Where to celebrate Pride around the world

This month marks the 48th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969, sparking the start of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) civil rights movement.

Manhattan hosted its first Pride parade a year later, and since then the celebration and commemoration has spread, becoming a staple social event for the LGBTQ community.

Clients who want to fly their rainbow flag for LGBTQ rights can do so by taking part in Pride parties across the globe. Here’s a round-up of some of the biggest and best this year.

USA

It figures that the home of the first-ever Pride is one that continues to pull out all the stops for the celebration. The streets of New York City buzz with music, outlandish outfits and dance parties for the annual Pride march on June 25. It starts in Midtown at noon (Fifth Avenue and 36th Street) and heads downtown, winding its way through the streets of the West Village.

The event is free and open to the public, though to march in the parade clients must affiliate themselves with a registered group (a list of groups can be found on nycgo.com/lgbtq).

Around 1.5 million people celebrate Pride weekend, or SF Pride, in San Francisco every year. It kicks off at Civic Center Plaza on June 24 where revellers will rally for rights and party to the sounds of music across 20 stages and venues. The parade from Beale Street to Market Street is on the Sunday, as is the huge celebration at Civic Centre Plaza.

Chicago celebrates its vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community throughout the entire month of June with a whole roster of events, culminating in the Chicago Pride Parade on June 25.

Canada

Montreal will host the first ever Canada Pride this year, a nationwide edition of Montreal Pride, August 10-20. Nelly Furtado will headline a music festival on August 18 in a new outdoor site at Parc des Faubourgs.

Hundreds of floats will depart from the corner of Drummond Street to join the parade on August 20, with prizes for the best creations. Other events over the 10-day celebration include a sports tournament, a community day and a national conference on LGBTQ rights.

Clients can combine skiing and partying on Geckos Adventures’ new Canada Winter Festivals itinerary next year, which visits five festivals including Whistler Pride & Ski (January 21-28). Previous celebrations for this week-long festival have included gala balls, a Cards Against Humanity night and a charity ski race.

Europe

Malta was ranked number one for LGBTQ rights on last year’s Rainbow Europe Index, so it’s unsurprising that the island goes all out for Pride, when thousands descend for parties, live music and the Pride march. The festival’s annual changing theme, and Pride dates, have yet to be confirmed, although it has the go-ahead for September this year.

Party people wanting to head to Greece for LGBTQ celebrations can join Contiki on one of two dedicated Greek Week Pride trips this year, heading to either Athens Pride or Mykonos for the iconic gay festival, Xlsior Mykonos. Departures for the latter are on August 24.

In Slovenia, Pride is affectionately dubbed Pink Week, taking place from May 23-27 next year. Pink Week has come up with commissionable week-long packages giving clients the chance to explore the country and party along the way, ending with a pop-up VIP club night in the capital, Ljubljana (pinkweek.eu).

Australia

“Adelaide in Australia has lively celebrations for Pride on November 11, with a march through the streets to celebrate its LGBTQ community coming together,” says Rebecca Turner, senior product manager for Asia and Australia at Gold Medal.

If clients are over in the west of the country, they can party in Perth for its annual Pride, which is jam-packed with LGBTQ-focused events, performances and activities throughout November.

Book it

Geckos Adventures’ 14-day Canada Winter Festivals trip starts from £1,880pp, departing January 22, 2018.

• geckosadventures.com

Contiki’s Greek Week, Mykonos Pride starts from £1,085pp, for departures on August 24, 2017.

• contiki.com