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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.

Summer is winding down, but the heat is still on and we’re talking about hot queer happenings across the country and around the world! While some September events may look a little different this year or worth bookmarking for 2022, there’s still plenty to get excited about before the leaves start falling. Here are the top LGBTQ events happening in September.

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

Atlanta Black Pride Weekend

Mature, fun lesbian couple eating popsicles.

We love Atlanta and we love it even more thanks to the 2021 Labor Day weekend return of Atlanta Black Pride Weekend (ABPW) happening September 1–6. Most of ABPW is split into events for women (Atlanta WETher!, Pure Heat Day Party Brunch, The Naked Hustle) and events for men (Henny Punch Brunch, Mansion Pool Party, White Party). But it all kicks off with the all-gender Unity Pride Co-ed Event For all on Wednesday 1. Feel the heat!

The heat is on! Book your Atlanta hotel here!

Austin Splash Days

In a nutshell, Austin Splash Days (Sept 3–6) is nothing more than LGBTQIA folks hanging out at the queer end of clothing optional Hippie Hollow Beach at Lake Travis, and cruising and boozing under the Texas sun while offshore barges provide drinks. Of course, it’s grown to much more than that and these days includes a full weekend of parties and events happening all over town. Arrive to the beach early! The event is open to all people over 18 (per park rules), but if the parking lot fills up, you may be turned away.

Live it up Lone Star style. Book your Austin hotel here!

Charleston Pride

Though details about this year’s event have not yet been announced, what we can tell you about Charleston Pride is that the parade marches gaily down King Street—the hippest street in town—and then onward to Broad Street before terminating at pretty Colonial Lake Park. Afterward, head to Brittlebank Park, right alongside the Ashley River, for speeches, live performances, vendors, and more.

Got Southern Pride? Book your Charleston hotels here!

Folsom Street Fair: San Francisco

Attractive man with leather outfit.

The kinkiest street fair on the planet is back! Folsom Street Fair returns to its roots September 26 with MEGAHOOD2021, a nod to the original anti-gentrification event that kicked it all off in 1984. Live performances, spicy exhibitors, and the best eye candy on the West Coast will all be part of the good times. This event is super welcoming (lots of straight folks attend) and also for the fetish curious, so even if you’re shy about strapping on a leather harness, come anyway.

Be gay by the Bay! Book your San Francisco hotel here!

Gay Days Disneyland: Anaheim

Queer Disney fans be on alert: This annual theme park takeover has been pushed up this year. Instead of happening in October, Gay Days Disneyland will take place  Sept 17–19 and per tradition is a non-sponsored event in which thousands of LGBTQIA folx raid both Disneyland and California Adventure dressed in red (as a show of force and solidarity). Outside the parks, think pool days, circuit parties, seminars, meetups, trivia nights, and more. Though not officially recognized by Disney, look for Pride merch on sale throughout the parks and cast members happily snapping pics of same-sex couples, families, groups, and more. Don’t miss the new Avengers Campus at California Adventure!

Oh Mickey, you’re so fine! Book your OC hotel here!

Out on the Mountain: Los Angeles

This is no ordinary mountain. Out at the Mountain (Sept 17, 6pm–1am) refers to Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Santa Clarita theme park located about 40 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. Barnstorm the park with thousands of other queers for a private night at the park featuring DJs, live performances, VIP packages for the fancy, and of course unlimited access to thrill rides galore including X2, Goliath, and Tatsu. Try not to lose your lunch: It won’t impress that cutie you were cruising in line.

Live it up in La La Land. Book your Los Angeles hotel here!

Pride Vermont: Burlington

Friends having fun and taking a selfie at carnival party in Brazil

True, Vermont’s largest city—that would be Burlington—only boasts a population of 45,000 (roughly the same amount of people live in NYC’s gayborhood Hell’s Kitchen), but don’t underestimate this charming and liberal college town located on the shores of pretty Lake Champlain. Pride Vermont (Aug 28–Sept 5) goes all out with a floating tea dance aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, the Pride Ball, Pride Parade, and Pride Vermont Festival in Battery Park. Though full disclosure: The parade happens along the Church Street Marketplace ped mall and is only 30 minutes long.

Feeling the Pride burn? Book your Burlington hotel here!

Southern Decadence: New Orleans

Decadence is basically Nola’s version of Pride (though an official Pride weekend happens in June). Centered around the cluster of queer bars at Bourbon and St. Ann Streets, things get pretty raunchy—hence the name. Happening Labor Day weekend (Sept 2–6), scheduled events include a Battle of the Bulge contest, the Boys on Parade amateur strip show, the After Dark Party, the Hung Over and Broke Drink and Drown, plus the Southern Decadence Walking Parade on Sunday, and an outdoor concert on Saturday. Decadence attracts mostly men though all are welcome, of course.

Rest easy in the Big Easy. Book your New Orleans hotel here!

Space Coast Pride: Melbourne, FL

It sounds intergalactic, doesn’t it? In truth, Space Coast Pride (Sept 25) is a small-city affair happening in coastal Melbourne’s historic downtown (about 75 minutes southeast of Orlando) and includes a parade, Pridefest, and 5K run. The 2019 event boasted 170 vendors, two entertainment stages, more than 60 parade units, and 12,000 attendees. There is one queer bar in town, the Twisted Rooster, and an hour up the coast lies Playalinda Beach, a clothing-optional stretch of sand heavily frequented by the LGBTQIA community.

Stop spacing out! Book your Melbourne hotel here!

Tagged: Atlanta, Austin, California, Disney, Florida, LGBTQIA, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, Texas, Vermont

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.

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