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Little City, Big PrideDuring Pride season, there’s no shortage of

festivals to be found in any of the 50 states—that alone is reason to celebrate. But for LGBT travelers who like to Pride hop this time of year, we know it’s all about choosing the right combination of an exciting Pride celebration and a visit-worthy destination.

We looked past the city-stopping festivals in New York and San Francisco to scour the rest of the U.S. for the 10 best big little Pride celebrations. See what cities surprise you, who took to the streets and get tips from the locals about what to check out while you’re there. Have a happy Pride season, Gaycationers!

10 small city Pride events around the country

by Aaron Drake

Circle City IN Pride

The LGBT community in Indiana got hit hard this year by anti-gay legislation targeting them for discrimination. However, that hasn’t interfered with the Indianapolis LGBT community’s Hoosier hospitality and hope that fairness and equality will prevail. Indy Pride features 16 events over nine days from June 5-13, and a myriad of events like the Rainbow 5K Run/Walk, Pet Pride and Girl Pride welcome out locals and visitors alike. Another addition this year is the first-ever transgender event, Living History: Living Proof. Living the Truth. (Being Transgender in Indiana), at Indy Reads Books.

“Indianapolis is bursting with tons of things to do,” says Chris Morehead, president of Indy Pride, Inc. “Massachusetts Avenue, or Mass Ave. to the locals, is bursting with art studios, theatres, restaurants, bars and much more. This is widely viewed as the center of our community here in Indianapolis and provides a wonderful array of options for breakfast, lunch, dinner or nightlife. If you are looking for a more outdoors experience, I would highly recommend taking a drive up to visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art where you can get lost in the 100-acre Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, take a tour of the beautiful gardens

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or check out the incredible art collection housed inside the museum. The IMA is a one-stop shop for the art and nature enthusiast for sure.”

Chris adds, “If you are looking for something more Downtown-centric, I always love sending people to the canal Downtown where you can rent a kayak or paddle boat and take to the water to see the city from a different perspective. The canal runs right into White River State Park, which is stocked full of museums and parks for everyone’s enjoyment.” IndyPride.org

Utah Pride

Voted gayest city in the country by The Advocate in 2012, Salt Lake City hosts one of the city’s largest annual events with more than 25,000 people attending. Utah Pride festival takes over the city again this year from June 4-7, along with the Utah Pride Parade, Pride Day 5K, Pride Interfaith Service, Dyke March, Transgender March and

Interfaith March. Besides a huge Pride celebration, visitors can

enjoy the city’s hiking trails and craft breweries. “If you’re the outdoors type, head up to Donut Falls for a quick hike right outside the city,” says Sarah Luks-Morgan, marketing manager for Utah Pride Center. “Even if you’re not, a trip up to Alta or Snowbird just for the view and a beer on top of the mountains is always a good call. If you want to stay in the city, Broadway and Tower theaters are excellent independent movie theaters that during Pride weekend will be having a late-night screening of Hedwig and The Angry Inch. Grab a bite to eat at Rye SLC or The Copper Onion.

“Finally, if you want to go out and party, there

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are plenty of gay bars around town, but feel free to pop into Bar X and ask for a bartender’s roulette, which will be different but worth it, every single time.” UtahPrideFestival.org

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camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing, horseback riding and other outdoor opportunities. For those that prefer the indoors, we have the beautiful—and recently restored at a cost of $3.7 million—historic Tivoli Theatre. New releases show on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

“There is also the Owen Valley Winery, which has a tasting room next to the Tivoli, both Downtown along the square where our festival is,” he adds. “The winery’s headquarters are also a place to visit for a little more space. It is located just south of town.” SpencerPride.org

Spencer Pride

Another must-stop for visitors to Indiana during Pride is Spencer Pride on June 7. Proudly calling itself the “largest rural LGBTQI gathering in the state and the largest small town Pride event in the Midwest,” Spencer celebrates its eighth annual celebration this year on the grounds of the Owen County Courthouse and town square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Family-friendly, alcohol-free activities include a deluxe, all-ages Slip ’n’ Slide, Bouncy House, raffles, drawings and free giveaways throughout the day. Enjoy festival foods and live local entertainment including the annual Spencer Pride Drag Show.

