Going strong since 1980, St. Louis Gay Pride takes place the last weekend in June - the dates for next year have not been finalized, but if they follow tradition, they will likely be June 29 and June 30, 2013. This celebration in one of the Midwest's largest cities draws significant numbers of GLBT folks and friends from throughout eastern Missouri, southwestern Illinois, and other neighboring states in the Mississippi River region.
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More on St. Louis Pride will be added as information becomes available - here's a look at last year's event:
St. Louis Gay Pride includes several events over four days including a special reading benefit performance of the poignant Larry Kramer play The Normal Heart, produced by Hot City Theatre, taking place Wednesday through Friday, at the Foxhole at the Atomic Cowboy (4140 Manchester Ave.) in the bustling Grove district.
On Saturday, there's a a commitment ceremony at 3 pm. And on Sunday, there's a meet-and-greet and performance with Pandora Boxx, and that morning there's a St. Louis Frontrunners Pride 5K run. Here's a full calendar of St. Louis Pride events.
The major events include the St. Louis Gay PrideFest, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, from 11 am until 7:30 pm in the city's leafy Tower Grove Park (4256 Magnolia Ave.). The festival includes a food court, kids and family area, dance pavilion, and a main stage featuring performances by talented musicians Shelby Lynne, Frenchie Davis, Pandora Boxx, Kristine W, Deborah Cox, and many noted acts from around the area.
The city's St. Louis Gay Pride Parade is held Sunday, June 24, at noon and lasts about two hours. The parade begins at the corner of Utah and Grand Avenue and then continues up Grand to the entrance to Tower Grove Park.
Additionally, plenty of gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops cater heavily to LGBT visitors during this time. Check local gay resources, such as Vital Voice gay newspaper, for details about the local scene. Also take a look at the excellent GLBT site produced by the city's official tourism organization, the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau.
