With a sizable gay and lesbian population and a scenic setting at the base of the soaring Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque has become one of the more gay-popular destinations in the Southwest over the years. The "Duke City" draws hundreds of participants to its Albuquerque Gay Pride celebration in mid-June, which three days of events. ABQ Gay Pride takes place June 11 through June 13, a full two weeks before the state's other major Pride event, Santa Fe Gay Pride.
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in Albuquerque during Gay Pride
Here's a preview of Albuquerque Gay Pride in 2009:
During the week leading up to Pride, you can attend a number of related events and activities, a Gay Day on Saturday June 6 at Cliff's Amusement Park (be sure to wear red) and a Pride Interfaith Service at First Unitarian Church on Sunday, June 7. Other gatherings during Pride Week include a Pride Reception on Thursday, June 11, at Albuquerque Social Club (4021 Central Ave. NE, 505-262-1088).
The Albuquerque Pridefest takes place over two days, from Friday through Saturday, June 12 and 13, at the Expo New Mexico Fairgrounds, which is located at Central Avenue NE and San Pedro Drive NE, just a little east of the trendy Nob Hill shopping and entertainment district. The hours are Friday, 6 pm until 10 pm, and Saturday, 11 am until 6 pm.
Pridefest includes booths representing gay-friendly area businesses and organizations, an Art Show (held Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday), a pet parade, "Queer Bake Off", indoor car show, Youth Dance (on Saturday night), Pride Idol, and plenty of live entertainment. Headliners at Pride this year include pop star Taylor Dayne and out folk-rocker Eric Himan on Friday night, and Lovari and Ryan Mintz on Saturday.
There's also a Gay Pride Parade on Saturday at 10:30 am, running along Central Avenue (Historic Route 66) from Girard Boulevard to San Pedro Avenue. Here's a map of the Albuquerque Gay Pride Parade Route.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. An excellent local website with plenty of information geared on GLBT New Mexico is CommonBondNM.org. Also check with the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau's site on GLBT travel, for more ideas about planning a visit here.
