June is officially National Pride Month, a time to honor the history, diversity, and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. But in the Truckee Meadows, they have a unique tradition, they kick off the celebration in June and keep the energy going all summer leading into the local festival in September.

June is Pride Month

A time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, recognize the ongoing journey toward equality, and support the diverse voices that help make Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada vibrant places to live, work, and visit.

While Pride Month is celebrated nationwide each June, Northern Nevada has developed its own unique tradition of LGBTQIA+ events, gatherings, and celebrations that reflect the welcoming spirit of our region. Throughout the month, residents and visitors can find opportunities to connect, learn, support local organizations, and celebrate the contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals across our community.

Pride in Northern Nevada

Northern Nevada has a rich LGBTQIA+ history and a growing network of organizations dedicated to advocacy, education, support, and community building. Organizations such as Our Center continue to provide resources, programming, and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ residents throughout the region. Northern Nevada Pride has grown into one of the Northern Nevada's most visible celebrations, drawing thousands of participants and supporters each year.

Pride Month Events Around Northern Nevada

Rainbows Over Reno

June 5, 2026

This annual fundraising and community celebration helps kick off Pride Month in Northern Nevada. Hosted by Our Center, the event brings together community members, supporters, and local organizations for an evening focused on connection and support.

The Social at Red's Old 395 Grill

June 6, 2026

Join the Carson City community from 2–5 p.m. at Red's Old 395 Grill for a low-key, welcoming meetup to kick off Pride Month weekend in Carson City. The Social is the LGBTQ+ & Friends Social Lunch you didn't know you needed.

Nevada Pride: A Capital City Celebration

June 12–14, 2026

Nevada Pride in Carson City runs Friday through Sunday, June 12–14, kicking off with a movie screening of Trick (1999) on Friday. Saturday features a vendor fair at the Brewery Arts Center with live music, food, and family activities, and Sunday wraps up with The Drag Brunch at Nashville Social Club featuring queens and bottomless mimosas.

Looking Ahead: Northern Nevada Pride

Although Pride Month is celebrated nationally in June, Northern Nevada's signature Pride festival takes place later in the year. Northern Nevada Pride has become one of the region's largest LGBTQIA+ celebrations, featuring a community parade, entertainment, vendors, food, and activities that bring together thousands of attendees from across the region.

The event's continued growth reflects the strength and diversity of Northern Nevada's LGBTQIA+ community and the broad support it receives from businesses, organizations, and residents throughout the region.

Ways to Celebrate Pride Month Locally

• Attend a Pride event or community gathering.
• Support LGBTQIA+-owned businesses and organizations.
• Learn about Northern Nevada's LGBTQIA+ history.
• Volunteer with local community organizations.
• Participate in inclusive events and activities throughout the region.
• Share stories that highlight the people and organizations making a positive impact in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Building a More Inclusive Northern Nevada

Pride Month is ultimately about community. Whether you're attending an event, supporting a local organization, or simply taking time to learn more about your neighbors, Pride Month provides an opportunity to celebrate what makes Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada stronger: our diversity, our resilience, and our commitment to creating welcoming communities for everyone.

If you haven't yet discovered what the Reno Phil has to offer, you're missing out on one of Northern Nevada's best-kept cultural secrets. This isn't just about classical music (though the music is extraordinary). It's about community, connection, and the kind of evening that reminds you why live performance matters.

A Community Institution

The Reno Philharmonic is Northern Nevada's largest performing arts organization, and its reach extends far beyond the concert hall. Each year, the Phil engages more than 55,000 people through concerts, education programs, and community outreach. Remarkably, about half of those participants are school-age children, which speaks to the organization's deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of music lovers.

From the Classix Series that showcases beloved symphonic classics to the wildly popular Movies with the Maestro events, the Philharmonic offers something for every taste and experience level. Whether you're a seasoned concertgoer or someone who's never set foot in a symphony hall, there's a program designed with you in mind.

What's On This Season

The 2025-26 season is particularly exciting. Early 2026 kicked off with Elgar's beloved Cello Concerto, featuring guest conductor Nicholas Hersch and soloist Zlatomir Fung. If you love film scores, mark your calendar for Movies with the Maestro on May 16, when the orchestra performs live accompaniments to iconic moments from films like Titanic and The Avengers. There's something transcendent about hearing those sweeping themes performed by live musicians rather than through speakers.

For families, the free Family Concert "The Orchestra Moves" on May 9, 2026 offers a participatory, kid-friendly introduction to orchestral music, complete with activities that make the experience interactive and memorable.

Broadway Comes to Reno

The Pioneer Center isn't just home to the Philharmonic. Throughout the year, it transforms into a Broadway venue, bringing touring productions of hit shows directly to downtown Reno. The 2025-26 Broadway season has been stellar, with productions including The Notebook, Shucked, Hell's Kitchen, and The Sound of Music still to come this year.

These aren't scaled-down regional productions—these are the real deal, direct from Broadway tours. It means you can experience the energy, spectacle, and talent of a Broadway show without booking a flight to New York. For a mid-sized city, that's pretty remarkable.

