Photos: The 32nd annual Drag March steps off from Tompkins Square Park

Photo by Stacie Joy

Pride Weekend got its traditional East Village start last evening as the Drag March returned to Tompkins Square Park for the 32nd time.

Hundreds gathered in the park before setting off from Avenue A and Ninth Street for the colorful procession to the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.

Participants also paid tribute to East Village-based artist and activist Agosto Machado, who died in March. A longtime figure in the downtown arts community, Machado participated in the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the Gay Liberation Movement. He often described himself as a "pre-Stonewall street queen" and remained an influential presence in the city's creative and activist circles for decades.

Here are a few scenes from the start of the march...

Friday's opening reminder

Photo by Stacie Joy 

The annual Drag March — one of our favorite events of the year — is two weeks from today... (Friday, June 26!) at the start of Pride Weekend. 

Participants will start gathering in Tompkins Square Park around 7 p.m.-ish... before stepping off for the march over to the Stonewall Inn. 

Revisit Stacie Joy's photos from last year at this link.

At the start of the 2025 Drag March in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Marking its 31st year, the Drag March launched Pride Weekend last evening with its always festive procession to the Stonewall Inn. 

Participants gathered in Tompkins Square Park before stepping off at Avenue A and Ninth Street to begin their journey to the West Side. 

Spirits were high, and the turnout was strong; the weather was a blessing (it's usually 87 swampy degrees), and I had a blast taking photos.

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

We'll have more photos from the start of the Drag March in Tompkins Square Park later this weekend...

Pride Weekend 2025

Photo from 2024 by Stacie Joy 

The 31st edition of the Drag March will get Pride Weekend underway this evening, starting in Tompkins Square Park at Ninth Street ... with the annual walk-march-protest to the Stonewall Inn. 

Participants will start gathering in Tompkins after 7 p.m. 

Tomorrow, the NYC Dyke March will step off from Bryant Park at 5 p.m. ... heading south to Washington Square Park. This year's theme: "Dykes Say No to Fascism." 

Visit the NYC Pride website for a complete list of Pride-related activities this weekend.

At the start of the 2024 Drag March in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The 30th edition of the Drag March got Pride Weekend underway... with the annual walk-march-protest to the Stonewall Inn. (Earlier in the day, President Biden and Elton John attended the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center adjacent to the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street.) 

As always, participants prepped and gathered in Tompkins Square Park before departing from Avenue A and Ninth Street. 

Here are a few scenes from this festive past Friday evening... which included a tribute to transgender pioneer and activist Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992)...