If you’re keen to head away this summer to get involved in some truly fabulous festivities taking place all over the world, then explore some Pride Festivals is just the thing you need to do. Check out our top recommendations below of the best Prides worldwide:
Pride Toronto, Canada
Pride Toronto is Canada’s biggest Pride festival, drawing a whopping 1.5 million people each year across the month of June. It’s a diverse celebration, featuring parties, parades, fairs, marches, and performances. The festival works closely with the LGBTQ+ community in Toronto to create an environment “free from fear, free from oppression, and free to discover and love as our true selves.”
Highlights include the Progress Pride Flag Raising on June 1, Pride Pool Party with Sugar and Spice on June 16, and the Drag Ball on June 24. The the main Festival Weekend is from June 23-25.
St. Pete Pride, Florida, US
St. Pete Pride is the largest pride celebration in Florida, with events running throughout the month of June. Highlights include Queer-E-Okee at the Palladium on June 30, LGBTQ+ Youth & Family Day on June 10, the Friday Night Concert feat. Idina Menzel on June 23, and the renowned St. Pete Pride Parade along Grand Central Avenue on June 24.
In 2003, when nearby Tampa’s Pride parade was effectively shut down by legislators, the St. Pete community picked up the torch. 20 people gathered in Grand Central Avenue to advocate LGBTQ+ rights and issues. And now 20 years later, St. Pete Pride is ranked in the top 40 largest Pride celebrations in the world, with over 250,000 attendees.
Chicago Pride Fest, US
The annual Chicago Pride Fest is a legendary street festival, held on June 17 and 18 this year, the weekend before the Chicago Pride Parade. With upwards of 60,000 expected to attend, the festival celebrates LGBTQ+ life, culture and community.
Expect live music performances by headline artists and local favorites, three stages, food and drink, 150+ arts/crafts vendors, DJ’s and dancing, drag shows, a pet parade, games, giveaways and more!
Berlin Pride, Germany
Berlin Pride, aka Christopher Street Day, is one of Europe’s biggest and best Pride celebrations. The LGBTQ+ community in Berlin has a long history, with the world’s first ever gay magazine created in Berlin and Magnus Hirschfeld founding the first gay-rights organization in 1897, lobbying for the LGBTQ+ community in a time of close-mindedness and discrimination.
Throughout the month of June, Berlin will host activist seminars, demonstrations, film screenings, rallies and parties. This year’s motto is “Be their voice – and ours! …for more empathy and solidarity!”. The Christopher Street Day Parade will take place on July 22.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, NSW, Australia
While this one doesn’t take place during Pride month, it’s one to get on the calendar early because this one is biggg. So big that in 2023 it was also the year’s WorldPride event (the first time WorldPride was in the southern hemisphere). But if you’ll be in Sydney this June, you can participate in the 45th anniversary of Sydney Mardi Gras on June 24. As far as the next full-on Mardi Gras goes though, you’ll need to get planning to be there from February 16 to March 3, 2024. While there, you’ll find all kinds of pride festivals and festivities happening in Sydney.
NYC Pride, US
The Pride that started it all, really. NYC Pride is huge and the place to be in June. The main event of the Pride march takes place on June 25. But you’ll find LGBTQ+-focused events all June long. Join Youth Pride on June 24, Queerpalooza on June 22, or The Brunch on June 18. There’s really just too many parties and events happening to choose. For you that means great news though! It’s quite literally impossible to be bored while attending NYC Pride.
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