Although most of the year, the conservative Florida panhandle city of Pensacola isn't one of the friendliest parts of the world for gay and lesbian visitors, in late May, over Memorial Day weekend, it's one of the world's true gay meccas. The five-day weekend (it's tentatively slated to take place Thursday, May 27, through Monday, May 31, 2010) began more than 20 years ago and has become a cross between a circuit-style gay gathering and a regional Florida panhandle gay pride celebration.
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The official event is called Johnny Chisholm & Emerald City present Memorial Day Weekend in Pensacola, and it includes circuit parties over all five nights. The weekend has been known to draw more than 50,000 revelers over the course of the festivities.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops fill up with gay folks during the week. The organizers of Pensacola Gay Memorial Day Weekend have hotel information as well as a gay guide to Pensacola, listing gay bars and gay-friendly businesses; or check online to compare hotel rates in Pensacola and find the best deals during Memorial Day weekend. Other resources of note include New Orleans-based Ambush Magazine, which has plenty of information on the Gulf South's gay scene, and Pensacola's leading gay nightclub, Emerald City (406 E. Wright St., 850-433-9491) - this place is packed year-round on weekends, and always a fun place to check out when in town.
For basic travel and tourism information on the region, you can also look to the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. But think of his organization as a general guide to the area, not as a supporter of the event - the organization makes no mention of the Memorial Day Weekend party on its site, nor does it provide any information for gay and lesbian visitors. Here's an interesting article on the event, assessing how the mainstream community responds to Pensacola morphing into a gay circuit party each year.