Jonathan Balash, president of Spencer Pride, Inc., shares what else visitors to Spencer should check out. “First and foremost, Spencer is the home of McCormick’s Creek State Park, which was Indiana’s first state park. It has lots of options for

Top Image Courtesy of Jonathan Balash / Spencer Pride Inc.Above image courtesy of Jonathan Balash / Spencer Pride IncBottom Left Image courtesy of Jonathan Balash / Spencer Pride inc.

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Capital City Pride

Visitors to the Pacific Northwest can experience Olympia, Washington’s 15th annual Pride from June 19-21. This year’s festival moves to Heritage Park and the festival entertainment lineup includes Kimya Dawson (whom you might recognize from the soundtrack for Juno) and Olympia native Cole Hartley, aka drag performer Alusia. The weekend routinely attracts upwards of 15,000 people who come to celebrate with the city’s LGBT community.

“For fun, check out Jake’s on 4th Avenue, an LGBT-owned dance bar and Urban Onion, an LGBT-friendly lounge with plenty of Pride action throughout the weekend,” recommends Anna Schlock, co-chair of Capital City Pride. “Shop at Archibald Sisters, an LGBT-owned gift shop filled with quirky Olympia-themed items. Downtown

[Capital Way and 4th Avenue] has plenty of LGBT-friendly shops, restaurants and coffee shops.” CapitalCityPride.net

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Iowa City Pride

“At our festival, we try to keep everything upbeat, interactive, inclusive and create viability,” shares Jewell Amos, Pride Iowa City Pride Committee chairwoman, about Iowa City Pride happening June 19-20 this year. “I like to joke that I want non-LGBT people who stumble across our festival to stay, have a great time, then walk away thinking, ‘Those gays are pretty cool.’” Attendees can participate in the Pride parade and enjoy Pride entertainment, free food and more at Studio 13.

As for what visitors should check out in Iowa City, Jewell says, “Spend a day walking around and hanging out at the Pedestrian Mall Downtown Iowa City. There are lots of great shops, restaurants with outside spaces, local artwork and famous quotes captured in the sidewalks under your feet.” IowaCityPride.com

Dallas Pride

Everything’s bigger in Texas—and Dallas Pride is no exception. This year the festival on Sept. 20 moves to a larger park with more exhibit space, more food and beverage stations, a larger stage and live entertainment featuring headliner Ty Herndon who is scheduled to perform a full set at 5 p.m. Admission is $5, which includes all shows.

Michael Doughman, executive director for Dallas Tavern Guild, shares his favorite must-dos in the city. “Hunky’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers in the heart of the ‘gayborhood’ on Cedar Springs has great food, lots of eye-candy, off-the-charts ice cream and a great patio that allows optimal viewing of the passing scenery to the many bars within a block of the restaurant. The Round-Up Saloon is everything the urban visitor imagines a Texas country-western bar to be. Great music, a huge dance floor with free dance lessons offered three nights a week, extremely friendly bar staff, cheap drink prices and lots of hot cowboys and cowgirls dancing, drinking and flirting. Be sure to engage the locals for your own personal serving of ‘y’all’ and ‘howdy.” DallasPride.org

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Bisbee Pride

If you’ve never heard of Bisbee, Ariz., you’re missing out. Bisbee Pride’s unique take on festivities for this year’s dates, June 19-21, include the Midnight Miners & Madames Street Dance, Old Bisbee Ghost Tours, Copper Queen pool party and BBQ, the artisan and vendor street fair, beer garden and day stage.

