Thinkery’s goal is to help ALL children cultivate a lifelong love for learning and become confident, creative thinkers. At the center of that goal is our core value of belonging, because we believe that belonging builds confidence. One way that we ensure that everyone who engages with Thinkery feels seen, welcome, and accepted is by participating in big cultural celebrations and events, like Austin Pride!
Pride Month is a time to celebrate and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and two spirit (LGBTQ2S+) community. Pride is a celebration of love and also honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. People all over the nation come together to celebrate and commemorate this important movement. These celebrations take place every June, so why does Austin celebrate Pride in August?
Although there are Pride celebrations around the community in June, due to the many other celebrations around the country and summer activities around the Central Texas area, the City of Austin decided that to make this an even bigger celebration Austin Pride will take place in August.
Pride events with Thinkery
Team Thinkery is celebrating Austin Pride through multiple events. Everyone is welcome to join us in this celebration of freedom and love!
- The Austin Pride Parade takes place Saturday, August 12 from 8 PM – 11 PM. This FREE community event kicks off at the Texas State Capitol Building, marches down Congress Avenue, and ends at the bridge. Thinkery members of the community, allies, and friends will meet up to enjoy the parade together. Join us and the community at this special celebration!
- Come celebrate at Thinkery during our Community Spotlight: LGBTQ2S+ Family Pride and Awareness August 8 from 4 PM – 6 PM. We’re partnering with our friends at Austin Pride to host a night of family- friendly programming that celebrates Austin’s LGBTQ2S+ community. Join us for drag story time, rainbow art making, and a parade through the museum! Everyone is welcome!
Can’t make it to other events this month? Thinkery’s Spark Shop is featuring Pride themed maker activities all month long!
- Monday – Friday – The Spectrum of Possibilities: An exploration of the light and color spectrum in honor of Austin Pride
- Austin Pride is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ2S+ community and all the colors that make it so vibrant. Explore the light and color spectrum through hands-on play at Spark Shop. This is a great way for children to learn about the science of light and color, develop their fine motor skills and creativity, and have fun celebrating Austin Pride and all the colors that make our community so special! because at Thinkery everyone belongs!
- Saturday & Sunday – Groovy Goggles: Show your true colors
- Join us in making wearable goggles that express your and your kiddos’ creativity and individuality. The possibilities are endless so let your imagination run wild and show your true colors!
Books that celebrate LGBTQ2S+ identities and families
Reading a book with your kiddo can be a special way of celebrating Pride and embracing all forms of love and belonging. Thinkery is partnering up with our friends KidBookish to help spread the love and awareness for the LGBTQ2S+ community through kid-friendly Pride books!
Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate
‘Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick
The Rainbow Parade by Emily Neilson
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah Brannen
What does Pride mean to Team Thinkery?
In honor of Austin Pride, Team Thinkery shared what this special month means to them. From “being gay,” to “living authentically,” and “celebrating who I am,” here are some more words from the Thinkery community.
Pride to me, means joy. That everyone deserves to feel joy. This is a time for LGBTQ+ folks to come together and celebrate our shared and unique experiences as a community. And Pride is also about remembering and honoring the contributions of others that came before us. Pride reminds me of my gratitude especially to trans women of color who paved the way for all of us to celebrate June as Pride month. This world is a richer place when everyone can celebrate their authentic selves and share that with each other.
Pride to me means it’s okay to celebrate that love always wins. Love is the most beautiful expression and fighting for the right to love is worth celebrating!
Learning to love all parts of myself and finding love for others on their journey. It’s also about finding family in those who really do love me unconditionally.
Just like the rainbow, getting to experience the entire spectrum of emotion with my community – joy, sadness, anger, frustration, and of course love. Knowing those are unique and special to us.
The joy and freedom to truly be me.