The Pacific Northwest's largest city and a longtime center of gay activism, Seattle throws a lively Gay Pride Parade and Festival in late June (on June 27-28 in 2009) - it draw more than 350,000 people in 2008. It's a week after Washington's second-most popular Gay Pride event, Capital City Pride, in Olympia, and two weeks after Pride Northwest, just down the I-5 in Portland, Oregon. Like many other cities that celebrate pride in June, Seattle does so at this time in part to honor what many consider to be one of the foremost events in the history of lesbian and gay rights, New York City's Stonewall Riots, which commenced early in the morning on June 28, 1969.
Shop for rooms and compare rates at hotels in Seattle during Gay Pride
Many major cities around the world host their Gay Pride Celebrations around this same time, among them Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and Toronto.
Gay Pride in Seattle is focused around a full weekend of parties, celebrations, and parades. Here's a quick preview of Seattle Gay Pride in 2009:
A few Pride-related events take place two weeks before the big weekend, including the popular Run and Walk With Pride, sponsored by Seattle Frontrunners on June 14. There's 4K walk, 4K run, and 10K run, and the festivities take place at Seward Park, at 5902 Lake Washington Boulevard South.
All day on Friday, June 26, foodies can "feed their Pride" by participating in Seattle Pride Feast, an event that was begun in 2008. Simply book a table at any of the many great restaurants participating (Capitol Club, Zoe, 94 Stewart, Quinn's Pub, and so on), and a portion of the proceeds from your meal will be donated to "health and wellness non-profits in the LGBT community and will help support PrideFest at the Seattle Center.
On Saturday night, June 27, "Seattle's hottest floating T-Dance" takes place with Official Pride Cruise, from 5:30 pm till 9:30 pm (with boarding at 5 pm). The cruise sails from Pier 55, at 1201 Alaskan Way, and passes through Puget Sound.
Also on June 27, Seattle Central Community College Plaza (Broadway Ave. E at E. Pine St. is the site of the Seattle Dyke March, which takes place from 5 until 7 pm.
The Official Seattle Pride Parade is held on Sunday, June 28, and begins at 11 am at the corner of Union Street and 4th Avenue. It lasts until 1:30 pm and runs north along 4th Avenue to Denny Way. Here's a map of the parade route. Featured talents at the 2009 Pride Parade include Jacinta and Eric Medina.
The final event is PrideFest at the Seattle Center, a massive community event that lasts from 11 am till 7 pm on Sunday and features a beer garden and food vendors, a DJ and music concerts, and a slew of speakers.
Of course, additionally, numerous 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, for details.
