Ohio's second largest metropolis has a sizable gay and lesbian community, and the city's Cleveland Gay Pride celebration has become quite popular, not only with locals but with travelers from elsewhere in Ohio as well as across the border in western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Indiana. Cleveland Gay Pride takes place this year in late June (on June 29, 2013 - a week after Columbus Gay Pride) and takes place downtown at Voinovich Park, overlooking Lake Erie, right behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Keep in mind that interest in Gay Pride in Cleveland is likely to continuing rising in the coming years, as the city will be hosting the Gay Games in 2014.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Cleveland during Gay Pride.
More on 2013 Cleveland Pride will be posted here as details are released; here's a look back at last year's event:
The Annual Cleveland Pride Festival takes place on Saturday from noon until 8 pm, at Voinovich Bicentennial Park (north end of E. 9th St.). There are three stages with live music at the festival, plus a beer garden, children's pavilion, and countless vendors and organizations from the Cleveland GLBT community. Entertainers this year include Anthony Covatta, the North Coast Men's Chorus, Corissa Bragg, Less Than 88, Alan Medaj, the Cleveland Kings and Girls, the Stevie Reese Desmond Show, Melissa "Cha Cha" Figueroa, and many others.
Preceding the festival on the Saturday one week before, the Cleveland Gay Pride Parade leaves from West 3rd Street and Rockwell, heads north on 3rd, east on Lakeside Avenue East, and then north on East 9th Street past the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to festival at Voinovich Park.
Additionally, numerous Cleveland 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 Gay People's Chronicle for details. For visitor information on Cleveland, check out the excellent GLBT travel site created by the Cleveland Convention & Visitors Bureau.
