.png)
The Start of Summer in Annapolis!
- Dana Jones
- Jun 5
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 5
June 6th, 2025
Dear Neighbor,
Pride Month in Annapolis!
Happy Pride month!!!🏳️🌈
Like all of you, I was so sad the parade and festival was postponed, but Annapolis Pride is SO MUCH more than that. The board and volunteers that make up Annapolis Pride work year-round not just planning Pride, but responding to the needs of our community. They create spaces where everyone, especially our LGBTQ+ youth, can feel safe, loved, and supported.
Their impact on Annapolis and Anne Arundel County cannot be understated, and although the parade and festival may have been postponed, their contributions are more visible and important than ever. Thank you so much for your work! 💙
Make sure to not miss out on all the great programming and events they have planned for the rest of June!
Tonight!! June 6 - Big Gay Dance Party10 pm-close - Tsunami restaurant – 51 West Street, Annapolis
June 7 - Pop Up Market: Benefiting Annapolis Pride 10 am - 3 pm Annapolis Town Center Special discounts @Kendra Scott 6/7-6/8
June 14 - Silent Disco7-11 pm Eastport Democratic Club, Annapolis
June 21 - Teen Dance Party6-9 pm, Art Farm, AnnapolisFor high school freshman – juniorsticketed event
Visit their website at https://annapolispride.org/pride-events/ for more information on other events happening in June!
Annapolis Juneteenth Parade and Festival!
I am incredibly proud to have completed another successful book drive benefiting the Annapolis Juneteenth Parade and Festival! For the 3rd year running, the books from my drive will go to the Children's Village at the festival where children can come, read, and take their favorite books home. I'm truly grateful for this partnership and I'm looking forward to seeing you there! See below for all the information you need to enjoy the upcoming festivities!
The 5th Annual Annapolis Juneteenth Parade and Festival is right around the corner! Make sure to not miss out on a full weekend of celebration with Saturday's parade in Annapolis and the two-day festival at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds.
In the words of the organizers, "This year's theme is "160 Years - A Legacy of Resistance". Our focus this year is the 160 Year struggle that has proven the resilience of people of color despite the many obstacles and barriers to impede our progress. Through music, art, education, and storytelling, we will emphasize the importance of our identity as men and women and no longer property. I look forward to every presentation, vendor, sponsor, and non-profit organization empowering the American family! We must preserve and proclaim the story of resistance and freedom until all Americans celebrate OUR STORY!"
For the most up to date event details regarding dates and times, please visit the official
Thursday, June 19
Official Juneteenth Museum Dedication (Historic Annapolis)
Pre-Opening Juneteenth Museum & Soul Food Cafe Pop up Shop
Friday, June 20
VIP Gala Awards Dinner (FSC Grand Catering) | 20 N. Langley Rd
An elegant white tie VIP dinner honoring community trailblazer, delighting in exquisite soul cuisine, with an enthralling dance routine, and grooving to the rhythm of a live band all at FSC Grand Catering.
Saturday, June 21
Annapolis Juneteenth Parade
The parade starts at St. John’s College and winds its way through Downtown Annapolis to Amos Garrett Boulevard.
Annapolis Juneteenth Festival | 1450 General’s Highway, Crownsville, Maryland
After the Parade, head over to the Anne Arundel County Fair (1450 General’s Highway, Crownsville) for the festival from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM, featuring delicious food, fun games, live performances by international and local artists, exhibits, vendors, a Children’s Village, and fireworks.
Sunday, June 22
Annapolis Juneteenth Festival | 1450 General’s Highway, Crownsville, Maryland
From 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the same fairgrounds, with even more entertainment and activities!
HAWK BEACON at Michael E. Busch Library
As many in our community know, when the Michael E. Busch Library was built, a cross walk and light was installed on West St to help pedestrians cross the street safer. It is crucial to remember that although West Street is a vital artery into and out of Annapolis, it also intersects a community. Unfortunately, many motorists speed through this area and do not properly yield to pedestrians when they are attempting to safely cross the street.
A child was recently hit near this cross walk and thankfully they only suffered minor injuries. However, it draws attention to the need for motorists to understand and SLOW DOWN while driving through this part of West Street. Please review the infographic below from the State Highway Administration so that you are informed on how to properly manage this intersection. Only together can we ensure safety for our pedestrians and community.
Anne Arundel Hiring Expo!
You're invited to a Federal & Professional Hiring Expo hosted by Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC) and Anne Arundel County Government at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. Whether you've been affected by federal changes or are simply ready to advance your career, this event contains all you need to secure your professional future. Connect with employers, attend on-site workshops, have your resume reviewed, explore community resources, and more!
To register, visit AAWDCHiringExpo.eventbrite.com.
Pride Month at AACPL
Join Anne Arundel County Public Library in celebrating Pride Month, where they celebrate the stories, identities and experiences that make our community vibrant and whole. Where they honor the struggles, triumphs and contributions of those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, nonbinary and other nonconforming genders and identities.
