Start Planning Your LGBTQ Pride Tour

LGBTQ pride events serve as vibrant celebrations of identity, love, and equality, offering a space for the community and allies to come together in solidarity and joy. These gatherings, often featuring colorful parades, performances, and educational activities, commemorate the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ rights while honoring the diverse spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations. Pride events foster a sense of belonging and empowerment, providing a platform for individuals to express their authentic selves free from judgment or discrimination. Beyond the festivities, they also serve as important reminders of the progress made in the fight for equality and the work that still lies ahead in creating a more inclusive and accepting society. Here are a few pride events worth visiting:

Dallas, Texas

The LGBTQ+ community in Dallas thrives as the sixth largest in the nation and boasts the largest population in Texas, offering an array of fun events and celebrations all year. To kick off June’s official Pride celebrations, the iconic Cyndi Lauper will perform at the Turtle Creek Chorale’s Benefit Gala. Not only is Lauper a groundbreaking Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning songwriter and performer, but she is also an activist for the LGBTQ+ community and for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Turtle Creek Chorale is a primarily gay men’s chorus from Dallas and is the most recorded male chorus in the world. Additionally, Dallas’ Fair Park neighborhood will offer an exhilarating lineup of festivities including a music festival, a dedicated Family Pride zone and the iconic Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Before Pride Month was dedicated to June, Dallas Pride took place in September for decades before in commemoration of a court ruling striking down Texas’ anti-sodomy law. See more LBGTQ+ events throughout the year here. 

St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida

St. Pete has become a haven for LGBTQ+ travelers over the years and is home to the largest Pride parade in all of Florida, St. Pete Pride. From what began as small gatherings then to a  colorful parade through the Grand Central District, St. Pete Pride has become a renowned month-long celebration that is celebrating 22 years of Pride celebrations this year. While the LGBTQ+ community is celebrated throughout the year in St. Pete, during the month of June the streets are doused in more color to amplify and support the community. Below are some of this year’s celebrations and events:

• June 1: Pride Month Kickoff Party

• June 8: LGBTQ+ Youth & Family Day 

• June 22: St. Pete Pride Parade & Festival

• June 22: TransMarch

• June 23: St. Pete Pride Street Fair

Laguna Beach, CA

From historic parades and colorful street art to massive festivals and star-studded concerts, California honors Pride in a big way. In fact, California was the first state in the country to designate June as its official LGBTQ+ Pride Month in 2018. It’s no surprise that California’s history of LGBTQ+ activism runs deep: The first LGBTQ+ business association was founded here in 1962; Laguna Beach was the first city in the U.S. to elect an openly gay mayor; and the iconic rainbow flag was even designed in San Francisco!

Some exciting parades to participate in to celebrate PRIDE include the iconic WeHo Pride on May 31- June 2 for a street fair with performances from Kylie Minogue, Janelle Monáe and Diplo this year or head over to Fresno on June 1 for their 34th annual Rainbow Pride event which includes a family friendly parade of floats from more than 90 participating businesses and organizations within the local community. And for the first time ever, Disneyland Park will be hosting Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite on June 18 and 20 from 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. where guests can enjoy after-hours access and entertainment. 

Corpus Christi, TX

Corpus Christi, Texas, is a vibrant destination with a growing LGBTQIA+ community that celebrates Pride Month with more than 20 events throughout the month, including parades, drag shows and workshops. Visitors can kick off the celebration at the oldest gay bar in town, The Hidden Door, where they can find exclusive drink specials and electrifying drag performances. This year, Pride Corpus Christi will host its first ever Pride Ball at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History while the annual Glammy Awards at House of Rock is back for the third year. 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Those eager to attend Pride festivities this year can head to the Heart of America for the annual Kansas City PrideFest hosted by the Kansas City P.R.I.D.E. Community Alliance. The event will take place at Theis Park, across from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, from June 7 to 9. Attendees can anticipate live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, and family-friendly activities, with the Pride Parade starting Saturday morning. Admission is $5, free for children under 12. Near the festival grounds, the LGBTQ-owned hotel, Aida KC, offers ideal accommodations for LGBTQ travelers. Located within walking distance of PrideFest and a short ride from gay bars like Missie B’s, the boutique hotel features eight luxury rooms. June rates start at $175. 

Santa Barbara, CA

Celebrate Pride in the American Rivera at the Pacific Pride Foundation's annual Pacific Pride Festival in August. This event attracts nearly 4,000 LGBTQ+ and allied supporters and their families for a day of national, regional, and local entertainment on one stage, as well as food, drinks, and vendors. Leading up to the Pride festivities, join the Pacific Pride Foundation for Sunset at the Canary at the Kimpton Canary Hotel, for a summer celebration of music, dancing, and drinks on the hotel's rooftop once a month. While in Santa Barbara, Crafters and creatives will love the Crafter's Library, a dedicated co-working space for crafts with the motto "anyone can craft." Owner Andrew Rawls has created a safe, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA-friendly space for both daytime and evening activities.