Pridefest 2026 in Winona, MN

Saturday, June 6 from 11 am to 5 pm in Unity Park

Join us Saturday June 6th for Pridefest 2026 in Winona, a vibrant of the Queer Community! Experience an unforgettable day filled with music, dancing, fabulous vendors, dazzling drag performances. It's a time to come together, love, and embrace our local community. Don't miss out on the fun and let's make memories together! PrideFest will be held at Unity Park from 11am - 5pm. Go to heartofwinona.org/pridefest26 for more info!

Drag Story Hour MN presents "Love Rising"

@ Two Fathoms Brewing, Winona, MN

GET READY FOR A STORYTIME LIKE NO OTHER! 

WITH SONGS AND PUPPETS GALORE, DRAG STORY HOUR MN WILL WHISK YOU TO THE BOUNDARY WATERS, SPARKING CURIOSITY AND WONDER ALONG THE WAY.

Two Fathoms Brewing

65 E Front St, Winona, MN 55987

Saturday, May 16 @ 2 pm

FREE! 

Soothing Your Nervous System in Uncertain Times

with Teena Lewis

for LGBTQIA+ folks of any age 

Wednesday, May 6 @ 6 pm CT

On Zoom -- REGISTER HERE to get the link

In this session, neurosomatic guide Teena Lewis will lead us in simple, effective practices that can quickly return us to our parasympathetic (rest & digest) state. These tools are easy enough to use almost anywhere, anytime we need to come back to ourselves, giving us the opportunity to return to a state of presence no matter what is happening around us.

Teena Lewis is a neurosomatic guide, a former holistic bodyworker, and the founder of Resourced for Change, a consultancy for restorative human and organizational systems design.

NOTE: For privacy and community-building reasons, this session will NOT be recorded. Please plan to attend if you'd like to access this learning opportunity.

Documentary Screening: “Homosexuality: Did the Bible Really Say That?” 

November 9th @ 6:00 pm 

2503 Main Street, La Crosse, WI (ADA accessible)

What if the word "Homosexuality" was never meant to be in the Bible? Explore the process of translating the Bible & see what would have happened if the word had never been included. Scholars have been working toward a shared goal: exposing this historical error, challenging harmful theology, and advocating for full LGBTQ+ inclusion. More information here. 

Join Josina Manu Maltzman and Teo Shannon in powerful readings of "Ride Safe" and "A Chronology of Blood" on October 28th at 6PM at Winona State University, in SLC 120 (400 Winona St., Winona, MN).

Josina Manu Maltzman (all pronouns) is a writer, carpenter, and community organizer working for liberation in Palestine since 2000. Jo’s writings include “Ride Safe,” an essay exploring the individual’s role in contributing to community safety, and “Protective Presence in the West Bank,” which was awarded the 2025 Plentitudes Prize in Nonfiction. Josina is a core member of Relationships Evolving Possibilities (REP), a community safety project in the Twin Cities. For more about Josina’s writing and how it is informed by being in the trades for over twenty years and their organizing work as an antizionist Jew, visit www.josinamanumaltzman.com

Teo Shannon (he/him) is a queer, chronically ill, Latino poet living in Winona, MN. He holds an MFA from Pacific University of Oregon and a PhD from University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He is a cofounder and co-EIC of Cotton Xenomorph, a journal of flash fiction, poetry, and visual art. His debut collection a chronology of blood comes out from University of New Mexico Press September 2, 2025, more here: https://www.unmpress.com/a-chronology-of-blood/

Watch a special 20th anniversary screening of “Venus of Mars.” Then attend a Q&A with filmmaker Emily Goldberg, Venus De Mars, and Lynette Reini-Grandell.

October 23 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Winona State University, SLC 120, 400 Winona St., Winona, MN

This documentary follows pioneering transgender musician Venus De Mars, the lead singer of the glam rock band “All The Pretty Horses.” Watch as she and her wife navigate love and gender at the turn of the 21st century.

This event is sponsored by the departments of English and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

This event is also sponsored by the Advocacy Center of Winona and WSU’s PRISM student organization.

Bonus Event!

Decorah Pride Sauna Night: Friday, Oct 17 | 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Little Dipper Sauna Co. | Spring Grove

*Advance sign up available online: https://forms.gle/1SzxJx4N7n2pdDSD9

Decorah Pride Brunch at Blazing Star, Sunday, October 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join your friends for food and drink specials as well as a live DJ set.

Decorah Pride Dance Party: Saturday, Oct. 11, 9:00 p.m., at Impact Coffee< Decorah, Iowa

Join the DJ for an evening of unforgettable tunes and unmatchable fun. Dance party-goers must be 18+ years old.

