads "Creating Unity in the Hendrix Community" with a handshake icon and a globe icon.
A group of five women performing on an outdoor stage, with a black backdrop displaying the word 'Avent.' They are dressed in matching colorful, animal print-style outfits and high boots, with the woman in the front center leading the dance.
A person dressed in pink, holding a black fan with white text, smiling and sitting in a convertible car during a Pride parade. Behind, a tent with the logo and text of First United Methodist Church of Little Rock is visible, along with people holding rainbow flags.
People participating in a pride parade, holding a large rainbow flag on a city street with tents and spectators in the background.
A parade with a group of people holding a banner for Second Presbyterian Church walking down a street lined with vendor tents. Many rainbow flags and colorful balloons are visible, indicating a Pride event. Tall buildings and trees are in the background.
People participating in a pride parade, holding rainbow flags and banners, with a convertible car decorated for LGBTQ+ pride, under a clear sky.
People participating in a parade holding a banner that reads "Welcome to the home of Rock Town Roller Derby." The group is dressed in colorful clothing, with some wearing rainbow accessories, and they are smiling as they walk down a tree-lined street.
People participating in a pride parade, holding rainbow flags, banners, and signs, with some wearing colorful accessories and costumes, on a city street with parked cars and buildings in the background.
Performer with dramatic makeup and costume on stage, wearing black and red leopard print and black latex, making a heart shape with her hands.
Crowd of people at an outdoor event with tents and rainbow flags.
People participating in a parade or public event on a street, with the state capitol building in the background, decorated with rainbow flags, and tents set up along the sides.
Group of people marching in a parade holding a banner for First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, with other parade participants and colorful tents on the street.
Two men standing with their right hands over their hearts during a pride event, with one draped in a rainbow flag, in an outdoor urban setting.
Crowd of people at an outdoor event or parade on a city street, with rainbow flags and tents, in front of a large government building with a dome and columns, under an overcast sky.
Two individuals on stage, one with long flowing hair and wearing a brown velvet outfit, and another with curly hair and colorful makeup, standing with hands on hips, during a performance or event with a large sign reading 'Little R' in the background.
People celebrating Pride parade on float decorated with rainbow flags, balloons, and rainbow-colored accessories, with some wearing butterfly wings and rainbow-themed clothing.
A group of people holding a purple banner at an outdoor event for Arkansas Abortion Support Network, with tents and other participants in the background.
Group of people participating in a parade holding a large blue banner that reads 'Arkansas Society of Freethinkers' with the website www.ARfreethinkers.org. The parade is taking place on a street in front of a building with large windows and trees, and there are other people and tents in the background.
People gather on a city sidewalk for a parade, with a rainbow pride banner inscribed with "EQUALITY," and streetcar tracks run along the curb. Many are sitting and standing, some dressed in black with colorful accessories, in front of brick buildings
Two smiling people sitting on a motorcycle, wearing sunglasses and casual clothing, with trees and a parking lot in the background.
Group of people holding a rainbow flag at an outdoor event, celebrating LGBTQ pride.
A person holding a transgender pride flag walking in a parade, with other parade participants and onlookers in the background.
Crowd of diverse people at a pride event outdoors, raising hands, some with rainbow accessories, in front of tents and buildings on a sunny day.
A woman dancing at an outdoor event with a crowd under a bridge, wearing a beige fringe dress and having curly hair.
People participating in a pride parade on a city street, holding colorful balloon arrangements and wearing black shirts with rainbow text, with onlookers watching from the sidewalk.
Person wearing rainbow pride tank top, sunglasses, and headband holding roller skates, standing in a crowded street during a pride event.
A parade scene with people riding in a decorated float. A young woman with rainbow-striped leggings is holding a small dog dressed in a gray outfit and sitting on her lap. Behind her, a person holds a black sign saying "I'm straight for y'all" with a
People celebrating outdoors during a pride event, with a woman with red curly hair in the center smiling and dancing, surrounded by others in colorful attire and accessories.
Two people hugging at a pride parade; one is wearing a unicorn horn headband and a rainbow-colored, iridescent cape, with glasses and a beard. The other person is wearing a white t-shirt and is partially visible.
People participating in a pride parade holding rainbow-colored signs that spell 'LOVE' on a city street with buildings and onlookers.
Crowd of people at an outdoor event on a stage, many wearing rainbow and pride-themed clothing and accessories, with a person holding a rainbow-colored pride flag.
Group of people, including children and adults, participating in a pride parade with rainbow-themed decorations and an umbrella at a parking lot.
Woman smiling holding a transparent umbrella with rainbow hearts and the word 'PRIDE' during a pride event
Float decorated with a church replica, colorful balloons, and rainbow fabric in a parking lot, with people nearby.
Two men at a Pride festival, one wearing a white cap, sunglasses, and black shirt, the other wearing a blue cap, sunglasses, and black T-shirt, standing in front of a pink banner reading 'Little Rock Pride Fest Family Zone.' Behind them are colorful
People at a pride parade holding rainbow-colored and rainbow-striped flags, with a performer on a stage in the background and trees around.
A woman at an outdoor Pride event, wearing rainbow accessories, tie-dye clothes, and a sticker that says 'God Made Me Perfect.' She is smiling and talking on her phone, with rainbow flags and other people in the background.
A crowd of people participating in a pride parade, holding rainbow flags and signs, with some wearing rainbow-colored accessories and tutus, on a city street under a partly cloudy sky.
A group of protesters marching on a city street holding a large pink banner that reads 'Stand with Planned Parenthood' and smaller pink signs that say 'Together We Fight for All.'
People celebrating in a parade, wearing colorful costumes and accessories, on a float decorated with balloons.
Crowd of diverse people attending an outdoor LGBTQ+ pride festival with vendor tents, some wearing rainbow-themed clothing and accessories.
Group of six people at an outdoor event, some wearing sunglasses, two shirtless men, one seated and one standing, all smiling under a canopy, with drinks on the table.
People participating in a Pride parade, riding bikes decorated with rainbow flags and accessories, with colorful rainbow flags and balloons visible in the background.
A group of people participating in a pride parade, holding a rainbow flag that says "You Are Loved," with colorful flowers in the foreground and buildings in the background on a sunny day.
A colorful Pride parade float features a giant puppet of Jesus wearing a rainbow scarf and white robe, with a sign promoting love and equality in the foreground.
  • Crowd of people celebrating at an outdoor Pride event with rainbow flags and colorful accessories, some wearing rainbow-themed clothing, in a city park with tents and buildings in the background.

