SF Pride 2023: This list of LGBTQ+ arts events includes drag shows

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Drag Laureate D’Arcy Drollinger (speaking) is joined by, San Francisco Treasurer José Cisnero (left), State Sen. Scott Wiener, Mayor London Breed, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and others to kick off San Francisco's 53rd Annual Pride Month on Friday, June 2, in San Francisco.

Shawna Virago will perform as part of this year's Fresh Meat Festival of Trans and Queer Performance to be held at Z Space from June 14-18.

Parades, rallies and weekend parties can hog the spotlight during Pride Month, but local arts organizations have plenty of edifying events and activities planned to offer audiences well-rounded entertainment options celebrating the queer community throughout June.

Here's The Chronicle's guide to live music, art and more activities honoring LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Stop by the library for an afternoon of Pride-themed fun, including a drag story hour with Panda Dulce, craft activities, face painting, light snacks and more.

Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Free. Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch, 1 Jose Sarria Court, S.F. 415-355-5616. sfpl.org/events

Held on the outdoor campus of the North Bay's Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, the event includes representatives from more than 40 breweries and cideries pouring tastes, plus live DJ sets and food vendors. Proceeds will benefit the Sonoma nonprofit, Face to Face.

1-4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10. $50-$65, reservations recommended. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. f2f.org/beerfest

Attendees celebrate at a past Bong-o-Bingo event at the S.F. Mission Cannabis Club.

Join DJ Dank, Brandelicious and Thee Pristine Condition for a night of drag, mocktails and bingo with cannabis prizes.

6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 10. $25. Mission Cannabis Club, 2441 Mission St., S.F. 415-970-9333. missioncannabisclub.com

Castro in Exile will present a sing-along to Disney's "Moana" and drag queen storytime at the Roxie Theater on June 11.

The Friends of the Castro Theatre Coalition is set to sponsor a family-friendly drag story time and sing-along film screening as part of their "Castro in Exile" programming. Tickets include a goodie bag of items to encourage interaction with the screening.

12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 11. $16-$18, reservations recommended. Roxie Theater, 3125 16th St., S.F. 415-431-3611. roxie.com

Barbara Higbie and Cris Williamson will perform at Kuumbwa Jazz Center on June 11.

The iconic singer-songwriter/LGBTQ+ environmental activist Cris Williamson will perform a duo concert with Grammy-nominated Windham Hill artist Barbara Higbie.

7 p.m. Sunday, June 11. $30-$35, reservations recommended. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. 831-427-2227. kuumbwajazz.org

The horror play by playwright Nina Ki is set in the alcohol- and lust-fueled world of the Los Angeles queer scene, directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza, and performed by Sarah Catherine Chan, Zolboo Namkhaidorj, Raye Narra, Helene Park, Dom Refuerzo and Amethyst Zhang.

7 p.m. Tuesday, June 13. Free, reservations recommended. Theatre Rhinoceros, 4229 18th St., S.F. therhino.org

"Gumiho" playwright Nina Ki.

The Academy, in partnership with the GLBT Historical Society will host a fundraising event featuring a drag story hour and cocktail reception. Proceeds will benefit Drag Story Hour and the SF GLBT Historical Society.

6-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 14. $10-$40, reservations required. The Academy, 2166 Market St., S.F. 415-624-3429. academy-sf.com

The festival will feature gender-nonconforming, transgender and queer artists and ensembles, including Sean Dorsey Dance, Shawna Virago, Elena Rose, Lotus Boy, Charles Peoples III and others performing dance, opera, stand-up comedy and live music in a program offering six world premieres. All are commissioned through the festival's "Fresh Works" commissioned program.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, June 14-17; 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 17-18. $15-$40, reservations recommended. Z Space, 450 Florida St., S.F. freshmeatproductions.org

Sean Dorsey Dance performers Nol Simonse, Hectór Jaime, Sean Dorsey, Brandon Graham and David Le.

Celebrate Pride month with some loud and proud laughter. Baruch Porras-Hernandez hosts the event featuring comedians Tom Ammiano, Persia, Justin Lucas and Angie Krass.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15. $15, reservations recommended. Cabaret Space, Brava Theater Center, 2773 24th St., S.F. 415-641-7657. brava.org

Grab a hot beverage from the barista and enjoy bedtime stories with a queer reboot. Listen or bring a story to share. Queer Bedtime Stories was created in 2020 by transformative events facilitator Scott Sessions.

