What to Count on — Go to Philadelphia

The Experience

Philadelphia OURfest: National Coming Out Parade and Festival is open to all, especially LGBTQ+ members and allies.

OURfest (standing for Our Uniting Resilience) officially begins with kick-off events on Friday, October 6, 2023 — and the festivities only ramp up over the weekend.

Parade

OURfest’s National Coming Out Parade takes place on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 4 to 6 p.m. The historic celebration starts at 5th & Market streets and flows to Broad & Locust streets.

The parade features a series of LGBTQ+ floats, live performances, and sections for pioneers and community leaders, youth and families, local organizations, sports and recreation, drag artists and more.

Plus, get ready for the return of the record-breaking 200-foot Progress Pride flag, originally debuted at the Pride March & Festival this past June.

Festival

The party continues the next day with the OURfest National Coming Out Festival and Resource Fair, taking place all across the Gayborhood on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 12 to 7 p.m.

This vibrant street fest and resource fair captures the spirit of Philly’s LGBTQ+ community, with festivities including art and music by local artists, speeches and live entertainment, food trucks, makers and craft vendors, family programming, education and wellness resources, and ceremonies.

Festival highlights include:

• OURstage, a collaboration showcasing performers and producers that don’t have a traditional brick-and-mortar venue
• the Philadelphia Muses Stage, featuring a lineup of bands, choirs, DJ sets and other performers, plus a ceremony awarding the inaugural Ms., Mx. and Mr. Ourfest 2023
• the Youth and Family Zone, a spacious area with bounce houses, changing stations, game trucks and other age-appropriate programming
• the Food Truck Market, selling a wide variety of bites and sips from East Coast vendors

  — Photo by K. Aversa

• Sober Vibes, an alcohol-free space hosted at Writer’s Block Rehab which offers a creative menu of zero-proof drinks and adult-oriented entertainment
• Kiki Alley, a celebration space highlighting the rich history and culture of Philly’s ballroom community
• Bailar con Amor, a section celebrating the LGBTQ+ Latino community and Afro-Latino culture, art, dance and expression
• the Decompression Zone, a space for attendees in need of a low-volume and relaxing place to celebrate, complete with shaded seating and accessible bathrooms, and
• resources including medical tents, education and employment services, and VICE, an 18+ space offering safe sex products and workshops on topics like kink and consent.

For more information on festival attractions, visit the official website.