Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland, the Baltimore Gay Pride Celebration takes place over two days in late June, on the weekend of June 20 and June 21 in 2009. Each of these two days sees a different event in a different part of the city, and there are also a handful of related events and parties leading up to the weekend.
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in Baltimore during Gay Pride
Here's a brief preview of Baltimore Gay Pride 2009:
Leading up to the big weekend, note a handful of fun Pride Events, including a Twilight on the Terrace party on Friday, June 19, in the Baltimore Museum of Art's scultpure garden. Check here for details on other Pre-Pride gatherings.
The major events on Saturday, June 20, are the Baltimore Gay Pride Parade, which takes place from 4 pm until 5:30 and begins at in the beautiful and historic Mount Vernon neighborhood at North Charles and East Franklin streets.
Also on Saturday, and following the parade, Mount Vernon is the site of a fabulous Baltimore Gay Pride Block Party. This begins at 6 pm and lasts until 10 pm - performers, street vendors, and food stalls line up along Mount Vernon's main gay drag (so to speak), Eager Street, between Cathedral and Charles streets. Afterwards, the several cool bars (i.e., Club Hippo and Grand Central/Sappho's) in this area will be buzzing with Pride participants.
Sunday the fun moves out to Druid Hill Park, which from 11 am until 6 pm is the site of the Baltimore Pride Festival. Expect even more performers, vendors, and fun.
Of course, additionally, plenty of gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops will be extra busy during this busy time, and catering heavily to LGBT visitors. Check local gay papers, such as Baltimore OUTloud and Gay Life, for details, and also check out the excellent Gay and Lesbian Visitor web page of the Baltimore Convention and Visitors Bureau.
