Columbus, Ohio is one of the Midwest's most progressive cities when it comes to acceptance of gays and lesbians - it's a city with a lively, vibrant community and one of the most popular and successful Gay Pride festivals in the country, Columbus Pride. Traditionally held in late June, Columbus Pride was moved up by a week last year and now set to take place again the same weekend this year - dates are June 15 and 16, 2012. A nice aspect of this is that it no longer falls on the same weekend several major Gay Pride events around the country, including Chicago Gay Pride and New York City Gay Pride - this may partly explain why Columbus Pride set records last year, drawing roughly 210,000 participants and spectators.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Columbus during Gay Pride.
More on Columbus Gay Pride 2012 will be posted here as the date approaches; here's a look at last year's event:
During the weeks leading up to Pride, you can attend a number of related events and activities, including a Dance for Pride at the famed Wall Street nightclub, Unity Picnic, a 5K Run/Walk For Pride, a Pride Art Show, and several other gatherings. Check out the Pride Columbus events page for more details on these and other events.
The Columbus Gay Pride Festival takes place on Friday from 3 pm until 11 pm, and Saturday from 10 am until 8 pm, in the neighborhood that has the greatest number of gay-owned businesses, the Short North, at leafy Goodale Park.
Entertainment at the festival this year include headliner Chely Wright and Band, as well as Eric Himan, Levi Kreis, Namoli Brennet, Bitch, Steve Reeder, Katie Todd Band, and many others. There are also several other bands, comedians, and musicians.
On Saturday at noon, the Columbus Gay Pride Parade kicks off at Front Street between West Broad and Town streets and proceeds east on Broad, north on High Street and continuing all the way up to the Short North neighborhood, then left onto Buttles, ending at the festival grounds at Goodale Park (at Buttles and Dennison).
The celebration winds down on Sunday with a Pride Brunch at 11 am, held at the Columbus Athenaeum from 11 am until 1 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 Outlook for details. And be sure to check out the excellent GLBT Website produced by the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau.
