Pittsburgh Pride returns this weekend as organizers weather a funding crunch fueled by corporate pullbacks and competition for sponsorship dollars linked to the NFL draft.

Why it matters: Corporate support for Pride events, which attract more than a quarter-million people in Pittsburgh each year, has waned here and nationwide in recent years.

• Advocates say an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion climate fostered by the Trump administration has forced organizers to rethink fundraising efforts for one of the city's largest annual events.

The big picture: A projected $100,000 shortfall in corporate sponsorships prompted Pittsburgh Pride to cut its parade and festival budget from more than half a million dollars to roughly $420,000 this year, treasurer Sam Wasserman tells Axios.

• "We see that as a reflection of the national anti-DEI movement, and we're seeing corporate sponsors say that explicitly this year as opposed to quietly not participating," Wasserman said.
• Heavy NFL draft spending left some sponsors with less to contribute, too, organizers said.

Between the lines: Wasserman said more grassroots support, state funding and help from subcontractors will keep the events on track.

• "No one will experience a reduced festival in any way," he said.
• A staging company offered a $20,000 discount for a sponsorship, and the organization received a $75,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, Wasserman added.

Zoom in: Pittsburgh Pride starts Friday with a Pride Prom and Kiki Ball, followed by a weekend of activities organized by TransYOUniting, QBurgh, Proud Haven, and TransPride PGH. The theme is "Existence Is Resistance."

• The March and Parade kicks off at noon Sunday Downtown from Liberty Avenue and 11th Street, crosses the Clemente Bridge, and ends at Allegheny Commons Park West on the North Side for the Pride Festival — which runs noon-8pm Saturday and Sunday.

If you go: Find the full lineup here.

What's next: Wasserman said the organization expects to take on more year-round fundraising and recruitment work in the years ahead to keep the city's marquee celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility appropriately funded.

• "We will make sure Pride will always happen in Pittsburgh," he said.

Go deeper

Pittsburgh Pride may draw the biggest crowds, but neighborhood Pride festivals are popping up across the region all month.

Here are 10 more ways to celebrate.

• Lebo Pride | June 13 | Mt. Lebanon Main Park | 10am-3pm
• Lawrenceville Pride | June 13 | 118 52nd St. | Noon-8pm
• Vandergrift Pride in the Park | June 14 | Kennedy Park | Noon-6pm
• Pride Millvale | June 20 | Times and locations TBA
• Greenfield Family Pride Night | June 23 | Magee Field and Rec Center | 5pm-8pm
• Bellevue Pride | June 27 | Bayne Park | Noon-4pm
• Sewickley Pride | June 27 | Thorn Street | Noon-4pm
• Dormont Pride in the Park | June 28 | Dormont Park | 1pm-8pm
• Forest Hills Pride | June 28 | 799 Barclay Ave. | 4pm-8pm
• Fox Chapel Pride in the Park | June 29 | Allegheny RiverTrail Park | 4pm-8pm

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🛬 American Airlines is pausing service from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles between Aug. 5 and Oct. 4 due to high jet fuel prices. United and Breeze also fly to LAX from Pittsburgh. (TribLive)

🚀 Pittsburgh-based space company Astrobotic is set to be sold to Voyager in a $300 million deal. (🔐 Post-Gazette)

📵 A bill banning Pennsylvania students from using cellphones during the school day passed the state House 126-75 with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the state Senate. (WESA)

Chaos gardening — the viral TikTok trend of scattering seeds and "letting nature decide" — is taking root as demand for native plants is rising.

Why it matters: Native chaos gardens appeal to homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also help local wildlife thrive.

The big picture: "Native plants offer this easy solution to make positive change," Sara Ressing, an education and program coordinator with nonprofit Wild Ones, tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Chaos gardening embraces a less structured approach: Scatter seeds, observe what survives and let soil, sunlight and water determine the outcome.

• Ressing says the trend overlaps naturally with native gardening because both prioritize welcoming nature back into yards.

Yes, but: Garden experts warn that tossing random seed packets into the yard doesn't always work as advertised — especially in the Mid-Atlantic's fickle climate.

• You may need to organize your chaos for success — mixing bulbs and starter plants into a less structured garden.

What to plant: There are over 2,000 native plant species in Western Pennsylvania. Some of the best for beginners include milkweed, scarlet bee balm, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflower and blazing star.

The bottom line: Chaos gardening may look carefree online, but experts say the best results come from pairing experimentation with intention.

Our favorite pickle party is getting even bigger.

The big dill: Picklesburgh will be held July 16-19 — spanning two bridges (Warhol and Clemente), Allegheny Riverfront Park, the newly renovated Market Square, westbound Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Sixth Street and PPG Plaza.

• This year's festival expands into Arts Landing, the Cultural District's new 4-acre park.

Between the brines: Organizers will announce vendors and the full schedule soon, per a press release.