Local LGBTQIA+ pride event, Keweenaw Pridefest, is returning for a fourth year on Saturday, June 6 at the Calumet Colosseum. The free, all-ages event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. and is open to the public, rain or shine.
The theme of Keweenaw Pridefest 2026 is Rainbow Connections. The theme represents the connections LGBTQIA+ people have to their communities and to queer history.
“Community is the connections we have with each other,” said Keweenaw Pridefest organizer Emily Stanton. “When all generations of queer people can stand together, it’s powerful. Now more than ever, we need a strong queer community in the Keweenaw.”
Keweenaw Pridefest will have live music, tabling from local organizations, a photo booth, food trucks, a clothing swap, and free face painting and balloon art. New to the 2026 event are a stamp rally, a chill zone with bracelet making and origami, and community art project inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt. A free transportation shuttle, with stops in Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet, is available from 12 to 5 p.m.
Event Details:This is a fun, inclusive, and free event that anyone is welcome to attend. Pride events are a celebration of overcoming adversity from an LGBTQIA+ perspective. It's also a time to join and connect with one another, make lasting connections between all generations. Whether you are looking to talk with community organizations, listen to live music, get some new clothes, or eat delicious food from local food trucks, this event is for you.
“Pridefest is an opportunity to bring the Keweenaw community together to celebrate LGBTQIA+ residents while welcoming anyone looking to start the summer with great music and friendly faces from across the Upper Peninsula,” said Stanton.
Volunteers NeededIf you would like to help volunteer for Keweenaw Pridefest 2026, you can sign up at givepul.se/deqyve or contact [email protected].
There will be a volunteer orientation on Tuesday, June 2 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Portage Lake District Library (58 Huron Street, Houghton, MI 49931) community room.
Additional InformationMore information on Keweenaw Pridefest can be found at keweenawpridefest.org.
About Keweenaw QueersThe first Keweenaw Pridefest was held in 2023 by Keweenaw Queers, a grassroots domestic nonprofit aiming to promote positive LGBTQIA+ representation in the Keweenaw. The organization, which started as a small collective of people interested in creating a local queer pride celebration, received 501(c)(3) status in 2024.