Shares
Share on Pinterest
Share with your friends










Submit

Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. All information is current to the best of our knowledge as of date of publication.

The sun is shining and the shots are in our arms! In the hazy aftermath of Pride Month, July allows us the freedom to do nothing at all. Or do plenty. If you decide on the latter, the dog days of summer bring all kinds of queer things to do and many of them are outdoors and pandemic friendly. And while some events may look a little different this year, others are worth noting for next year, though it’s never too soon to start planning. Either way, here are the top LGBTQ events happening in July.

RELATED: Visit our LGBTQIA travel hub for welcoming hotels, the ultimate queer events calendar, inspiration, and more!

Bear Week: Provincetown

P-Town in summer is pure idyll and that includes this week for big and beefy men who come to town to sun themselves at Herring Cove Beach, catch a drag show, and scoop up the salmon (that would be young, twinky guys who are into bears) as they parade up and down Commercial Street. Marquee Bear Week events (during non-Covid times) include Furball and the annual UnderBear Party.

Do bears like honey? Book a P-Town hotel here and find out!

Big Gay Art Show: Sedona, AZ

It’s here, it’s queer, and it’s now in its 8th year! This juried competition kicks off 4th of July weekend at the Sedona Arts Center with a smorgasbord of works created by queer artists and their allies. But if you’re too busy enjoying Independence weekend festivities to attend the opening gala, this Big Gay Art Show continues until the 11th. And yes, all art will be for sale! As for Sedona, enjoy its red-rock buttes and numerous New Age shops.

Discover your artsy side. Book a Sedona hotel here!

Family Week: Provincetown

We love that in Provincetown, there’s a week for everyone. Family Week 2021 happens July 24–31 and is the largest gathering of LGBTQIA families in the world! Past sponsors include HBO, Disney, and the National Parks Service, and events include Beach Campfire Night, pool parties, a PJ movie night, toddler happenings, a family-oriented Pride parade (though perhaps not this year), family dance, and more. Book early, P-Town hotels sell out fast!

Ready for a family affair? Book your P-Town hotel here!

Gay Wine Week

LGBTQIA oenophiles rejoice! This week of wine sipping was put on ice (something you should never do with a good red btw) in 2020 though it has still been hosting intermittent “swirl in place” events. It’s slated to return in 2021 and is hosted by Out in the Vineyard, a Sonoma, California-based experiential wine country event and travel company that aims to connect travelers to the wine country lifestyle. Just imagine how fun vineyard tours, wine auctions, twilight T-dances and more will be when we can all return to Sonoma’s vine-draped slopes!

Stop whining, start booking! Find your Sonoma hotel here!

Girl Splash: Provincetown

Noticing a theme here? P-Town’s super short season means everything basically happens in July and August, including Girl Splash, a long weekend devoted to ladies, which happens July 21–25 in the queerest little hamlet in New England. It’s possible live performances and indoor parties will be nixed this year, but the girls will still gather, and P-Town offers numerous outdoor pleasures, including biking, hiking, beaching, and whale watching.

For a slice of Sapphic heaven, book your P-Town hotel here!

Lazy Bear Week: Guerneville, CA

What could be better than lounging around in the woods with a bunch of furry fellas? Nothing! That’s why we love Lazy Bear Week, which celebrates its 25th anniversary (make that, anni-“bear”-sary) July 26–August 2 along Sonoma County’s famed Russian River. Past Bear Week’s have included campfires, pool parties, comedy shows, sunrise yoga, ice cream socials, a swag store, and more!

Can’t “bear” the wait? Book a Guerneville hotel here!

Halifax Pride Festival

If you happen to be in Nova Scotia in July (okay, that might be a big if), don’t miss this hybrid Pride that won’t include the annual parade, but will include smaller scale in-person events such as a beverage garden, community market, and health and wellness area that will all function in accordance with local guidelines.

If you’re looking for just the ‘fax, book your Halifax hotel here!

Northern Nevada Pride: Reno

The biggest little Pride in the World will happen July 24 in the Biggest Little City in the World where annually the parade marches right under the famous Reno Arch sign and includes a festival afterward. More details to come, but we’re optimistic that thanks to its end of July date and relatively diminutive size, Northern Nevada Pride will happen in person.

Feeling lucky? Book your Reno hotel here!

San Diego Pride

SD Pride is like the Goldilocks of Pride weekends: It’s not too small and not too big… it’s just right. Plus, the weather in San Diego in July is pure heaven. The parade has already been cancelled, but Pride is still on, including limited in-person events like Light Up the Cathedral and the Spirit of Stonewall Rally. Plus, we guarantee that hundreds of queers (mostly gay men) will again gather at Black’s Beach—the most famous clothing-optional beach in the country.

Here comes the sun! Book your San Diego hotel here!

She Fest: San Diego

Though the 2020 version went virtual, nevertheless it persisted, and it looks like She Fest 2021 is on, and likely this time around it will include in-person gatherings. She Fest, a woman-centered event celebrating the talents and contributions of women (including trans and gender non-binary folks), will kick off Pride Week in San Diego on July 10. Even virtually, She Fest boasted workshops, live performances, games and activities, and more.

Perfect your resting beach face. Book your San Diego hotel here!

Tagged: Arizona, California, Canada, LGBTQIA

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

Jason Heidemann

Jason Heidemann

Jason is a Lead Content Specialist for Expedia Group, and manages content initiatives across numerous Expedia-owned brands. His work has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Time Out, the Huffington Post, Chicago Magazine, Passport and many others.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *