FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2025
Contact:
Ashley Huckaby, DVA Advertising & PR, 503-819-4532, ashley@dvaadv.com
Katie Kadlub, Visit Hood River, 208-867-0498, katie@visithoodriver.com
HOOD RIVER PRIDE CELEBRATION RETURNS FOR A THIRD YEAR, BRINGING A VARIETY OF DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Visit Hood River First Friday Summer Series Pride Event kicks off this weekend’s festivities on June 6
(HOOD RIVER, Ore.) — Hood River is gearing up to welcome the return of the third annual Hood River Pride Celebration on June 6 and 7. A testament to the community’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusivity, the collaboration between Visit Hood River, the Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance, The Next Door Inc., and the Hood River Hotel honors the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies through various inclusive and unifying activities. All are invited to join in the festivities and celebrate the region’s vibrant diversity.
“Hood River deeply values its diverse community and is committed to ensuring every resident and visitor feels truly included and valued. Our dedication to inclusivity makes Hood River not just a great place to visit, but a wonderful place to live,” said Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn. “We are honored to support the annual celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community as a reflection of our ongoing commitment to making everyone feel welcome throughout the year.”
The celebration schedule includes a variety of pride-themed activities in downtown Hood River on Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7:
FRIDAY, JUNE 6:
6-9 p.m. – Visit Hood River First Friday Summer Series Pride Celebration: Held on Oak St. in downtown Hood River, the family-friendly event is free, open to the public, and will include local vendors and a parade that begins at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the Visit Hood River website, https://visithoodriver.com/event/2025-first-friday-summer-series-pride/.
9-11 p.m. – DIVA Drag Bingo in the Hood River Hotel Emerald Room: This is Hood River’s Summer Pride 2025 kickoff event. Tickets are $10 for five games, with additional games available for purchase for $5 (for a pack of 5) at the door prior to the start of the event. This isn’t your Grandma’s bingo, so be ready for anything, including performances throughout the event. This is a 21+ ticketed event.
Tickets are available at: https://www.merctickets.com/events/165300514/drag-bingo-hood-river.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7:
DIVA Drag Brunch – Doors open at 11 a.m., show starts at noon: Featuring an ALL-STAR cast and the best performers that Portland (and beyond) has to offer. Join the Hood River Hotel for the biggest and best Drag Brunch in the Pacific Northwest. Featuring drag, burlesque, acrobatics, live singing, and more! This is a 21+ ticketed event.
Tickets are available at: https://www.merctickets.com/events/165300552/diva-drag-brunch-hood-river
Queer Comedy Show – Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 8:30 p.m.: Bo Jones and The Hood River Show return for a night of big laughs and prideful humor as Arlo Wier, Rachelle Cochran, and Brendan Cressy delight guests with joyful and inclusive comedy. Presell tickets are available for $15, while walk-up tickets are $20.
Tickets are available at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rainbows-and-unicorns-tickets-1341475642759?aff=oddtdtcreator.
For a complete list of Pride events and activities throughout the Gorge this month, visit https://linktr.ee/cgpridealliance.
“While participation in the Celebration is optional, all who attend are expected to demonstrate support and respect for the Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance’s work in fostering an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Hood River,” said Katie Kadlub, CEO of Visit Hood River. “Thisevent is rooted in positivity, encouragement, and acceptance, and is a reflection of the Hood River community. Any negativity and animosity will not be tolerated.”
Local institutions, including Visit Hood River, the Hood River Hotel, and The Next Door Inc., are proud sponsors and organizers of the Pride Celebration. All proceeds will support the Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance in its mission to ensure that LGBTQIA+ individuals not only exist but thrive as equal, respected community members.
The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance is a collective of volunteers, organizations, and businesses dedicated to advocating for a community where LGBTQIA+ individuals are seen, heard, and celebrated as invaluable members of society. Their ongoing efforts promote respect, equity, and justice, contributing to a safer, more culturally enriched community for everyone.
For more information on the Hood River Pride Celebration, ways to contribute, and Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance, visit the organization’s website https://www.instagram.com/cgpridealliance/.
For more information on Visit Hood River and Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, visitwww.visithoodriver.com.
About Visit Hood River:
Located at the crossroads of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the magnificent Cascade Range and just an hour from Portland, Hood River offers outdoor recreation, dramatic vistas, historic landmarks, bountiful fruit, and fantastic food, wine, beer, and cider. With accommodations ranging from luxury hotels to historic B&Bs, Hood River is a four-season destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, weddings, corporate events, and more. It was named a Best Adventure and Explorations Town by the 2023 Sunset Travel Awards and Nature Lovers Destination in the 2022 Sunset Travel Awards, a Top 10 Wine Destination for 2017 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and 2015 Best Adventure Town in the West by Sunset magazine. Visit Hood River supports economic development, community development, and destination marketing for Hood River, Cascade Locks, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove, and Mount Hood. For more information, call 800-366-3530 or visit www.visithoodriver.com.
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