Written by Kristy Johnson, co-chair of Duluth-Superior Pride, for Visit Duluth.
Every Labor Day weekend, thousands of people gather in the Twin Ports to celebrate one of the region’s longest-running and most beloved traditions: Duluth Superior Pride. As the festival marks its 40th anniversary, Visit Duluth invited Duluth Superior Pride co-chair and vendor coordinator Kristy Johnson to share the story behind the celebration, what visitors can expect throughout the weekend, and why Pride in the Twin Ports is unlike any other.
40 Years of Pride in the Twin Ports
Duluth Superior Pride returns September 3-6, 2026, for four days of events and celebrations across Duluth and Superior. This year’s celebration also marks the organization’s 40th anniversary, and we’re so thankful to the founding members of Duluth Superior Pride.
It couldn’t have been easy to get started in 1986. There have been many changes over the years. Duluth Superior Pride began as a community picnic in Lester Park, and now we can fill Bayfront Festival Park all day with vendors, music, and entertainment for people from all over to celebrate. The Pride Parade started in Superior because it wasn’t allowed in Duluth in 1986; now it’s a long-standing tradition and helps bring both cities together to celebrate Pride.
A Weekend Built for Everyone
The festival is at Bayfront Festival Park and features beer tents, food trucks, exhibitors, information booths, merchandise vendors, family activities, and a full day of entertainment on the main stage. Here’s what a first-time visitor can expect across the full weekend, from Thursday through Sunday.
Thursday: Mayor’s Reception at the Depot
The main kickoff to the weekend is the yearly Mayor’s Reception at the St. Louis County Depot in downtown Duluth. We invite the mayors of Duluth, Superior, and neighboring towns to attend and say a few words. There will be live music, drinks, mingling, shaking hands, and kissing babies.
Friday: Nightlife & the Youth Dance
Friday’s big event is Party X at the Duluth Flame Nightclub. If nightclubs aren’t your scene, there’s always the Superior Flame or the Main to hang out at. If you’re not old enough for the bars, Friday night is the Youth Dance at the Imaginarium.
Saturday: Pride Festival & Superior Block Party
Saturday, of course, is the Festival, the main event, if you will. There’s so much to see and do at the festival, and everyone is welcome. Saturday night is the night to party at the Superior Block Party. You can get wristbands in advance at the festival; one wristband will get you into both the Superior Flame and the Main that night.
Sunday: Pride Parade & Foo Foo Choo Choo
Sunday brings the Pride Parade down Tower Avenue in Superior. There’s always a good turnout for that. Who doesn’t love a parade? After the parade is the Foo Foo Choo Choo, a great big party on the train.
There are so many more events throughout the weekend! Definitely head to the website and check them all out. Did I mention the website was dspride.org?
Duluth Superior Pride Festival at Bayfront
The main festival is free and open to the public on Saturday at Bayfront Festival Park, just a gorgeous venue for any event. You have the aerial lift bridge, Duluth Harbor, Lake Superior, and the hillside rising behind you. A bigger deal, though, is that after Bayfront Festival Park was built in 2001, we couldn’t hold Pride there until former mayor Bergson signed the first proclamation endorsing Gay Rights for all Duluthians. DS Pride has been held there every year since.
Things to Do Near Bayfront Festival Park
If you need a break from the excitement of the Pride Festival, several of Duluth’s best-known attractions are close by. The Great Lakes Aquarium is directly next to Bayfront Festival Park and offers an easy indoor stop focused on Lake Superior and freshwater ecosystems. From Bayfront, visitors can also follow the Duluth Lakewalk toward Canal Park, where they will find local shops, restaurants, the aerial lift bridge, and the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center.
Pride Doesn’t End in June in Duluth
Duluth Superior Pride takes place on Labor Day Weekend, making it one of the few Pride celebrations held after June, when most celebrations happen nationwide. Back when Duluth started its Pride celebrations, it was decided not to have DS Pride in June because all the big-city Pride celebrations were in June, namely the Twin Cities. They wanted to give people the opportunity to go to those celebrations and DS Pride.
Many people have the long Labor Day weekend off; it just made sense. Over the years, many people from The Cities have come up to DS Pride and said it’s their favorite. It’s large enough that there’s always some sort of event to go check out, but not so huge that everything is packed and crazy. It really is one last fun hurrah to the summer season in the Twin Ports. We’ve mostly been really lucky with the weather, and it’s often a beautiful weekend (knock on wood).
A Community That Welcomes Everyone
DS Pride’s mission centers on safe and inclusive events that celebrate equality and self-expression. My hope is that every single person who comes to DS Pride feels a sense of belonging to a community that loves and accepts them. Every. Single. Person.
People should be able to express themselves however they want and feel comfortable doing so. I love walking around the festival and seeing all the different ways everyone presents themselves. Just like everyone else, we come from all walks of life. Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin. Pride embraces the people who are comfortable and have figured themselves out, those who are still trying to figure it out, and those who have no idea. If you come to Pride with an open heart, there to have fun and maybe make some new friends, you’re welcome.
How to Be Part of Duluth Superior Pride
There are so many ways to get involved with DS Pride, from volunteering to walking in the parade to submitting work to the art show. The website, Be Part of Pride, has been updated and redesigned. Not only is it beautiful, but there is also a ton of information. You’ll find links to vendor, parade participant, and volunteer applications; details on submitting artwork to the Pride art shows; and a link to our online monthly meetings. We are also on Facebook and Instagram. We regularly post on both.
We also have a dedicated group of people on the committee. We welcome anyone to come to the monthly meetings. You can find the link to the online meetings on our webpage, dspride.org.
Make a Weekend of Duluth Superior Pride
Pride weekend is a great reason for visitors to stay for a while. Both Duluth and Superior are very welcoming cities, and people should definitely get out and explore. Some highlights from my point of view include Pizza Luce, arguably the best pizza in town, and Dovetail Cafe in Lincoln Park, a great place to relax and have a coffee. While you’re in Lincoln Park, stop over at Bent Paddle and try their beer; they’re my favorite brewery in town. If you’ll be in the downtown area, Studio Cafe is a safe queer space, and we’re proud to support them. Those are just to name a few; there are so many great places to check out in Duluth and Superior.
Duluth Superior Pride FAQs
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for another Pride weekend, Kristy shares answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you plan your celebration.
People often ask where to go that’s queer-friendly. Duluth and Superior are both pretty accepting places, but for a specific list, a safe bet is to visit our website to check out our sponsor list and, of course, all the venues where our events take place. All of those businesses have donated to Pride in one way or another.
Duluth Superior Pride takes place on Labor Day Weekend, September 3-6, 2026, with events throughout the Twin Ports. The main festival is at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, followed by the parade on Tower Avenue in Superior on Sunday. Learn more at dspride.org/.
Yes! The annual Pride Festival at Bayfront Festival Park is free and open to the public. Learn more at dspride.org/.
The festival features beer tents, food trucks, exhibitors, information booths, merchandise vendors, family activities, and a full day of entertainment on the main stage. Learn more at dspride.org/.
The parade takes place on Sunday, September 6, at noon, starting at Belknap and Tower Avenue in downtown Superior, Wisconsin. Learn more at dspride.org/.
Yes! The main festival at Bayfront is an all-ages event with activities for children and families throughout the day. Learn more at dspride.org/.
The full schedule of events will be posted at duluthsuperiorpride.com as the festival approaches. Check back closer to Labor Day weekend for the hour-by-hour rundown.
Volunteers are a vital part of making the weekend happen. You can apply to volunteer. Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunity updates at dspride.org/be-part-of-pride.
Groups and businesses are welcome to march in the parade. The deadline to register is August 23, 2026. Learn more at dspride.org/be-part-of-pride.
Vendor applications for food, merchandise, nonprofit, and general information booths are available. Organizations that directly benefit the 2SLGBTQIA community are given preference for acceptance. Visit dspride.org/vendors for more.
Duluth has a wide range of lodging options, from hotels along the lakefront to unique vacation rentals right in Canal Park. Find places to stay at visitduluth.com/stay/.
Duluth is a full destination with the Lakewalk, Canal Park, Lake Superior, the aerial lift bridge, great dining, attractions, and much more. Find more things to do at visitduluth.com/experience/.
There certainly are. We have a list of them on our website. Find them at dspride.org/regional-prides and show them some love.
Kristy Johnson
A familiar face in the Twin Ports, Kristy Johnson has spent more than 35 years working in local restaurants and bars, participated in community events as a henna artist and vendor, and now serves as co-chair and vendor coordinator for the 2026 Duluth-Superior Pride Festival. Having also co-chaired Pride a decade ago, she’s thrilled to help welcome everyone back for another unforgettable celebration.