Celebrate Pride in Beantown this June

Boston Pride is gearing up for a weeklong celebration of the LGBT community by offering a number of exciting and unique events and activities during the first week in June.

For all Boston Pride needs, make sure to download the free Boston Pride app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, which allows users to keep track of festivities, access information, receive updates about events, upload photos and connect with other revelers. The applications is now available to download from the iTunes App Store.

On June 1, at noon, Boston Pride's annual flag raising event will take place at City Hall, signaling the kick-off to Pride Week 2012. The rest of the day, pride-goers can attend several festivities in the evening, including Guerilla Queer Bar Pride in Cambridge.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 Boston Pride will host Pride Day at Faneuil Hall, which is packed with musicians, performers and entertainers, including Raquel Blake - one of Boston's Premier Drag Entertainers who was voted the 1st Queen of Boston Pride in 2009.

Between June 4 and 7 Boston Pride put together events to keep you occupied during the week, including Pride @ Night: Weekend Kick Off at Rumor (starting at 10 p.m.) and a performance by Australian comedian Pam Ann at the Wilbur Theatre.

On Saturday, June 9 at noon, head down to Copley Square to watch the 42nd Annual Boston Pride Parade. Headlining the parade will be pop stars Alexis Jordan, Rye Rye and Kerli. The spectacular event will end at City Hall Plaza and will take place rain or shine. Continue the celebration at ESME Women's Block Party with DJ Linda Lowell at 1 Boylston Place. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. the Boston Pride Youth Dance event will take place at Quincy Market Rotunda.

Starting at 10 p.m. pride-goers can stop by Epic at House of Blues and Lush at Machine - both events offering several DJs that will pump the clubs full of music to party the night away. The festivities continue for night owls at club Rise, which host their Boston After Hours event with New York City's DJ Escape from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Boston Pride Block Party: JP Edition will take place on Sunday, June 10 from noon to 7 p.m. on Perkins St., Jamaica Plain and is open to all ages. The event will feature family fun activities, including face painting, sidewalk art and music. There will also be five DJs spinning an eclectic array of music to satisfy every attendee. Additionally, Boston Pride Block Party: Back Bay on St. James Ave will be held from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"The Boston Pride Block Party: Back Bay Edition anchors Pride Week and we weren't going to let a couple of construction sites stop us from continuing our traditional presence in the South End and Back Bay," said Rob Zuromski, a board member of Boston Pride and chair of the Block Party. "We are excited about the new location on St. James Ave and know that the grand finale of Pride week will be as much a celebration as ever."

Celebrate Boston Pride's final event at club Royal at 10 p.m. and dance the night away to jams provided by Richie Ladue.

Boston Pride 2012 should not be missed as CNN's Travel Blog recently named Boston Pride one of the best pride festivals in the world.