AACPL embraces the LGBTQIA+ community by cultivating inclusivity and promoting diversity, making their libraries welcoming to all. Check out our LGBTQIA+ literature, endless free resources, programs and events.
From booklists to art shows, film screenings to storytimes, there’s something for every age and interest. Together, we celebrate Pride as a reflection of our shared commitment to equity, acceptance and joy.
Reading is a powerful way to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. We offer a diverse collection of books and resources that explore LGBTQIA+ themes, uplift queer voices and provide meaningful insight into the community’s history and experiences. From fiction and memoirs to poetry and graphic novels, these stories foster empathy and understanding. For those seeking to learn more, our online databases offer access to scholarly articles, informational texts and primary sources—perfect for personal discovery, research or advocacy.
To celebrate Pride Month, we’ve curated special booklists and engaging in-library displays highlighting powerful works by LGBTQIA+ authors and stories that reflect the richness and diversity of the queer experience. We cover everything from heartfelt romances, coming-of-age journeys, historical narratives, thought-provoking essays and so much more. You'll be sure to find titles that inform, inspire and affirm.
Start exploring today—choose your next read from our thoughtfully selected Pride Month booklists and discover the many voices that make up the LGBTQ+ community.
Check out or booklists for kids, young adults and adults, as well as booklists featuring transgender and nonbinary voices and stories and queer horror.
Download books by LGBTQ+ authors in eBook and eAudiobook formats to enjoy instantly using Overdrive/Libby.
Looking for more books written by LGBTQ+ authors? Use NoveList’s “Advanced Search” feature to generate a list of books by authors with specific identities.
Learn about the Stonewall Riots and other influential moments in LGBTQIA+ history by using our Diversity Studies, Gender Studies and Opposing Viewpoints databases through Gale.
Watch films for Pride Month through Kanopy—free streaming with your library card!
June is Pride Month, and we’re celebrating with a vibrant lineup of events that honor love, identity, creativity and community. Kick things off at the Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, May 31 from 11 am–5pm at Maryland Hall—and don’t forget to give us a wave if you see us in the parade! As of 5/30/2025, the Pride Parade and Festival has been postponed. For a list of events that are still being held by Annapolis Pride, please visit their events page.
Throughout June, catch the Pride Film Fest Series every Tuesday evening at the Riviera Beach Library, featuring award-winning, critically acclaimed films that celebrate LGBTQIA+ stories. Families are invited to Rainbow Storytimes, where we’ll share books that highlight LGBTQIA+ families along with songs, dance and a colorful craft. For those who love a challenge, head to the Severn Library on June 4 for our Pride Escape Room, where you’ll solve puzzles and uncover LGBTQIA+ history to break free.
Feeling creative? Explore our Pride Month arts and crafts programs, including Mark Art – Pride Month at Maryland City at Russett Library, where you’ll learn about LGBTQIA+ artists and create your own inspired masterpiece; a Pride Crafternoon full of rainbow-themed projects; and Show Your Colors: Design Your Own Pride Flag at Severn Library, where you’ll discover the history of the Pride flag and design one that reflects your identity. Become a part of our art exhibit by participating in our Share Your Story with Pride Art Show. Submit a piece you've been working on independently or come to one of our art programs and use our supplies to create a piece to submit. Reception will be on June 24 at the Odenton Library, and Gallery Hours will be open on select dates from June 26 to July 30.
Rev up your rainbow spirit and swing by for Park and Pride—where fabulous, decked-out cars meet fabulous, decked-out people! Come check out the colorful rides, soak up the Pride vibes and celebrate in style!
Make sure your needs are met with important events like Gender Affirming Clothes Swap and Healthcare and Intersectionality with FreeState Justice. Celebrate with us all month long—there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
AACPL is proud to support the LGBTQIA+ Community and we stand firmly for the right to free and open access to information. In September of 2024, we declared ourselves a Book Sanctuary, meaning the freedom to read is fiercely protected and books are defended against censorship, bans and other challenges. Our collection includes books, online databases and access to community resources that cover LGBTQ+ related topics, such as coming out, mental health, LGBTQ+ history and gender identity. Our compassionate librarians are trained to provide a safe and understanding space for those seeking information or guidance, ensuring that everyone feels welcomed and supported.
In a time when resources for LGBTQIA+ have become scarce, we recognized the need for community services and hotlines. We've updated our LGBTQIA+ Resources page with active services and hotlines.
Pride Month is more than a celebration—it's a commitment to visibility, understanding, and belonging for all. We invite you to explore the powerful stories, creative expressions and supportive resources that uplift the LGBTQIA+ community not just in June, but year-round. Whether you're attending an event, discovering a new book or finding the support you need, know that you are seen, valued and welcome here. Join us as we honor the past, celebrate the present and help build a future where everyone can live with pride.
You can follow me on Facebook, Bluesky, X, and Instagram to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, legislative updates and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact my office by email at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Stay safe and healthy,
Delegate Dana Jones
District 30A, Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Comments