Attitude visits WorldPride in Washington, DC: Everything we did and saw

We land in Washington, DC a few hours before sunset. It’s hot, and the city skyline feels modest in comparison to the relatively close metropolis of Manhattan. That’s no accident – a 1910 law prevents buildings from being taller than the US Capitol, giving the place a surprising softness.

We’re here for WorldPride 2025, the first time the global LGBTQ+ celebration has taken place in the US. Held in Washington, DC to mark 50 years since the first Pride rally on the National Mall, it’s hosted in tandem with Capital Pride, the city’s annual LGBTQ+ celebration. Capital Pride usually takes place each June and includes a parade, block party, concert and street fair, with the 2025 edition supersized to meet the moment.

Our base is the JW Marriott Washington, DC, right on Pennsylvania Avenue. I can see the Monument from my room, and the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and just everything else you’ll need to see are within a 10-minute stroll. Indeed, the entire city is a walker’s paradise.

I’m with a group of fellow UK journalists, and our first dinner is at Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse. Open since 1948, the place is an institution and conjures up an image of a queer Cheers – friendly, unpretentious, and massive meals served with a smile. My steak is every bit the US portion size your parents warned you about. And I’m not ashamed to say I smash the lot, despite my body clock being on 3am the following day.

After a walk around the National Mall the next morning to work off the meat sweats, we head to Mi Vida for lunch. Set on buzzy 14th Street, it’s home to the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. No exaggeration. Flavours are bold, plating’s sharp, and the whole thing feels like a quiet little secret. And most importantly, they do a mean frozen marg.

We later meet Katherine, the owner of DC Pride Walks (the city’s only dedicated LGBTQ+ walking tour) and our guide for the afternoon. A former professor and now, unmistakably, a full-time legend, she wins us over within minutes. She leads us through the capital with biting wit and unfiltered commentary, shouting at loud cars to keep it down and calling a group of MAGA-hatted passers-by something unprintable (it starts with “t” and rhymes with “bat”, FYI). Her knowledge is razor-sharp as she weaves in queer history with nuance, from the secret leg signals used by gay men on 19th-century park benches to the overlooked activists behind landmark moments. Katherine really knows her stuff, and leaves no question unanswered.

That evening is the annual Night OUT with the Washington Nationals – my first-ever baseball game, and it’s a Pride one, naturally. It goes on for hours, but that’s part of the fun. You get up, grab a beer, chat with whoever’s in your vicinity. I luck out by ending up next to a fabulous older woman who’s obsessed with the Royal Family and thrilled I’m British. We spend a good 30 minutes gushing over Diana and taking swipes at Harry, while her husband politely tunes us out. A married couple and their daughter in front overhear me mentioning that I don’t know the rules and gently (yet loudly – this is America, after all) walk me through them. The whole thing feels neighbourly and relaxed and I think I like sports now (don’t tell anyone).

Friday kicks off in Capitol Hill with a visit to Little District Books – a brilliant queer-owned shop that’s stacked with LGBTQ+ titles and joyfully unapologetic about it. Then it’s lunch at AMBAR, where dish after dish of Balkan small plates land at the table in a constant flow. It’s ‘bottomless’ but that turns out to be theoretical – we’re satisfied long before they stop offering.

That night is the WorldPride Music Festival. It’s massive – three stages, thousands of people. Jennifer Lopez headlines, with Paris Hilton doing a full set (well, almost – she mimes, but at least she looks fabulous doing it) ahead of her.

Then Saturday and it’s the big one, as the group joins Destination DC in the WorldPride parade. Laverne Cox, this year’s Grand Marshal, gives a rousing speech in front of the Destination DC bus before we roll out.

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The parade is huge. We roll slowly along 14th Street, waving back at strangers, spotting signs, clocking familiar faces in the crowd. After stepping off the bus, I walk back to the hotel, crash for a nap… and when I wake up, it’s still going strong.

That evening we head to The Wharf – a gorgeous new waterside district that feels purpose-built for nights like this. There’s music, food, and a packed pier filled with people waving glowsticks. When fireworks go up to Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’, hundreds dance in unison – couples, families, drag queens, kids on shoulders. It’s what Pride is all about. Dinner is at Willowsong, a smart-but-chilled restaurant on the waterfront. I have local fish – light, delicate, beautifully done – as I enjoy the view of the water from our table.

Sunday brings the International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom. It begins at the Lincoln Memorial and draws activists, performers, and speakers from around the globe. We spot Spanish senator Carla Antonelli and model Laith Ashley among the speakers and join the march as it passes the Monument, heading towards the US Capitol building. Later, the city shuts down Pennsylvania Avenue for the WorldPride Street Festivalm, where Doechii headlines and brings the house (well, city) down.

Monday, before we leave, we explore Georgetown. It’s DC’s oldest neighbourhood, and the contrast with downtown is striking – cobbled lanes, quiet galleries, independent boutiques. We join the queue outside Yellow, a Levantine-inspired café, and it’s worth the wait. Warm pitas, soft dips, ice coffees – the perfect end to our adventure.

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Getting there – Virgin Atlantic flies daily between London Heathrow and Washington DC, with return Economy fares starting from £429 per person. For further information visit www.virginatlantic.com or call 0844 2092 770. This fare is available for selected departures during 2025. Prices given are correct as of today and are subject to change.

Airport transfers: We used Sunny’s Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation to get around – reliable, friendly, and blessedly air-conditioned.