8-10 p.m. Thursday, June 15. Free, reservations and donations recommended. Milk-SF, 302 Valencia St., S.F. milk-sf.com

Comedian Angie Krass might bring a power tool or two to her performance at "Who's Your Mami Comedy" on June 15 at Brava Theater Center.

A night of opulence and celebration for queer and trans youth to experience the prom of their dreams. The occasion will include live drag performances, dancing, a photo booth, food and mocktails.

6-10 p.m. Friday, June 16. Free, reservations required; ages 16-24. The Center, 1800 Market St., S.F. 415-865-5555. sfcenter.org

This lively and colorful day party takes place on an outdoor patio with spiked snow cones and cocktails, brunch bites from multiple stations, live DJ sets and performances by drag king and queens including Melissa Befierce, Betty Fresas and Sister Anya Streets of San Francisco's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 17. $55, reservations required. 1 Hotel San Francisco, 8 Mission St., S.F. 415-278-3700. 1hotels.com

Hang out with S.F. drag icons at the elevated downtown green space, listening to live folk music from Banda Sin Nombre.

3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 17. Free. Main Plaza, Salesforce Park, S.F. 415-597-5000. salesforcetransitcenter.com

Help support Black queer excellence and fund local performance art. Don sequined duds for a semi-formal disco gala hosted by Miss Rahni Nothingmore. Enjoy bites and drinks, a silent auction, DJ sets from Sergio Fedasz, voguing by Onyx Moschino Escada, vocals from Lambert Moss and meet author Marvin K. White.

6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 17. $50-$150, reservations required. Arcana, 2512 Mission St., S.F. arcanasf.com

Sam Jackson will be among the artists performing as part of a sound bath in celebration of Pride Month on June 26.

Elsa Touche will host the Berkeley venue's first drag show. It is scheduled to feature local drag performers Coco Buttah, Jubilee, Dot Comme and Vera, plus a drag and dance moves tutorial for interested attendees.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17. $25-$30, reservations recommended. Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. 510-525-5099. ashkenaz.com

Wear your brightest rainbow colors and get ready for fun during a daytime Pride event featuring crafts and movement activities, LGBTQ+ story time, local organization exhibitors and a "Rainbow Connection" family-friendly drag show and parade.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Free. S.F. JCC, 3200 California St., S.F. 415-292-1200. jccsf.org

Spirit Rock hosts JD Doyle and Andrés González in a Pride Month meditation practice. Explore the power of love through Dharma talk, meditation and guided movement.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18. $15-$30, reservations required. Spirit Rock online event. 415-488-0164. spiritrock.org

Celebrate Pride with Urban Adamah in partnership with Soul Flow Oakland. The event is set to feature community building, Hatha Flow yoga guided by Melissa Andrada, meditation, a Pride activity and tea.

12:30-2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18. $18-$54, reservations required. Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth St., Berkeley. 510-649-1595. urbanadamah.org

Browse and shop wares from more than a dozen local LGBTQ+ artists and makers. From handmade ceramics to paintings and prints, find one-of-a-kind items to take home or offer as a gift.

1-5 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Free admission, reservations recommended. Manny's, 3092 16th St., S.F. 415-896-4052. welcometomannys.com

Participating artists from the S.F. Public Library's "I Still Love You: Queerness, Ancestors and the Places That Made Us" group exhibition, which runs through June 29 at the Main Branch on Larkin Street.

Author/historians Louis Niebur and Joshua Gamson discuss Niebur's recent book and the "high energy" music genres born in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood.

2-3 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Free. S.F. Public Library Main Branch, 100 Larkin St., S.F. 415-557-4400. sfpl.org

The cozy, classic mid-Market piano bar hosts a duo performance with Dave Schweisguth and S.F. Gay Men's Chorus pianist, Nick Perez, singing the songs of Andy Razaf.

4 p.m. Sunday, June 18; 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22. $20, reservations recommended. Martuni's, 4 Valencia St., S.F. 415-241-0205.

A day of bluegrass and roots music, food, beer and wine is scheduled to occur in the chic, elevated, downtown greenspace. Event will feature three stages of live music, vendors and family-friendly activities throughout the day. Bluegrass picking circles/jam sessions will be happening all day in the park, so bring your instruments if you are so inclined. Sponsored by TJPA's Salesforce Park, Bluegrass Pride and The California Bluegrass Association.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Free. Salesforce Park, 425 Mission St., S.F. 415-597-5000. salesforcetransitcenter.com

Hang out under the stars from the comfort of a bean bag or lounge chair while snuggled under a cozy blanket and enjoy a June Pride month movie at the Cut. The lineup includes "Moonlight" on June 17, "Bohemian Rhapsody" on June 18, "Tangerine" on June 23 and "Milk" on June 25. Food trucks and drink vendors onsite.

5 p.m. Sunday, June 18 and 8 p.m. Sunday, June 25. $13.75-$26.75, reservations recommended. The Cut Outdoor Cinema, 250 Main St., S.F. 415-937-0123. thecutoutdoorcinema.com

D’Arcy Drollinger, San Francisco's and the nation's first drag laureate, will participate in an old-school town-hall event at Manny's on June 19.

Manny's monthly town hall series this pride June will feature San Francisco's very first official Drag Laureate D’Arcy Drollinger. Come prepared with questions about all things drag, LGBTQ+ community or running a small business. Proceeds will benefit Oasis Arts residency program.

5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, June 19. $5, reservations recommended. Manny's, 3092 16th St., S.F. 415-896-4052. welcometomannys.com

HellaFunny and Accenture present an outdoor comedy showcase featuring host Sister Roma of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, AsiaSF performers and comedians Scott Capuro, Irene Tu and Sureni Weerasekera.

6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 22. Free, registration required. Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way, S.F. 888-479-4667. thrivecity.com

The LGBTQ+ orchestra makes its debut, hosted by Peaches Christ and featuring soprano Breanna Sinclairé. Robert Moody, Christine Brandes and Michael Roest will conduct the orchestra in a program of works by Jimmy López Bellido, Offenbach, Puccini, Leonard Bernstein, Mary D. Watkins and Tchaikovsky. Proceeds will benefit LYRIC.

7 p.m. Thursday, June 22. $25, reservations recommended. Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall, 50 Oak St., S.F. internationalprideorchestra.org

Peaches Christ will be the host for the International Pride Orchestra's S.F. debut performance on June 22.

Celebrate pride with the pioneer of the one-woman show. Bernhard brings a unique and raucous mix of cabaret, comedy and social commentary to her live stage performance.

8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, June 22-23; 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, June 24. $125-$135, reservations recommended. Feinstein's at the Nikko, 222 Mason St., S.F. 415-394-1111. feinsteinssf.com

A live, performance-driven, 90-minute walking tour presented in collaboration with SF Heritage, this queer history illuminates hidden tales of San Francisco. The show will look at racial equity within the queer liberation movement in San Francisco's Haight neighborhood of the 1960s-’80s. Written by Marvin K. White and directed by Michael French, it stars actor Lambert Moss.

Noon and 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 23-24 and Sunday, July 2; 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 30-July 1. Performances continue at noon on Fridays; noon and 4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Aug. 27. $12-$123, reservations required. East Side of Buena Vista Park, at Haight and Baker streets, S.F. eyezen.org

This dance is open to LGBTQ+ high school students and allies who live or attend school in Marin County. There will be dancing, live entertainment, games, a movie screening and more.

7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, June 23. $25, reservations required. Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Ave., San Rafael. 415-457-2487. thespahrcenter.org

Queer Taiko will perform as part of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on June 30.

Fractals of Sound, a collective of Bay Area musicians Egemen Sanli, Phoenix Song and Sam Jackson with special guest Sufi vocalist Umer Piracha will present a one-of-a-kind soundscape deeply rooted in world music. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and take a meditative sonic journey in a unique atmosphere.

7-8:30 p.m. Monday, June 26. $25-$75, reservations required. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F. 415-749-6300. gracecathedral.org

The Oakland-based Queer Taiko ensemble, led by Kristy Aki Oshiro, presents a performance of Japanese taiko drumming from a multicultural and intergenerational group of LGBTQ+ people and allies.

12:30 p.m. Friday, June 30. Free. Yerba Buena Gardens Esplanade, Mission Street between Third and Fourth streets, S.F. 415-543-1718. ybgfestival.org

The Sausalito summer series Jazz and Blues by the Bay is set to host a Pride event with live music from Banda Sin Nombre.

6:30-8 p.m. Friday, June 30. Free. Gabrielson Park, Humboldt Avenue, Sausalito. 415-289-4152. sausalitopride.org

Banda Sin Nombre will perform on June 30 as part of Pride Night at Sausalito's Jazz and Blues by the Bay summer music series.

A group exhibition of original poetry, artwork and historical ephemera from queer and trans BIPOC writers and teaching artists.

Through June 29. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., S.F. 415-557-4400. sfpl.org/exhibits

A group exhibition featuring original works from photographers across the nation, LGBTQIA2+ artists will share truths informed by their queer journeys.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Through July 7. The Image Flow, 328 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. theimageflow.com

Reach Anne Schrager: [email protected]