LGBT Festivals That Will Inspire A Visit To Nice France

When it comes to the French Riviera and surrounding areas, gay travelers flock to the city of Nice. The number of gay owned, gay exclusive, and gay friendly establishments (clubs, hotels, bars, beaches, saunas, cafes, etc.), festivals, events, and other celebrations of pride and acceptance here keeps going up and up. The gay scene in Nice is alive, well and as vibrant as ever. Gay night-life, Old City charm, museums, and beaches Nice, France has it all and all year round! Check out these LGBT festivals that might just inspire you to visit.

Pink Parade

July is a 'nice' time to be out and proud for the annual march through the streets of Nice, France. Watch or participate with crazy costumes, wigs, fishnet stockings, sequins, drag queens, colorful floats, fabulous dresses, make-up, music, dancing, and oh so much more! In 2014, an estimated 10,000 people were in attendance at the gay-la.

In & Out Film Festival

The LGBT community certainly has embraced the whole idea of film festivals and 2015 was no exception. Since 2009, this event (which you may hear referred to as the 'Nice Queer Film Festival' or Rencontres Cinematographiques) has been thrilling, motivating, and enlightening crowds. It's also been introducing movie goers to both fiction and non-fiction films having to do with LGBT issues. Back in the days of its very beginning, a meager 20 films and 1000 festival goers started things off, a far cry from the mega-event that it is today.

Lou Queernaval

The Carnival celebration in Nice is a 17-day swinging soiree and puts most others to shame! In addition, February 27th of this year marked Nice's first ever gay carnival called 'Lou Queernaval.' Confetti, glitter, floats, dancers, live bands, vibrant colors, performers, and crazy cartoonish characters were plentiful. Friday night's visitor total reached no less than 15,000 wild and wonderful party goers. Gay bars throughout Nice followed the carnival with special events of their own, showing us that - at least in Nice - the party never stops! The success of the event in 2015 is a sure sign that it will return again in 2016 bigger and better than ever.

ZeFestival

This is yet another festival celebrating films. This time, however, they are by both lesser known and somewhat more inexperienced filmmakers. This festival is only one of many dealing with films about gay issues and the LGBT community's involvement in them. While programming is still being worked out for the 2015 edition, the festival is scheduled from October 15th - 18th in Marseille, in Toulon on October 14th and September 24th - October 4th in Nice, France.

Which event in Nice interests you the most?

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