The Pacific Northwest's largest city and a longtime center of gay activism throws the hugely attended Seattle Gay Pride Parade and Festival in late June (on June 29-30 in 2013) - it drew more than 350,000 people last year. Also during the weekend is the 6th Annual Seattle Pridefest, a free event at Seattle Center that draws more than 100,000 participants. Seattle's Pride celebrations take place after Capital City Pride in Olympia and Spokane Gay Pride in the eastern part of the state, and typically one week after Portland Gay Pride, just down the I-5 in Oregon.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Seattle during Gay Pride.
Here's a look at last year's Pride event - details about 2013 Seattle Pride will be posted here as information becomes available.
Quite a few Pride-related events take place during the days leading up to the big Pride weekend. These include Run and Walk With Pride, a Pride Picnic in Volunteer Park on Sunday the Wildrose Pride Block Party (which is a favorite event with the city's lesbian community); and many other events. Check the Seattle Pride Events page for specifics.
At the Seattle Central Community College Plaza (Broadway Ave. E at E. Pine St., the Seattle Dyke March takes place from 5 until 7 pm on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Seattle Capitol Hill Pride Festival is a massive community event that lasts from 11 am till 10 pm and is right in the heart of the city's main GLBT neighborhood. It features food, music and entertainment (from bands to DJs) on three different stages, a block party, a Paint For Pride Artwalk along Broadway, a Doggie Drag Costume Contest, and more than 100 vendors from local businesses and organizations.
The Official Seattle Pride Parade is held the following day, on Sunday, June 24, and begins at 11 am at the corner of Union Street and 4th Avenue. It lasts until around 1:30 pm and runs north along 4th Avenue to Denny Way. Here's a map of the parade route. Prior to the parade, at 8 am, there's a Pride Brunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.
Additionally, numerous Seattle gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers, such as Seattle Gay Times, the Seattle Lesbian, and OutCity Northwest magazine, for details. Also take a look at the very useful GLBT site produced by the city's official tourism organization, Visit Seattle.
