Having steadily developed into the most prominent and dynamic centers of gay culture in the South, the capital of Tennessee hosts the highly popular Nashville Gay Pride Festival in mid-June - the date this year is June 15, 2013 (with a Pre-Party set for Thursday, June 13). The event takes place at downtown's scenic Riverfront Park, which has undergone a dramatic expansion and redevelopment in recent years.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Nashville during Gay Pride.
The festival takes place on Saturday, June 15, from 11 am until 7 pm, and the admission cost is just $5. There's a full day of entertainment on two stages, plus community businesses and organizations, an artists village, an Equality Walk, and more. Performers this year include Alanna Royale, the Granny Whites, Big Bad Gina, Shotgun Oakley, Linnea, Beverly McClellan, and more. There's also a Pre-Pride Party on Thursday, June 13; and a Pride Concert on Friday, June 14. Here's a full calendar of events.
Additionally, plenty of gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops will be extra busy during this busy time, and catering heavily to LGBT visitors. Check my guide and gallery to Nashville gay bars, restaurants, hotels, and attractions for a sense of how best to enjoy this terrific city. And consult local gay papers, such as Inside Out Nashville and Out & About Newspaper for details. Also take a look at the useful travel site produced by the city's official tourism organization, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