The Date Night You Didn't Know You Needed

Downtown Reno has transformed over the past several years, and a night at the Pioneer Center pairs beautifully with the surrounding area. Arrive early and grab dinner at one of the many restaurants within walking distance. After the show, take a stroll along the Truckee Riverwalk, where the lights reflect off the water and the energy of downtown feels vibrant but not overwhelming.

There's something romantic about the ritual of it all—dressing up a bit, sharing a meal, then settling into your seats as the orchestra tunes. It's the kind of evening that feels special without being stuffy, cultured without being pretentious.

An Inclusive Community

What I appreciate most about the Reno Phil and the broader Reno arts scene is how genuinely welcoming it is. The city of Reno's annual Northern Nevada Pride, held annually in Midtown Reno, drew an estimated 15,000 attendees in 2025—a testament to the community's commitment to inclusivity.

The Philharmonic reflects these values, creating programs that invite everyone in. Whether it's free family concerts, youth education programs that serve more than 22,000 students and families, or accessible ticket pricing options, the message is clear: this is your symphony, regardless of who you are or where you come from.

Why It Matters

In an age of streaming everything, of experiencing art through screens and earbuds, there's something irreplaceable about live performance. You feel the vibration of the timpani in your chest. You watch the musicians' complete focus and coordination. You share a collective breath with hundreds of strangers when the music swells.

The Reno Philharmonic offers that experience, and it does so in a way that strengthens our community. Every concert is a reminder that we're part of something larger than ourselves, connected through beauty and sound.

So if you've been curious, if you've driven past the Pioneer Center and wondered what goes on inside, consider this your invitation. Check the schedule, grab a ticket, and discover what you've been missing. I have a feeling you'll be back for more.

For the latest schedule and tickets, visit the Reno Philharmonic and Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts websites. Season details are current as of early 2026.

If you are, in Reno and you want to find a place where you feel like you belong and you also want a good cup of coffee then Coffee & Comics is the place to be. They have coffee at Coffee & Comics. You will like Coffee & Comics.

This is not a comic shop that happens to have an espresso machine stuck in the corner. It is a special place where people in the local community like to go. It is a place that feels safe for everyone. It is a place that's full of life and energy. Coffee & Comics is really good, at making people feel like they belong.

An Unapologetically Inclusive Atmosphere

When you walk into a new shop it can be really scary. You might think that the people who already go there will make you feel like you do not belong. Coffee & Comics is different. The moment you walk in the door you can tell that this place is not, like that. Coffee & Comics makes you feel welcome.

The vibe here is intentional. This place is a friendly space for LGBTQIA+ people. You can feel it when the staff are nice to you. This is a place where you can be yourself completely. You can wear your cos play attire or show off the things that make you proud or just come in the clothes you feel comfortable in, like sweatpants, because sometimes you just need to get away from everything. The people here do not judge you, they just want you to feel welcome. It is really great to find a place in the Biggest Little City where you can feel safe and where people, like you...for you.

A Neurodiverse-Welcoming Haven

The world is a loud and demanding place. It can be totally overwhelming at times. The people who work at Coffee & Comics get this. They have a place that's full of life and energy but they also know that people need their own space. Some people like to be around others and talk a lot while others like to sit and read or think. Coffee & Comics is a place where you can do either one. The team, at Coffee & Comics understands that everyone is different when it comes to socializing. Coffee & Comics is a community hub that's lively but it is also a place where you can be alone if you want to be.

This place is really great, for people who like to do their thing. If you want to join a loud D&D game at the large table you can do that. But if you want to sit at a table in the corner wear your headphones and play on your mobile gaming device for a long time, that is okay too.

The structure of board games and the shared interest in comics are great ways to start talking to people. They make it easy to have conversations without feeling much pressure. This is especially helpful, for people who get nervous around others. You do not have to try to think of things to say to make conversation. You can just talk about Batman or how the game of Catan works.

The Fuel: Seriously Good Coffee

You can have the feelings, in the world but if the coffee tastes bad it is hard to stay for a long time. The coffee has to be good or it's just not worth it. The coffee is important and bad coffee can ruin everything.

The coffee part of the business is just as important as the games and comics. They make good drinks that are as good as what you would get at a cafe in Midtown. If you need an espresso to help you play games or a fun latte with a cool design the staff have you covered.

The Fun: Games, Drinks, and Community tables

Finally the reason we are all here is the geekery.

The comic selection at this place is really picked out with care. They have the superhero movies and also some amazing smaller titles. You can find comics made by people from all walks of life and stories that are about all kinds of things that people go through. The comic selection has something for everyone. It is like they want to show people that comics are about everything that happens in life.

The real magic happens at the tables. Coffee & Comics has a lot of games. This is a place where you can actually play the games you love like board games and Magic: The Gathering. On any evening you will find people playing games together. While some are painting miniatures, others are playing Magic: The Gathering, or playing old school Nintendo.

The Verdict

Reno is really lucky to have Coffee & Comics. It is more than a place to buy things. Coffee & Comics is about people coming together. It is a place where people can make friends and feel like they are part of something. Coffee & Comics is an example of community building.

If you are looking for a place where your pronouns are respected, your neurodivergence is understood, your coffee order is perfected, and your love for nerdy things is celebrated, stop by. Grab a latte, pick up a controller or a comic, and find your people.

Locations: Coffee & Comics