The Perfect Pride Weekend in Washington DC

Pride is gearing up across the country and Washington DC is the perfect place to celebrate your queerness. With all its history and thriving LGBT community, the nation's capital hosts a weekend of events that shouldn't be missed, in addition to year-round attractions.

Capital Pride, is the fourth largest Pride event in the country. The citywide celebrations include a parade down historic 17th Street, a festival near the mall and even more memory making events across the city. DC's Pride weekend takes place on June 10-12. Let Amtrak take you there! Routes: Acela, Northeast Regional, Keystone and 12 others!

Looking for hospitality? Washington, DC's hotels include Marriott's Renaissance, The Washington Hilton, The W Hotel in Washington, DC, Kimpton's Hotel Palomar in Dupont Circle, or The Jefferson.

Photo courtesy of Washington Hilton

As for the ultimate Capital Pride weekend, we've got some tips:

Friday 7 PM - Take part or just show your support at the DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K at the Congressional Cemetary.

Friday 8:30 PM - Kick off your Pride weekend with some drinks and a dance at Hex: The Abracadabulous Opening Party at Union Market.

Saturday 9 AM - Wake up and take a stroll to Dupont Circle for a cup of Joe at Kramerbooks. Browse through the selection while you caffeinate and find a good read. This indie bookshop has remained a local treasure since the '70s.

Saturday 10 AM - While you're in the area, treat yourself to a mid-morning shopping spree. Indulge in some retail therapy with the designer brands at Emporium DNA, Avenue Jack, or Redeem. Get your Pride gear at Bite the Fruit and G Books.

Photo courtesy of Redeemus.com

Saturday 11 AM - Take a walking tour of DC through the lens of LGBT history. Rainbow History Project offers a few tours of DC that highlight locations of LGBT prominence. The Walt Whitman tour paints an interesting portrait of the American poet's life in DC.

Saturday 12 PM - Check out the "Crack of Noon" Parade Day Pride Brunch hosted by Leslie Jordan. Brunch takes place Saturday at Urbana in Kimpton Hotel Palomar.

Saturday 2 PM - Take in some art at the National Portrait Gallery where "Eye Pop: The Celebrity Gaze" features 53 portraits of iconic faces including Britney Spears, Oprah Winfrey, and Michelle Obama. While there, check out "The Outwin 2016: American Portraiture Today" where work from all over the country features diverse ideas of "self" and "other" including LGBT themed portraits.

Photo courtesy of DC Pride

Saturday 4:30 PM - Find a spot in Dupont Circle to enjoy the Pride Parade.

Saturday 6 PM - Make a stop in Logan Circle for happy hour. Visit Number Nine for a Jalapeno Margarita. Then hit up Trade for double-sized cocktails on tap. After, head over to Nellie's Sports Bar at U Street and enjoy a Nellie Spritzer on the patio.

Saturday 7 PM - After all that drinking, it's time to eat. Go to Level One for the loaded tots. Stay for the LGBT (lettuce, gorgonzola, bacon, tomato) burger. If you have a hankering for seafood, follow your gut to Hank's Oyster Bar for the fried Ipswich clams or the lobster bisque.

Photo Courtesy of Hank's Oyster Bar

Saturday 9 PM - Entertainment is never in short supply. For the best drag queens of DC, take in a show at Ziegfeld's. For the hottest go-go dancers of DC, head upstairs to Secrets.

Saturday 9 PM - DC's iconic dance party kicks off it's 2016 Pride Party at Mixtape.

Photo courtesy of Mixtape Pride

Saturday 10 PM -Celebrate Pride at the Distrkt C Men's Party at the DC Eagle.

Sunday 3 AM - The Party doesn't end when the sun comes up. The Cherry Fund & Capital Pride Afterhours dance takes place Sunday until 9 AM at Flash.

Sunday 9 AM - Might we suggest breakfast? Head to Busboys and Poets.

Photo courtesy of Busboys and Poets' Facebook

Sunday 12 PM - Stop by the Pride Festival at Pennsylvania Ave NW between 3rd and 7th St.

Sunday 1 PM - Enjoy some amazing performances by Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Alex Newell, and Melanie Martinez at the Pride Concert.

Sunday 2 PM - Did someone say Sunday Brunch? Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Ave. starts serving at 2 PM.

Sunday 5 PM - If you're headed back home, we suggest dinner at Convival, before heading back on the train. If you're planning to stay the evening, you'll like our next recommendation.

Photo courtesy of Convival

Sunday 10 PM - If you still have it in you, catch the Closing Party at Cobalt. Happy DC Pride weekend!