New York City celebrates Gay Pride each June (June 28 to June 30, 2013), to honor what many consider to be one of the foremost events in the history of lesbian and gay rights, the Stonewall Riots, which commenced early in the morning on June 28, 1969.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in New York City during Gay Pride.
Also, be sure to consider some of the New York Pride events that take place in neighboring boroughs earlier in the month, such as Queens Gay Pride and Brooklyn Gay Pride.
In New York City, Pride celebrations typically center around several events held at the end of June; there's a bit of a consolidation this year compared with previous NYC Prides, with all of the major parties and celebrations taking place over one big weekend, from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30, 2013): the main events are the Rally (the earliest of the events, taking place on Friday), Rapture on the River and VIP Rooftop Pool Party on Saturday, June 29, and PRIDEfest, The March, the Dance on the Pier, and Pride Poolside all taking place on Sunday, June 30. The events mostly take place in the West Village, very close to the city's other gay-popular neighborhoods like Chelsea and the East Village.
Here's a more detailed look at 2013 NYC Gay Pride:
The Pride Rally takes place at a new venue this year, Pier 26 in Tribeca, which you access by crossing West Street at Laight Street. This free event is held Friday, June 28, from 7 pm until 10 pm.
On Saturday, June 29, Rapture on the River, NYC Pride's official women's dance party, takes place at the same venue at the Pride Rally, Pier 26 in Tribeca - again, get here by crossing West Street at Laight Street. This thumpin' dance, featuring the music from DJs Dimples and Whitney Day, starts at 3 pm on Saturday, and lasts until 10 pm. You can purchase Rapture on the River tickets here.
Also taking place on Saturday is the VIP Rooftop Party - this crowd-pleasing party will again take place at the swankily renovated Hudson Terrace Rooftop Garden Lounge and Salon and Garden Terrace, at 621 West 46th Street, which is by the Hudson River, a half-block from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. It begins at 2 pm and lasts until 10 pm, and DJs Serving Ovahness, Marco Da Silva, and Frankie Knuckles are providing the music. You can purchase VIP Rooftop Party tickets here.
The March commences at noon on Sunday, June 30, at 5th Avenue and 36th Street and winds its way downtown to the intersection of Christopher and Greenwich streets. Here's the official NYC Pride Parade route map. This is arguably the must-see event of Gay Pride in New York City, drawing thousands of spectators. Grand Marshals at NYC Pride March this year are Edith Windsor (the central figure in the DOMA case currently being weighed by the U.S. Supreme Court), legendary singer and activist Harry Belafonte, and Center for Black Equity President and CEO Earl Fowlkes.
PRIDEfest is also held on Sunday, June 30, from 11 am until 6 pm along Hudson Street between Abingdon Square and W. 14th St., at the junction of three great neighborhoods, Chelsea, the West Village, and the Meatpacking District. Here's an official PRIDEfest map. The festive (and free) GLBT street fair features dozens of vendors, entertainers, and community organizations.
The always-festive Dance on the Pier provides a grand finale for New York City Gay Pride. Thousands of GLBT revelers and friends congregate on Pier 26 in Tribeca, reached by crossing West Street at Laight Street) following Sunday's Pride March, from 3 pm until 10 pm. It's one of the great gay Manhattan parties of the year. Headlining this year are DJs Dave Aude, Oscar G., and Luis Perez, and there will be performances by special artists, too, including pop star Deborah Cox. You can purchase Dance on the Pier tickets here.
Last but not least, don't miss NYC Pride's newest big shindig, the Pride Poolside Party, which will also be taking place on Sunday afternoon, June 30, from noon until 6 pm. This fab fete takes place at the sleek and stylish Hotel Americano in Chelsea at 518 W. 27th Street. You can purchase Pride Poolside tickets here.
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 Next Magazine, Odyssey Magazine New York and the Gay City News for details. And be sure to check out the helpful GLBT website produced by the city's official tourism organization, NYC & Compancy.
