Top 5 winter pride parties and carnivals!

Nov. 10 2018

by Calvin

Like you, we love a party! And if you're in North America, South America, or Australia, there are a whole load of pride parties and carnivals just around the corner. Even if you don't live nearby, these are some of the hottest tickets on the pride calendar and are well worth planning for a long-haul trip. So, here's our round-up of the Top 5 gay prides, winter prides, and carnivals coming up over the next few months. Whistles and passports at the ready, people!



NORTH AMERICA

What? Fort Lauderdale Gay Pride
When? February 21-24

Indeed, the only thing better than celebrating Gay Pride is ringing it in on the beach. Luckily, Fort Lauderdale Pride allows you to do both! While the official opening event begins Thursday, February 21, the main day of festivities, including the incredible Pride Parade, will take place on Saturday, February 23. 

Here, you'll find several events and areas catered to the vast spectrum of the LGBTQ community. These include a family area, sporting area, senior's chill zone, alcohol-free zone, and a space dedicated to educating the public on LGBTQ history in Fort Lauderdale. 

For circuit lovers, you'll find parties all weekend. Many well-known DJs and performers will appear, including American Idol's Ada Vox, who will take to the stage on Sunday, February 24. 

And, with Fort Lauderdale being nestled on the southeast coast of Florida, expect average temperatures of 20°C during February. Looks like the upcoming Fort Lauderdale Pride will be hotter than ever!

What? New Orleans Mardi Gras
When? February 22 - March 5

New Orleans is one of the USA's most vibrant and party-loving cities. Because of that, the annual New Orleans Mardi Gras is a wild event, attracting people worldwide who want to dress up, get down, and celebrate gay pride!

A late-winter carnival, the New Orleans Mardi Gras is famed for crazy costumed parades and energetic street parties. Most of the action occurs in the city's famous French Quarter, New Orleans's oldest and gayest neighborhood. Mardi Gras, also known as 'Fat Tuesday,' is the climax of these masked balls and the biggest day of celebrations. For 2019, the official Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday will be March 5.


Another highlight of the parades is the toast between the King of Carnival and the mayor of New Orleans. This is the official beginning of Mardi Gras and attracts an enormous crowd. Dressing up is expected at New Orleans Mardi Gras, so if you go, make an effort and put on your best costume. Enjoy! 

What? Winter Party Festival Miami
When? February 27 - March 5 

For an entire week at the end of February, you can enjoy one of the best parties to hit Miami, the Winter Party Festival. The lineup of dance and community events is produced to raise critical funds for the LGBTQ community.

_{©Facebook/Winter Party Festival}

Since its humble beginnings in 1994, the Winter Party Festival has evolved into a hugely popular event that attracts party revelers from across the globe. As usual, you can expect an impressive lineup of performances alongside internationally renowned DJs. 

_{©Facebook/Winter Party Festival}

Highlights include the Beach Party, which will hit the sands of Miami Beach on Sunday, March 3, and the Action! Finale, which will close the spectacular festival on March 4. So turn the heat up this winter, do your bit for the LGBTQ community, and prepare for one incredible and memorable week-long party in Miami Beach.  

What? Miami Beach Gay Pride
When? April 1-7  

Miami has some of the best beaches in the world, so it makes perfect sense that Miami Beach Gay Pride is held there. This will be the 11th edition of Miami Beach Gay Pride, so we're confident the organizers know a thing or two about throwing a decent party. Expect the usual activities: the annual parade and festival, live music and entertainment (lineup TBD), lineup and drink vendors, and family-friendly play areas.

Saturday will feature a beach party with world-class DJs, entertainers, refreshments, and over 100 community booths (and lots of guys making a splash in their Speedos!)—the main paradeparade off at midday on Sunday, April 7, 2019. The whole Art Deco district of Ocean Drive will be shut to traffic, allowing the floats to pass and the crowds to gather and celebrate.

A combination of great activities and beautiful weather - April temperatures in Miami can hit up to 28°C—means the LGBTQ community from around the world is flocking in ever-increasing numbers to Florida for Miami Beach Gay Pride. And if you can't make it that week, don't forget Winter Party Miami, running from February 27 to March 5. Approximately 10,000 participants from all over the world will gather. 

SOUTH AMERICA

What? Rio Carnival
When? March 2-9

Rio Carnival is one of the biggest Pride calendar events and something everyone should experience once in their lives! Although Rio Carnival is not specifically a gay pride event, don't worry: the queer presence is strong.

Rio de Janeiro's Carnival is the world's largest, hosting around two million revelers daily, around 400,000 foreign (and many gay!). Aside from the main Samba parades and events, there are stacks of specific gay parties at Rio Carnival, including gay blocks (block parties), nightclub events, and parades.

The oldest street carnival in town is the Banda de Ipanema. During Carnival weekend, the parade—which regularly attracts audiences of 50,000—makes its way past Ipanema gay beach on Saturday and Monday, heading to Rua Farme de Amoedo. This parade is a huge, thronging, and very sweaty—not forgetting super sexy—street party.

Several of the big circuit gay parties put on massive nights at local clubs. In Rio de Janeiro, the weather is hot, so the saying goes, the people are hotter. The Rio Carnival is a perfect time to visit this South American city: expect an out-of-this-world adventure!

AUSTRALIA

What? Sydney Mardi Gras
When? February 15 - March 3

Are you ready to go down? Down under, that is! Sydney Mardi Gras is the largest gay party in Australia and one of the most significant dates in the LGBTQ Pride calendar worldwide. Indeed, the event attracts thousands of partygoers every year.

In fact, Sydney Mardi Gras is spread out over three weeks. In 2019 you can expect the main Parade, the Fair Day (a free family-friendly carnival), queer art, the Sissy Ball (voguing showdown party), circuit-style parties, talks, films, and a whole lot more… Sydney Mardi Gras is an event where the entire LGBTQ community is celebrated and embraced. Indeed, hundreds of events are going on to suit all styles.

Of course, the main attraction is the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade. In 2019, it will take place on Saturday, March 2, from 7 p.m. This year's will be the 41st anniversary Parade, so prepare to celebrate. As per usual, you can look forward to a smorgasbord of floats along with thousands of party punters.  

The wild and colorful extravaganza brings Sydney to a standstill. Of course, being summer in this part of the world, the Paradeparadehelp push the temperatures higher than they already are! ●

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