    About Central Arkansas Pride

    Central Arkansas Pride is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization focused on building a stronger 2SLGBTQIA+ community with our allies in Arkansas and helping all feel welcome and empowered.

    Our all-volunteer team creates events and programs that

    unite, inspire, and educate.

    PRIDE IS A JOYFUL DEFIANCE!

  • A woman with curly hair dressed in a fringed, sparkly outfit performing at an outdoor event, with a crowd and stage in the background.

    Entertainment

    Be entertained by our diverse amazing Arkansas 2SLGBTQIA+ performances on our Main stage!

    Celebrate and dance in Joyful Defiance!

  • A street parade with motorcycles, a rainbow flag, and a crowd of onlookers on the sidewalks, some holding LGBTQ+ flags, during daytime.

    Parade

    Parade starts at 11 am.

    All are welcome to march in unity and be visible for the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities’ continued fight for equality on Capitol Avenue in the Heart of Arkansas.

    Volunteer to carry the parade flag!

  • Two women on a float riding in a Pride parade, both smiling and wearing rainbow accessories, including rainbow flags, rainbow-themed glasses, and fairy wings, under a rainbow-colored balloon arch.

    PRIDEFest

    PRIDEFest unites, educates, and inspires the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and our allies with our over 160 vendors and entertainers. Connecting, networking, and supporting each other. Building a better Arkansas!.

    COME OUT and celebrate in Joyful Defiance.

    See the resources, crafts, organizations, businesses, and food trucks that support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It is a safe space to be your true self. Meet old friends and find new friends and allies.

    A safe place where you are supported and loved!