ArtHaus Drag Show: Saturday, Oct. 11 | 7:30-9:00 p.m. at Impact Coffee, Decorah, Iowa

Welcome fabulous drag performers to the stage at Impact. Funds raised intentionally benefit our community partner, ArtHaus and their epic creativity.

*Tickets available on the Arthaus website: https://arthausdecorah.org

Party in the Park

Saturday, Oct. 11 | following parade until 4:30 p.m. | Heivly St. green space, next to the softball diamond

This community event engages and connects folks of all ages. Visit with community partners, enjoy music, and grab some food with one of our local vendors. There will also be a bouncy house, balloon animal making, face painting, and lawn games.

Decorah Pride Parade: Saturday, Oct. 11 | 1:00 p.m. (new time!) | Water Street

The parade kicks off traveling down Water Street! Join the parade or cheer from the sidewalks to celebrate diversity, march for equality, and work in solidarity with LGBTQIA2S+ people. Advanced registration for floats and groups is required online. Register your contingent at decorahpride.org

Out & Proud on the Bridge, La Crosse

October 11, 2025 @ 1:00 pm 

Cameron Park, 400 King Street, La Crosse

Free & no pre-registration

Come for the joy, stay for the love! We'll kick things off on Coming Out Day with inspiring speakers and a whole lot of community spirit. Then we’ll take to the bridge—yes, that bridge—linking arms (and signs!) across the Mississippi to show loud and proud support for our LGBTQ+ siblings. Let’s make some good trouble with glitter, grace, and a whole lot of heart.

Dragonfly Books Author Event with J.R. Dawson: Saturday, Oct. 11 | 11:00 a.m. | T-Bock’s Underground

Reading, Q&A and signing with J.R. Dawson and their new release, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World, a queer/sapphic retelling of Orpheus & Eurydice set on Lake Michigan.

Pride Yoga: Saturday, Oct. 11 | 9:30 a.m. | DRiFT Strength + Yoga Center (3rd floor of Impact).

LGBTQIA2S+ folks and allies are invited to join in a movement practice together that will leave all feeling seen, heard, and renewed.

queerPOPERA: Friday, Oct. 10 at 7:00 p.m., Steyer Opera House at Hotel Winneshiek, Decorah, Iowa

QueerPOPERA invites you to Queer Homecoming—a celebration of community, identity, and the radical joy of coming together through interdisciplinary art, featuring Luther faculty, alumni, students, and guest performers, with Oak & Olive florals and Blazing Star Eats, followed by a Homecoming dance with live music by Driftless Jazz.

*Tickets available in advance online: queerpopera.org

Pride Weekend Kick-off Happy Hour, at Pulpit Rock Brewing, Decorah, Iowa
Friday, Oct. 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Pride Trivia at Impact Coffee, Decorah, Iowa

Bring a lawn chair and join a team at Lawn Chair Trivia Night outside at Impact Coffee.

Wednesday, October 8 at 6 p.m. at Pulpit Rock Brewery, Decorah

Join the Decorah Human Rights Commission and Decorah Pride for an educational event exploring the history of LGBTQIA+ Pride movements and the importance of that legacy today.

"Revelation, Revolution, and Revival: A Queer, Transgender Korean Evangelist's Journey to Fight Fascism & Love Jesus"

Sunday, September 14th @ 1:00 pm. Free and open to the public.  

Our speaker is a storyteller and teacher who has a vision for the flourishing of all. He will speak to us about being trans and Christian, and specializes in adoptee-centered ministry, LGBTQ+ issues, and anti-racism and racial justice.

UW-La Crosse Theater in the Student Union (ADA accessible)

Parking: Free in Parking Ramp C-12

UW-L campus security will be present to ensure event is safe.

Gender-inclusive clothing swap and mend event at Bekkum Memorial Library (206 N. Main St., Westby, WI), Sunday, August 17, from noon to 5 pm.

All ages, sizes, and gender expressions welcome.

Clothing in good condition may be brought to the event or dropped off early at Ewetopia Fiber Shop in Viroqua (102 N. Main St., Viroqua, WI).

Bring what you can, take what you want! You can take clothes even if you don’t have anything to donate.

Free clothing repair or simple alterations available.

Contribute to our gender affirming clothing fund, or sign up to receive a free binder or other garment! For info about the binder program, including how to make a donation, please contact driftlesslgbtq@gmail.com.

Need a ride? Email opalviroqua@gmail.com