“Bisbee Pride takes place throughout historic old Bisbee,” says Kathy Sowden, event organizer for the city’s Pride festival. “You’ll get a chance to enjoy 19th-century architecture, public art, great restaurants, galleries and specialty shops. Guest artists this year include Mink Stole of John Waters film fame, the one and only Sherry Vine, Pandora Destrange, Olivia Gardens and much more. To see them and other celebs, attend our Friday and Saturday night shows in the city park!” BisbeePride.com

Austin Pride

Another diamond in Texas is Austin Pride, taking place August 29. If you visit here, you’ll most likely leave the city with a love for its beautiful scenery, popular music scene and friendly LGBT community. During Pride week, get dressed up for the Werk! Fashion Show, play Sushi Coochi Drag Bingo or participate in the Stonewall Rally on the steps of the state capitol.

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Austin Pride President Paul Huddleston points out his favorite things to do for locals visiting the city. “The Bats on Congress are a must-see—we have the largest colony of Mexican free-tailed bats roosting under the Congress Street Bridge Downtown. They fly out at dusk and it is an impressive sight. The gayborhood on 4th and Colorado, dubbed the Warehouse District, is where the majority of the gay clubs are: Rain, OCH, Highland and V. There is also Iron Bear on 8th and Colorado, and Bout Time II in North Austin. We also seem to have a never-ending supply of gourmet and fusion food coming out of food trailers—very popular here.” AustinPride.org

Photo Courtesy of n Location Photography, Snap Monkey Photography and Merich Photography

Photo Courtesy of n Location Photography, Snap Monkey Photography and Merich Photography

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PRIDE Vermont

Northern New England’s premier Pride celebration, PRIDE Vermont is a weeklong schedule of family-friendly activities in Burlington, Vt., from Sept. 6-13. Events range from a high-heel race to a food and travel expo. “Be sure to check out the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo, where you can sample some of Vermont’s best wine, beer, spirits and specialty foods,” says Willie Docto, PRIDE Vermont president. “The new beer garden will feature some of Vermont’s world-class beers, including Heady Topper by The Alchemist. Then there is the Gender Fun tent, which explores transgender issues through games, art and a scavenger hunt. Live entertainment will feature some of Vermont’s best LGBT performers, plus the talented and gorgeous women of The Glamazons singing their latest hits.”

As for other must-sees in Burlington, Willie recommends the art at the Shelburne and Fleming Museums, shopping and dining at Church Street Marketplace, and romantic walks along the bike path on Lake Champlain. PRIDEVermont.com

OBX Pride

For a Southern twist on Pride and fun on the sand, come on down to OBX Pride in Outer Banks, N.C., from Sept. 18-20. Pride events include beer and wine on the beach, a production of Pirates of Penzance!, Sunset Booze Cruise, Drag Brunch and Wedding Fashion Show at Hilton Garden Inn Pier House and an afternoon of local bands and microbrews.

OBX Pride Chairman David Miller shares his local perspective on what visitors to Outer Banks should check out. “If visitors are here on the third Sunday of the month they should definitely come to Kelly’s Restaurant & Tavern for late-night drag shows and fun times. The best places for man-watching are the beaches on Hatteras Island where you’ll see plenty of hot surfers. Look for ‘Canadian Hole’ just before Cape Hatteras, where you can

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climb up the dunes and watch the surfer guys hang 10—and if you’re lucky you may see a few ‘hung 10’ while they are changing into their surf trunks next to their ATVs. They DO show all and don’t care when getting suited up!” OBXPrideFest.com

Aaron Drake is Executive Editor of Gaycation Magazine. He has contributed to The Advocate, Out Traveler, Man About World and Amtrak Ride With Pride. When he’s not writing and traveling the globe, you can find him at the beach, at the movies, or playing with his two mischievous dogs. Follow his travels and travails on Twitter and Instagram at @theaarondrake.

Photos Courtesy of On Location Photography, Snap Monkey Photography, Merich Photography, Angie Wingerd, Gretchen Baer, David Garten, Capital City Pride Olympia, Dallas Tavern Guild, Indy Pride Inc, Doug Brenner, OBX Pride, Utah Pride Festival, and Jonathan Balash