New York City's most populous borough (with more than 2.5 million residents), Brooklyn was established as a separate city, and it remains very much its own entity. Several neighborhoods have become popular with gays, especially Park Slope, which has one of the nation's highest concentrations of lesbian residents. Park Slope is the site each year of Brooklyn Gay Pride, which is held in mid-June on the edge of the neighborhood's leafy Prospect Park. In 2013, Brooklyn Gay Pride is expected to take place on Saturday, June 8, a week after Queens Gay Pride, and two weeks before Manhattan's official New York City Gay Pride.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Brooklyn during Gay Pride.
In addition to the main festival and parade, a few related events include an Interfaith Service, a Flag-Raising Ceremony at Borough Hall, a 5K Pride Run, and an Official After Party.
The main events of Brooklyn Pride include a festival and night-time parade (the only Pride parade in the Northeast held at night), both of which take place on Saturday.
From 11 am until 5 pm on Saturday, June 8, the Brooklyn Pride Festival is held at the southwest corner of Prospect Park, at Bartel-Pritchard Circle. The festival includes a street fair with community businesses and organizations, food and shopping, a play area for kids and families, and a main stage with live music, comedy, dance, and other performers. If you're arriving by Subway, take the F train to the 15th Street/Prospect Park stop.
The Brooklyn Gay Pride Parade takes place following the festival, at 7:30 pm. It begins at 14th Street and 5th Avenue, and then continues north along 5th to Union Street, ending at 9 pm.
Additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Gay Pride. Check local gay papers, such as Next Magazine. And be sure to check out the helpful GLBT website produced by the city's official tourism organization, NYC & Company.
