2023 LGBTQ Pride Guide

Pride Journeys is proud to present the 2023 LGBTQ Pride Guide, a comprehensive and ongoing list of events celebrating the LGBTQ community. This list contains not only Pride events, but also fundraisers, circuit parties and other large-scale events targeting LGBTQ individuals. To submit content for consideration, please email joey@pridejourneys.com

August 25-28: The annual Manchester Pride Festival returns for a four-day celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the UK. Centred around the heart of The Gay Village, Manchester’s LGBTQ+ neighbourhood, the festival is made up of a Parade that brings color and celebration to Manchester’s streets, The Gay Village party which centres around Canal Street, as made famous in the UK version of Queer As Folk, alongside the Superbia arts festival, Youth Pride MCR, Family Pride, and the Candlelit Vigil which brings everyone together at the end of the festival for a beautiful moment of reflection for those we lost from the LGBTQ+ community. Fringe events also take place across the city centre with rainbows adorning every corner and parties across the city’s cultural hotspots.

August 31-September 4: Trade in your beads and ribbons for chains and whips at Southern Decadence, a cornerstone of New Orleans queer culture that's often described as a bawdier version of Pride. The city’s bars and streets are filled with joyful energy and over-the-top expression, with some events catering toward bears and the leather crowd. All LGBTQ identities are welcomed and celebrated, so the only rule is to show up exactly as you are. Don’t miss this weekend of pure, blissful decadence.

September 2-10: The Pride Center of Vermont’s 2023 Pride Week kicks off Sept. 2 and runs through Sept. 10, when the Pride Parade joyously lights up Vermont’s biggest city. The parade wraps up at Waterfront Park, where rainbow flags reflect on Lake Champlain and live music and food trucks celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Vermont’s longstanding history of embracing LGBTQ+ rights includes being the first state to legislatively legalize same-sex marriage and the first to elect an out transgender lawmaker. That feeling of authentic, timeworn pride resonates throughout the state year-round, where visitors can also discover some of the world’s best craft beer, cheese, and other robust local flavors, outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, and unspoiled, unhurried scenic beauty.

September 3: Strut across the rainbow crosswalk for an action-packed Labor Day weekend at Sacramento Rainbow Festival. For the 35th year, the intersection at 20th & K streets lights up with live entertainment, celebrity acts, activist speakers, and limitless LGBTQ merriment. Street vendors from the nation’s Farm to Fork capital also serve up mouthwatering refreshments that blow traditional fair food out of the water. Even better, proceeds from this electric event support a different LGBTQ-focused charity every year. Plan your trip and find accommodations today at visitsacramento.com

September 7 – 17: Malta, the hidden gem of the Mediterranean, will host EuroPride Valletta September 7 to 17. EuroPride Valletta 2023 - Equality from the Heart, the main part of EuroPride Valletta 2023 will be Pride Week that will kick-off with the opening ceremony on Thursday, September 7 and conclude on Sunday, September 17, with the Pride March and Concert taking place on Saturday, September 16. Additionally the Pride Week will include a variety of events coordinated by ARC with the involvement of other NGOs, individuals and partner organizations centering around the following:

Queer Arts & Culture Festival

We shall be partnering with different artists and performers to offer a cultural & artistic program of various genres, including exhibitions, theater, cabaret shows, film and literary arts throughout the week. Emphasis of the program will be on offering a platform to LGBTIQ+ artists such as drag, burlesque, theater and other forms of performing arts.

Three conferences will also be held: A Human Rights Conference, LGBTIQ+ at Work Conference and Interfaith Dialogue.

A Pride Village in the Capital will be set-up over three days leading up to the Pride March which will host a number of stands for the local and international organizations wanting to exhibit their work, sell merchandise and act as information points for the community. The set-up would also act as a space for socialization and community building.

The EuroPride 2023 March will take place on Saturday, September 16th in the streets of Valletta, the Capital City. Pride March is a family-friendly march where different human rights organizations, governmental entities and partners will be invited to march with us. A number of floats, performances, giveaways and speeches will also take place during the March. The March will finish at the Granaries in Floriana and with a concert as the grand finale.

