For many years a relatively early Gay Pride event, Las Vegas Pride now takes place in early September - the dates this year are September 8 and 8, 2012. This is a marked departure from tradition, when Vegas Pride took place in April. Fall, however, is a fine time to visit this desert metropolis (which will have cooled down a bit from its white-hot summer). Las Vegas has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the past three decades, and similarly, its GLBT scene has become larger, more visible, and more politically active in this time. The city's first Gay Pride took place in 1983 - there's a nice synopsis of the event's history on the Pride Las Vegas website. More than 10,000 people attend the event each year.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Las Vegas during Gay Pride.
Details about Vegas Pride 2012 will be posted here as they're announced. Here's a look back at last year's event, in the meantime:
Las Vegas Gay Pride is built around two key events, the Las Vegas Pride Night Parade, held on Friday, from 8 pm until 10 pm; and the Las Vegas Pride Festival Festival, which takes place the following day, Saturday, from noon until 10 pm, and is headlined this year by Grammy winner Mya popstar 98 Degrees, talented singer Jeff Timmons, comic actor Alec Mapa, singers Josh Strickland, Lorena Peril, along with Matt Zarley, Cher impersonator Chad Michaels, Justin Utley, RuPaul Dragracer Morgan McMichaels, and much more.
Keep in mind, though, that there are a number of smaller gatherings and parties leading up to the big weekend - here's a full calendar.
The Pride Parade takes place in downtown Las Vegas, the "old-school" part of the city - worth seeing at anytime if you're sense of Vegas mostly revolves around the Strip. The parade route is along 4th Street from Charleston Blvd. to Ogden Avenue.
The Las Vegas Pride Festival is set at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater at 500 S. Grand Parkway on Saturday from noon until 10.
Several accommodations act as official host hotels during Pride, offering special rates - these include Luxor, Paris Las Vegas, Wynn Las Vegas, Tropicana, Blue Moon Gay Resort, Platinum Hotel, Rumor Boutique Resort, Artisan Hotel Boiutique, Resort at Mt. Charleston, and Gold Spike Hotel. Here's a full recap of gay-friendly hotels and resorts around Las Vegas.
Plenty of gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers and websites, such as Q Vegas for details. For general travel-planning advice, visit the excellent gay travel site produced by the city's official tourism organization, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association.
