In a defiant show of diversity and inclusiveness, D.C. is painting the town in rainbows as the WorldPride DC 2025 celebration gets underway.
“There’s color everywhere!” as Jack Skellington would sing it.
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It’s a welcome relief from the grim, gray pall the president has cast over the capital since January.
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From Logan Square to Dulles International Airport in Virginia, rainbows are blooming on buses, sidewalks, signage, and in the DC Metro.
The three-week festival officially kicks off with a Welcome Concert at Nationals Park on Saturday, May 31, with headliner Shakira. Two to three million visitors are expected to descend on the nation’s capital for the duration of WorldPride.
The festival wraps June 8 with an International March + Rally at the Lincoln Memorial and march to the Capitol. In between, there are hundreds of events large and small celebrating LGBTQ+ people and culture.
The biggest rainbow in town is just about finished.
More than 100 volunteers are adding a rainbow-painted bike lane improvement on 15th Street NW, stretching all the way from O Street NW up to V Street NW.
“Everything’s coming together,” Lisa Marie Thalhammer told The Hill. She’s the lead artist and she’s pretty sure the LGBTQ+ street mural is the longest that’s ever been created.
She said her mission is to “just bring joy and color and creativity into the community.”
The artists worked to keep the project under wraps until it was nearly finished, she said, fearing the White House would try to quash the seven-block-long band of color.
Metro is ready for the world!
As we gear up for World Pride, we’re providing more service & customer convenience to get locals & visitors where they need to go. PLUS, wrapped trains & bus will be out in the system this weekend! Check out our guide: wmata.com/about/news/M…
— Metro (@wmata.com) May 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
DC Metro is rolling out rainbows on wrapped buses and subway cars, declaring “Metro proudly welcomes the world,” while area airports are extending their own welcome to stateside and international visitors.
“We are ready for World Pride! Welcome to everyone attending this special event!” Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport declared on their Instagram.
“Happy World Pride and welcome to Washington, DC!” Dulles International shared on Facebook. ” We hope everyone has a wonderful time celebrating!”
Both sky harbors have transformed their three-letter signage into rainbows.
#WashintonDC will be hosting WorldPride 2025 from May 17-June 8, 2025. @Dulles_Airport in rainbow colors. pic.twitter.com/9wpum0GEKT
— Rohit Sharma
(@DcWalaDesi) May 20, 2025
WorldPride organizers in April announced all programming previously scheduled for the Kennedy Center would be moved to other venues “to ensure our entire LGBTQ+ community will be welcome,” following the president’s purge of the revered arts institution and his installation by a handpicked board as chairman.
Don’t look for the Kennedy Center or the White House to be lit in the colors of Pride this June.
“We don’t want to shy away from showing our colors and celebrating who we are and being visible,” said mural artist Thalhammer. “This is a really special time for the city, and we really want to celebrate.”
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