Pride month is approaching within the United States, which is often celebrated in June. But Pride events should not limited to a single 30-day period. Because these events are sometimes tied to a region's history of LGBTQ+ equality movements, they happen at different times in other places around the globe.
If you don't just wish to attend the Pride festival in person (or wish to have fun beyond June), you possibly can book a visit to certainly one of these six LGBTQ+ events around the globe.
1st MemDay Weekend Women's Festival in Provincetown, Massachusetts (May 23-27)
A historic artists' colony and popular LGBTQ+ destination, picturesque Provincetown, Massachusetts is thought for celebrating individuality and free expression. Ptown, because it's known locally, hosts several LGBTQ+ events all year long, including the MemDay Weekend Women's Festival, which celebrates LGBTQ+ women, in addition to nonbinary and transgender people.
MemDay takes place at the top of May, just before the beginning of Pride Month. It is organized by LesbianNightLife, which describes MemDay as the biggest lesbian takeover within the country.
Events at MemDay Ptown include the MoonLit Pool Party and the Freedom Boat Cruise. If you're single, there's a ticket called the Single & Social Pass that features speed dating, a coffee meet-up, and a singles tea dance.
Provincetown is well accessible for out-of-town visitors. Travelers can take a 1.5-hour ferry ride from Boston to Provincetown for $108-$120 round-trip.
2. Berlin Pride (28 June – 28 July)
Berlin Pride is a wonderful option should you're searching for a Pride event with a various crowd that may keep you dancing day and night. Berlin, the capital of Germany, is thought for its acceptance of gays, lesbians, and queers.
“What makes Berlin Pride so great is its inclusive nature – Berlin is by definition a place that embraces and welcomes the alternative,” said Jason Lindo, a California native who formerly lived in Berlin, in a text message.
One of the highlights of Berlin Pride is the Christopher Day Street Parade, wherein as much as 750,000 people march through town. But Berlin Pride is about greater than just fun. The organizers also run a political campaign and publish demands yearly.
June and July are among the hottest travel months in Europe, so to avoid wasting on flights across the pond, consider booking an inexpensive flight to a close-by destination. There are loads of budget airlines and trains that may take you to Berlin should you can find an inexpensive transatlantic flight to a different European city. Award flights inside Europe can be relatively low-cost.
3. Amsterdam Pride (2-4 August)
The International LGBT+ Travel Association calls Amsterdam Pride “one of the largest gay events in the world.” It includes street festivals, dance parties and, because the foremost event, a ship parade through Amsterdam’s famous canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dave Saunders is a British expat living in Los Angeles and took part in Amsterdam Pride 2023.
“Amsterdam Pride is great because it is unique – the parade takes place on the canals and the Pride floats are barges. The banks of the canals are covered with crowds celebrating and cheering on the barges,” he said in a text message.
If you need to plan upfront for a groundbreaking version of Amsterdam Pride, mark the date in your calendar as Amsterdam will host WorldPride 2026.
4th Taiwan Pride (24-27 October)
Taiwan Pride is the biggest LGBTQ+ pride event in East Asia, with an estimated 176,000 people expected to take part in the march in 2023, in response to the Taipei Times. It's not surprising that Taiwan Pride draws such a big crowd, as Taiwan became the primary place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019.
You could easily spend your entire trip at Taiwan Pride, but there are also loads of free walking tours and other attractions in Taipei to maintain you busy.
“If you are visiting Taipei for Taiwan Pride, be sure to visit Elephant Mountain, an easily accessible hike that offers views of the Taipei skyline, including Taipei 101,” David Chou, an American living in San Diego who has attended several Taiwan Prides, said in a text message.
5. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (February/March)
Australia's largest LGBTQ+ celebration is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, an annual event that lasts about two weeks in February and March. The timing is sweet for U.S. travelers searching for a warm winter vacation, because the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras takes place at the top of summer within the Southern Hemisphere. Plus, there's still loads of time between now and next 12 months's event to earn points or miles and get a Reward flight to Australia.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is big and star-studded. This 12 months's event's parade included 12,500 marchers, 200 floats and 250,000 spectators. Mardi Gras has also featured among the world's best musicians, including past performers Dua Lipa, Cher, Sam Smith and Kylie Minogue.
If you need to add some beach time to your Sydney Mardi Gras experience, take a look at the Bondi Beach Party – a dance party for 15,000 revelers on Bondi Beach.
6. Cape Town Pride in South Africa (March)
Although Cape Town Pride is smaller than the opposite events listed – the Cape Town parade earlier this 12 months attracted just over 3,000 people – it’s a notable exception because it is a rare LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in Africa. According to Amnesty International, homosexuality remains to be illegal in greater than 30 African countries.
If you're not collaborating in Pride activities, you’ll want to take a look at some budget-friendly Cape Town highlights, including climbing up Lion's Head, visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach, and spending a day on the beach in Camps Bay.
How to avoid wasting on travel to LGBTQ+ events
While many Pride parades are free, travel and other LGBTQ+ friendly events might not be free. Here are some ways to get monetary savings while celebrating:
- Look for hotel packages for Pride Month. Some hotels offer discounted rates and extra perks comparable to a welcome gift or a free bottle of wine.
- Book early. Some of the paid events for Pride Month and other LGBTQ+ celebrations offer early bird discounts should you purchase tickets upfront.
- Use points and miles to cover the fee of flights and hotels. If you pay with a travel bank card, it’s possible you’ll find a way to make use of points or miles as an alternative of money to cover your travel expenses.
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