Springtime LGBT Events Worth Planning A Trip Around

Image source: Flickr - Jericl Cat

If there is one thing the LGBT community knows how to do well, it's how to throw a successful event. Being organized, creative, open, and willing to push the limits and try new things have led to incredible annual LGBT events all around the country. Though there are great ones throughout the year, the spring events are noted for taking advantage of the remaining winter days and getting us excited for the summer months to come. Here are some of the best events going on that are worthy of incorporating into your travel plans this spring.

Elevation: Mammoth Gay Ski Week

Mammoth Gay Ski Week is heading into its thirteenth year and has grown from a small start of 300 participants in its first year to attracting over 2,500 skiers and snowboarders. This five-day event takes place in mid-March and isn't just about hitting the slopes and dawning your best ski outfit. It also includes parties, special guest performances, a wine reception, comedy, and brunch. This is a guy-heavy event but all are welcome with plenty of gals around too. They also work with local accommodations to get discounted rates over the weekend as well as a reduced price for lift tickets. The official events and parties come at a cost, but various assortments of passes are available to purchase depending on your particular interests and energy level.

Boston LGBT Film Festival

The Boston LGBT Film Festival dates back to 1984 and is the largest LGBT centered film event in the New England area. The festival held in early April holds screenings at great venues throughout Boston that show a variety of films including narratives, documentaries, and shorts. In addition to the films, the festival also organizes various events including an opening reception, several parties, and a brunch. Tickets for the screenings and parties during this ten day event can be purchased online.

Gay Days Orlando

If you've been looking for the perfect excuse to visit DisneyWorld to bring out that inner child in you, the first weekend of June is the time to go. Gay Days Orlando has been taking over the renowned theme park for the past 25 years and attracts over 170,000 attendees each year. As with every LGBT event, there are plenty of parties going on during Gay Days Orlando as well. This influx of LGBT park-goers is all the more visible as everyone wears red during Gay Days so they cannot be missed. This may not be an officially recognized event by DisneyWorld, but it's an official annual event for the gay community.

Capital Pride

As springtime starts to wrap up to make way for summer, gay pride events beginning filling up the weekends on the calendar. Washington, DC's Capital Pride takes place in early June in the last few weeks before summer officially begins. The annual event will soon be celebrating 40 years of Pride, a milestone not to be missed. During these ten days, there's a Pride run, live music, the Pride festival, and the Pride parade. This is one of the top Pride celebrations around the country with more than 250,000 attendees turning out for the various events throughout the week.

What's your favorite springtime festival or annual LGBT event?

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