A scenic, artsy city with a major university presence, Tucson has always been a welcoming place for gays and lesbian to live and visit, so it's no surprise that the city holds a particularly well-attended Gay Pride festival, called Pride in the Desert. Held during the region's beautiful, sunny autumn, Pride in the Desert has taken place here since 1977, and these days it pulls in not only members of the local community but plenty of GLBT folks from Arizona's largest city, Phoenix, as well as relatively nearby Southwestern cities like El Paso and Albuquerque.
Pride in the Desert has some big changes in store for the 2011 event. This year, the Pride on Parade (Gay Pride Parade) will take place October 8, 2011, and the Pride in the Desert Festival will occur a week later, on October 15, 2011. (In past years, the parade and festival have taken place the same weekend.) Also new for this year are a different parade route and festival venue.
Shop for the best hotel deals in Tucson during Gay Pride
Here's a preview of this year's Tucson Pride events, including the parade and festival
On Saturday evening at 8 pm, the the city's Pride on Parade takes place along Congress Avenue, from 6th Avenue to Stone. Grand Marshals this year include Wendell Hicks, Dr. Heather Moroso, Scott Blades, and Jeffrey Scott Brown.
The following weekend, on Saturday, October 15 from 11 am until 8 pm, the Pride in the Desert Festival will take place at a brand-new location, the Kino Memorial Stadium at 2500 E. Ajo Way. This year's festival features dozens of prominent performers. This year's lineup includes such notables as Dario, God-des & She, Jimmy Roland, Corday and the Cougers, Whiskey Rodeo, and several others. Additional talent performs at folk-spirited Coffeehouse Stage. Tickets to the festival cost $10 in advance, or $15 the day of the event at the gate.
Many Tucson gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties centered around Pride Weekend. Check local gay papers, such as Wingspan Center's newsletter, Echo Magazine, and ION Arizonafor details, as well as the handy AZ Gay Pride Guide, GoGayArizona.com. Also check out the excellent visitor information site produced by the Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau.