Throughout the week, a number of venues will be opening their doors for a number of community events ranging from speak-easy socials, beach/poolside parties and club nights. An after party following the Pride Concert will be organized, hosted by Drag Artists and featuring Top DJs and performers. For further information please visit: https://europride2023.mt/

September 9: Louisville Pride takes place each September and is a day-long block party in the city’s eclectic Highlands neighborhood. Encompassing three of Louisville’s popular LGBTQ bars, the street-fest will take place from 11am to 11pm and includes over 100 vendors, food trucks, Drag events, and entertainment across two stages which have been known to host nationally known LGBTQ artists.

September 16: The kickoff to PARADE to Sassabration begins at the Brewery Arts Center at 449 West King in Carson City, Nevada. Join the fun group of pirate ships, art cars, bicycles and walkers as we make our way two miles down Carson Street to the event held at the location of Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint, Carson Hot Springs & Shoe Tree Brewing at 1500 Old Hot Springs Road where food, music and great vendors await your arrival. Carson City's very own Adam Whitney, as Bea Arthur, is the very special Grand Marshal leading the very sassy parade. Costumes are highly encouraged. Stay tuned at sassabration.com for more information.

September 16: Shenandoah Pride will take place in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Also, on the last Wednesday of every month, Sage Bird Ciderworks hosts a Pride Night Social and Fundraiser. These events are in conjunction with Friendly City Safe Space and a portion of the proceeds for the night goes to support that organization. A complete calendar of events is available.

September 22-24: Unleashed LGBTQ, heralded the "Gay SXSW," is adding even more A-list talent to the already stacked star lineup for its FIRST live event at Gilley’s in Dallas, Texas this September 22 - 24. Special appearances by: Antoni Porowski (Queer Eye), Indya Moore Emmy (POSE & Aquaman), Shangela (We're Here & RuPaul's Drag Race), and many more. For more info, visit https://www.unleashedlgbtq.com/

September 27 - October 1: Traverse City’s official LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration and Michigan’s premier Pride event is returning September 27 - October 1, 2023. 2023 marks the tenth year of the Up North Pride celebration, with a continued mission of making the region a more diverse, inclusive and safe place for everyone. In the years since the original march, Up North Pride has grown to be the largest participant-driven LGBTQ+ Pride March in Michigan—attracting more than 6,000 attendees in 2019—and Michigan's premier destination Pride Celebration, as well as a leader in Northern Michigan's LGBTQ+ advocacy. Find more information here on LGBTQ+ travel, businesses, etc. in Traverse City.

September 29 – October 1: Join Arizona’s oldest LGBTQ organization for Tucson’s annual Pride in the Desert. The celebration will take place over three days, with a parade on Friday, a festival on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Guests can participate in the festival starting at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Reid Park. There they’ll find entertainment, over 100 vendors, retailers, nonprofits, and a family-friendly/kids area. For more information, visit www.tucsonpride.org.

October 1: "Witch Perfect," the hysterical and award-winning parody based on the cult-classic Disney film, "Hocus Pocus," returns to New Yorks Hudson Valley this fall! This all-ages, live-singing performance at Revel 32 in Poughkeepsie features three Emmy Award-winning stars from "RuPaul's Drag Race." Tina Burner (Season 13) plays Winifred; Scarlet Envy (Season 11, All-Stars Season 6) plays Sara; and Alexis Michelle (Season 9, All Stars Season 8) plays Mary. General admission and VIP meet-and-greet ticket packages are available. Click here for details. The 20% early-bird discount is available through the end of July.

