Philadelphia will not have an OutFest street festival October 9, despite organizers’ hopes that the event would happen. A community member with knowledge of the situation told PGN that planning and outreach on the event had been ongoing, but the turnaround was ultimately too quick for organizers to produce a festival on the level of this year’s Pride celebration. The gayborhood event last took place in person in October 2019. Since then, both Philadelphia Pride and OutFest have gone through a series of changes, including the organization which produces the two events.
Despite the lack of a Sunday street festival, several LGBTQ businesses are having events throughout the weekend of October 7 to 9.
The Tavern Group, which owns Tavern on Camac and U BAR, will host outdoor events on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, including a Celebration on Camac at 11:00 a.m. Saturday followed by an outdoor DJ set at 3:00 p.m. Sunday’s festivities include a Rugby Pageant by the Philadelphia Gryphons as well as a vendor marketplace on Camac at 1:00 p.m., followed by a DJ set at 3:00 p.m. Ten percent of sales from the vendor marketplace will be donated to Philadelphia FIGHT. Indoor events at Tavern on Camac include piano bar appearances by members of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and a cupcake bake sale by Mazzoni Center on Friday, October 7. The bake sale will support Mazzoni Center’s Emergency Needs Fund for clients and patients
Also on October 7, Cockatoo will be hosting a Bollywood Dance Party at 9:00 p.m.; Knock will feature live piano bar performances at 10:00 p.m.; Level Up will host their monthly Climaxxx party at 9:00 p.m.; and Tabu will host their monthly Madhouse multimedia cabaret show at 10:00 p.m.
The Adrienne Theater (2030 Sansom St.) will feature “Gay History for Straight People,” on October 8 at 8:00 p.m., where writer/performer Will Nolan, as his alter ego Leola, explains the complexities of the LGBTQ community and the idea that Pride is in the mind. Also on October 8, BOS Philly will be hosting a “Cirque du Circuit” party featuring DJ Cindel at The Ave Live (520 N Christopher Columbus Blvd), starting at 10:00 p.m.
PGN also featured ways to celebrate OutFest on your own, including shopping at local LGBTQ businesses, seeing a show at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, or taking an LGBTQ history walking tour.