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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.

Leaves are falling, pumpkin-spiced lattes are being sipped, and everyone is walking around swaddled in tasteful scarves. Is there time in autumn for more gay shenanigans? You bet there is! October is National Coming Out Month after all. Plus, many cities in the South experience their best temps this time of year, and there’s that queerest of all national holidays—Halloween! Got vacation days to use up? Here are the top LGBTQIA events happening in October.

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

Atlanta Pride

Happy lesbian couple hugging outside in sunlight

Two words: Stacy Abrams. The voting rights advocate became the first gubernatorial nominee to march in the Atlanta Pride Parade in 2018. One year, later she was its Grand Marshal. Held annually to coincide with National Coming Out Day (and dreamy Georgia weather), the South’s LGBTQ-friendliest city goes all in for Atlanta Pride  which happens October 8–10. The Sunday parade begins near the Civic Center MARTA station and winds its way down Peachtree Street before terminating in Piedmont Park where a festival happens. The annual Dyke March, Bi and Pan March, and Trans March (all separate events) happen on Saturday.

Got Georgia on your mind? Book your Atlanta hotel here.

Castro Street Fair

Castro Streetcar with Rainbow Flags in the streets of San Francisco, California, USA.

We would argue that the city of San Francisco should permanently close the intersection of 18th and Castro Streets to cars, but if they’ll only give us one day of the year, we’ll take it. The Castro Street Fair (October 6) offers up live music, vendors, street food, and even buckets of sunshine as October is generally considered the best month for balmy weather in SF. Started in 1974 by former city supervisor Harvey Milk himself, this continues to be one of the city’s most fun and laid-back celebrations.

Calling all LGBTQ-ties! Book your San Francisco hotel here.

Central Arkansas Pride

Argenta Plaza in North Little Rock will be the site of this year’s October 16 festivities. Though still not as big as Fayetteville Pride, Central Arkansas Pride has been growing in recent years. Details are not yet announced, but we can tell you the Argenta Arts District where the event is being held is home to queer-friendly shops and events, including the Kaleidoscope LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Plus, temps in Central Arkansas in October are near perfect.

Ready to rock? Book your Little Rock hotel here.

Honolulu Pride Month

It’s here, it’s queer, and it’s happening this year! The Aloha State goes all out for Honolulu Pride Month, including its annual Vision Without Limits Gala, the Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival happening October 16, a month-long HNL Pride Ride, Aloha with Pride TV special, Tiny Float Parade, virtual after party, and Rainbow Town Hall series. The festival happens at Kapiolani Regional Park at the base of Diamond Head and near legendary queer venue Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand. Wanna double your Pride pleasure? Aloha Maui Pride happens one week earlier on October 9!

Happiest in Hawaii? Book your Honolulu hotel here!

Las Vegas Pride

There are numerous reasons why we love Las Vegas Pride (October 8–10). For starters, the annual parade happens at night making it just one of several U.S. cities to offer up a celebration after dark. Secondly, it happens downtown, a buzzy alternative to the Strip. Thirdly, it happens on a Friday which means a full weekend for both recovery and even more tomfoolery. And lastly, we love that all the big hotels (MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas) are sponsors. The Pride Festival, which is pet friendly and includes a Kids Zone, happens on Saturday.

Feeling lucky? Book your Las Vegas hotel here.

North Halsted Halloween Parade: Chicago

Carnival - Celebration Event, Glitter, Traveling Carnival, Make-Up, Colors

Surprise! You may need to visit Chicago twice this fall. In addition to Pride now happening in early October, North Halsted (aka Boystown) also offers wicked fun in the form of its annual North Halsted Halloween Parade. True, if your costume is a skimpy one you’re probably gonna shiver, but the combination of drag queens, fire breathers, gay superheroes, and even pets all taking to the streets to celebrate one last time before winter’s arrival, makes this event a—wait for it—bewitching one.

Don’t be Chi, book your Chicago hotel here.

Orgullo Miami Hispanic Pride

Happy and confident drag queen at pride parade

Now you see it, now you don’t? The art of illusion (a celebration of drag) is the theme at this year’s Orgullo, Miami’s Hispanic and Indigenous Pride Festival which happens October 1–15 and includes a smorgasbord of events like the Dragtivism LGBT Town Hall, ArtDiva Bus Tours, Dragalympics Roller Derby Wars, a pub crawl up the coast in Wilton Manors, Night of a 1000 Stars concert and drive-in movie, and much more.

Feel the heat! Book your Miami hotel here!

Tucson Pride

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Can we just take a moment to rave about Tucson? While it’s queer scene is small, the city is surrounded by Saguaro National Park (think super tall cacti you’ve only previously seen in the movies), close to Wild West towns like Tombstone and queer-friendly Bisbee, and home to funky neighborhoods, a dynamic food scene and a multi-culti blend of Native American, Mexican and European influences. Tucson Pride happens October 2 in Reid Park. More details are forthcoming. UPDATE: Tucson Pride has been postponed until 2022.

Seeking sunshine? Book your Tucson hotel here!

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval

It’s rumored to be the biggest Halloween celebration in the United States. Whether or not that’s true, we can promise you that tens of thousands of people head to WeHo October 31 to cruise, barhop, and show off their (oft revealing) costumes along Santa Monica Blvd which closes to traffic and turns into a massive street party. Weather-wise, expect a sun-kissed day and balmy night. UPDATE: WeHo Halloween Carnaval has been postponed until 2022.

California dreaming? Book your Los Angeles hotel here!

Wicked Manors: Fort Lauderdale

The queerest suburb in America offers up Halloween high-jinks similar to WeHo Carnaval. Wilton Manors Drive, a hub for LGBTQ-owned bars and businesses, closes to traffic on October 31 creating a street party atmosphere for thousands of costumed revelers. Temps are heavenly this time of year so feel free to dress  for Wicked Manors as wickedly as you want.

Ready for Halloween fun in the sun? Book your Fort Lauderdale hotel here.

Women’s Week Provincetown

Young strong woman sailing the boat, pulling rigs and ropes on the bowspit

One of several Sapphic celebrations held annually in P-Town, it’s not so beachy this time of year, but ladies we promise you it’s still a dreamy time to visit the Cape. Happening October 8–17 this year, Women’s Week in 2019 included more than 350 events like sailing trips, whale watching tours, wine tastings, tea dances, yoga classes, and a ton of live performances including storytellers, musicians, comedians, performance artists, and more. Expect the 2021 lineup (coming soon ) to be just as exciting.

Craving the Cape? Book your P-Town hotel here!

 

Tagged: Arizona, Atlanta, Boston, California, Cape Cod, Chicago, Chicago, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Midwest, New England, New Mexico, San Francisco

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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