October 6-8: While June’s calendar is stacked when it comes to Pride events, it’s fun to celebrate all year long! Knox Pride Fest is taking place October 6-8 in World’s Fair Park, and you’re going to want to plan for the whole weekend as it kicks off with a night parade on Friday evening! Participants of this family-friendly event are invited to utilize lights and dress in glow-in-the-dark items. The party continues with Pride Fest at World’s Fair Park on Saturday, followed by a Sunday vendor market at Sam Duff Park next to the Knox Pride Community Resource Center. Make your plans now for an open celebration of music, entertainment, and speakers focused on promoting equality and inclusion for all!

October 12-22: When the sun sets, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s OUTshine Film Festival in Fort Lauderdale maintains the region’s commitment to LGBT+ issues. World premiere film screenings make the festival a can’t-miss and annual presentations include filmmaker discussions and actor talk-backs that encourage a sense of community and provide a lens on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience. Be sure to plan your visit around an opportunity to view the best in contemporary cinema.

October 14-15: Atlanta is so proud, we have three Prides each year. National Pride Month in June, honors historical milestones in LGBTQ+ history. Black Pride during Labor Day Weekend celebrates diversity and the impact of distinctly Black gay and queer culture on the community. The Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade October 14-15 is our biggest celebration (around National Coming Out Day) and offers a full week of programming, filled with fun and enriching festivities for everyone.

October 21-22: For more than 40 years, Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ community has been proudly celebrated through the Phoenix Pride Festival. Designed to bring the LGBTQ+ and allied communities together, the fest focuses on camaraderie and celebration of past, present and future. Over the course of two days, the event raises funding for Phoenix Pride Community Programs and assists with involving and educating Phoenicians about the continuance of the LGBTQ+ civil rights battle and its large importance. With support from over 300 organizations, local businesses and corporations, the Phoenix Pride Festival attracts and embraces more than 55,000 attendees each year. The festival boasts over 150 entertainment performances and a wide variety of food options, shopping and community resources. The Phoenix Pride Festival will take place at Steele Indian School Park on October 21 and 22 from noon to 9 p.m.

October 27-29: You’re in for both tricks and treats at Halloween New Orleans, where the Crescent City’s haunted history comes to live with a queer and charitable twist. Each night of this unforgettable weekend plays host to a different spectacular themed party with show-stopping costumes, live music, dancers, comedians and more. Past years have featured celebrity appearances by RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Aquaria and performances by queer artists like Jake Wesley Rogers. Plus, proceeds from all three events benefit Project Lazarus, a transitional living facility providing compassion, support, and comfort for people living with HIV/AIDS. Grab your #maskformask crew and join us for a Halloween experience like you’ve never seen before.

November 3-5: Greater Palm Springs—a joyous community for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, hosts Greater Palm Springs Pride on Nov. 3-5, 2023. 2023's edition of Greater Palm Springs Pride marks the 37th anniversary as a free festival bringing a diverse community together. Known for celebrating strength, equality and self-determination of the LGBTQ+ community, Greater Palm Springs Pride celebrates with a parade, festival and a vendor marketplace. The Festival Marketplace runs both days, along Palm Canyon Drive in the heart of downtown, combining exhibitors, multiple entertainment venues, activities, sponsor pavilions, a food court, retail shopping, and restaurants. Serving as an advocate for equality and diversity in Coachella Valley since 1986, Greater Palm Springs Pride works to create a region where LGBTQ+ people thrive. Pride is a year-round celebration in Greater Palm Springs. If you want to experience a colorful party in the Southern California oasis, here is a guide to the festivities all year long.

November 17-19: NICE SO FÉTICHE #7 - Come visit Nice in November and join some of the hottest leather and fetish guys from around the world for the Nice So Fetish Reunion and the election of Mr Evidence. The event brings together fetish enthusiasts, including the election of Mister Evidence Leatherman. Events include an aperitif at Swing, where you can get to know the other guests, followed by the official dinner. Saturday afternoon often includes a tour of nearby Nice or Monaco followed by the Nice So Fetish party at the Omega Club. Sunday ends with a leather brunch where you can meet your leather friends and the winner of Mister Evidence Leatherman. Later in the evening, enjoy "Bingooo" at La Cave Wilson followed by the Farewell Party at Glam.