5 things to do this weekend to celebrate Pride

We’ve made it to June, and the second weekend of Pride Month! Massachusetts has a special role in LGBTQ+ history as the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and this weekend the city of Boston is celebrating big-time with events like experimental plays on queerness at the Pao Arts Center, the Big Gay Dance Party and the Road of Rainbows 5K. While not billed as a Pride event, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share one of the fastest growing music festivals in the state, which is also taking place this weekend. Check out the roundup of celebrations below.

Two central themes of Sophocles' “Antigone” are civil disobedience and familial responsibility. In this new reimagination of the Greek tragedy, Adil Mansoor weaves in narrative history to create a piece of theater that explores the intersection of love and faith. Using recordings from Mansoor’s conversations with his mother, discussions on various adaptations of the original play, and teachings from the Quran, the playwright explores queerness and the afterlife. The performance will be shown for one weekend only at the Pao Arts Center.

Celebrate Pride on the Boston Common at Pop-Up Pride on Sunday. This is a one-time, community-organized event that honors all LGBTQ+ identities. Pop-Up was organized to fill the gap of the dismantled Boston Pride. The focus of the Pop-Up is to reclaim the celebration for the entirety of the LGBTQ+ community. It will begin at 11 a.m., and programming includes a rally, food music, and other show-stopping performances.

Join ArtsUnion in celebratory movement at the Big Gay Dance Party in Somerville’s Union Square on Saturday. There will be music from DJ Live and drag performances by Amanda Playwith and Karisma Geneva Jackson-Tae. If dancing isn’t your thing, you can check out homemade earrings and jewelry from ART By Omayda, art from Colectiva Wellbeing and more. This event is free to all LGBTQ+ people and allies.

Looking to get a sweat on this weekend? If so, this is the perfect event. Boston Theater Company will host its second annual Road of Rainbows 5K this Saturday at the Boston Common. This is an inclusive 5K for the entire family. Get to the starting line early for a pre-5K festival with local drag queens and musicians that starts at 12 p.m. The race kicks off at 2 p.m.

The beloved Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest is back this weekend at Franklin Park. This is one of the fastest growing arts and music festivals in the city, and this year’s lineup is especially striking. Catherine Morris, the founder and executive director of BAMS Fest, says that it’s one of their most eclectic yet with musicians like Jonathan Suazo performing Latin jazz, Paul Willis delivering new hip-hop and Simpli Whitney, a military vet, bringing his chart-topping singles to the festival. There will also be soul food, live art installations and artisan goods for sale. Morris says BAMS Fest is “a Black wonderland that everyone gets to experience.”