LAS VEGAS – This year marks the 40th anniversary of Las Vegas PRIDE. What started as a small celebratory week of socials and speeches at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has grown into a weekend-long event of fabulous revelry. 

Regardless of the time of year, the destination is an ideal place for members of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate their true selves. Beyond Las Vegas PRIDE, annual events and LGBTQ+ nightspots that keep the party going all year long.

Las Vegas PRIDE

Las Vegas PRIDE celebrates 40 years with the Ruby Anniversary, aptly named Red and Wild. The annual Las Vegas PRIDE Parade—one of the only nighttime gay pride parades in the United States—kicks off the celebration on Friday, Oct. 6 in downtown Las Vegas. The procession, taking place down Fourth Street, features fabulous floats, glamorous drag queens, community organizations and more.

The parade is only the beginning of a weekend-long celebration of LGBTQ+ unity, as the Las Vegas PRIDE Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 7. Held at the Craig Ranch Regional Park, the event features entertainment, food and beverage, family-friendly activities and more.

Las Vegas PRIDE also sponsors additional parties throughout PRIDE weekend and several non-sanctioned parties at the LGBTQ+ venues in the destination also host celebratory events.

Annual LGBTQ+ Events

Visitors can participate in friendly competition at Las Vegas PRIDE Family Bingo, taking place each first Wednesday of the month at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino.

Aid for AIDS of Nevada's (AFAN) Black & White Party returns to Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, Sept. 9. Taking place at the hotel's SOAK Pool and KAOS Nightclub, the annual event promises live performances, small bites from the destination's dining scene and lots of fabulous, monochromatic fashion. AFAN also presents the annual AIDS Walk each spring, most recently taking place at Sunset Park. Now in its 34th year, the event usually features entertainment from community and Strip performers—past acts include Chippendales, the Las Vegas Men's Chorus and more.

For adventure seekers, Las Vegas PRIDE OUTside Hike takes place monthly at some of southern Nevada's most picturesque parks like Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area. The next installments take place at the Cathedral Rock Trail at Mt. Charleston (Sunday, Sept. 10; Sunday, Nov. 12) and the Historic Railroad Tunnels at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Sunday, Oct. 1).

The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association's most anticipated event of the year, the BigHorn Rodeo, takes place from Friday, Sept. 15 to Sunday, Sept. 17 at Horseman's Park. The annual event features rough stock, roping, speed, and camp events. The organization also puts on several gatherings throughout the year, including Cowboy Bingo Night at Quadz Video Bar. Attendees can participate in the classic game with the chance to win fabulous raffle prizes from sponsors and supporters.

The Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Inc. hosts its Las Vegas Coronation from Thursday, Nov. 30 to Sunday, Dec. 3. The annual event attracts International Imperial Royal Court System dignitaries from across the United States to the destination.

Taking place Thursday, Jan. 11 to Sunday, Jan. 14, the Sin City Classic is a multi-day LGBTQ+ sports festival. Started in 2008, the event has grown to become the largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world. Nearly 8,000 LGBTQ+ athletes and another 2,000 fans and allies will attend the event, which provides an open atmosphere for LGBTQ+ athletes to connect and compete over the course of four days of competition and social activities.

Held each May, the Henderson Pride Festival features a series of events focused on celebrating diversity, self-awareness and promoting health and wellness. The event traditionally features live entertainment, food trucks, a family fun zone, vendors and more.

Held every Saturday throughout the summer season, the Las Vegas PRIDE Elevate Pool Party promises splash-tastic action at Retro Pool Lounge at SAHARA Las Vegas.

Celebrating 13 seasons, the long-running Temptation Sundays pool party at Luxor Hotel & Casino offers fun under the sun every Sunday throughout the summer season.

LGBTQ+ Entertainment and Nightlife

Part of a chain of western-themed gay bars, Charlie's Las Vegas is a short ride from the Strip on the west side of Las Vegas. The space features a full dance floor and a vibrant entertainment calendar including drag shows, karaoke, and bingo.

FreeZone Nightclub and Bar pairs a casual atmosphere with upbeat music and nightly events like karaoke and drag shows. Guests can also grab a bite from their bar menu or play a round of pool.

Just off the Strip, Fun Hog Ranch is a casual hangout offering several beers on tap, cocktails and more. The welcoming space routinely partners with community organizations for fun, themed events.
 
The Garage, located a few miles off the Strip, is a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. Modeled after an auto-body shop, the bar features pool tables, shuffleboard and darts, in addition to drink specials and mouth-watering bar bites.

The Garden Las Vegas is an intimate and chic lounge bar located in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District, featuring craft cocktails, light bites, and extravagant ambiance. Visitors can join some of the most talented drag queens every Saturday and Sunday at the Bottomless Drag Brunch for endless cocktails, delicious food and fun that slays.

Serving up unforgettable parties seven nights a week, Piranha Nightclub is the ultimate late-night location for LGBTQ+ revelers. From international DJs to world famous drag queens, the entertainment is top-notch and draws a lively, diverse crowd. Depending on the occasion, guests can enjoy a cocktail or dance the night away on Piranha's state-of-the-art dance floors among go-go dancers.

Just a short walk from Piranha and FreeZone is Quadz. In addition to pool tables and darts, the bar also features regular special events, including bingo and themed parties.

Opening Friday, Sept. 1, Queen Las Vegas will be the Strip's first LGBTQ+ hotel, restaurant, bar and nightclub. The new space will debut with a special event featuring RuPaul's Drag Race queen Shangela and media personality Perez Hilton.

From the creative team behind the Emmy Award-winning series RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul's Drag Race Live! at Flamingo Las Vegas is an extravaganza featuring cast favorites including Derrick Barry, Jaida Essence Hall, Jorgeous and more.

Drag Brunch at Señor Frog's at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino offers an unlimited supply of mimosas, a bottomless Southwestern-inspired buffet, and entertainment from queens—or royalty—from RuPaul's Drag Race, including Shannel and Kahanna Montrese.

For more information about LGBTQ+ offerings in Las Vegas, please visit www.VisitLasVegas.com.

ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide and with operating the 4.6 million square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). With more than 150,000 hotel rooms and more than 15 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space in Las Vegas alone, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting leisure and business visitors to the area. The LVCVA also owns the Vegas Loop at Las Vegas Convention Center, designed and operated by The Boring Company, and also owns the Las Vegas Monorail, an elevated 3.9-mile system with seven stops throughout the resort corridor. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com, www.visitlasvegas.com or www.vegasmeansbusiness.com.