National Pride Month is celebrated every June, honoring the LGBTQ+ Pride community and its contributions and culture. Las Vegas observes Pride year-round (with an official event each October), as the destination is an ideal place for members of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate their true selves regardless of the occasion. Here are some Las Vegas Pride Month highlights, annual events and LGBTQ+ nightspots that keep the party going all year long.
Pride Month Events
Caesars Entertainment will celebrate Pride Month by lighting up the High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ Promenade and the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas in rainbow colors on Thursday, June 1 and Wednesday, June 28.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas kicks off Pride Month on Thursday, June 1 by displaying the colors of the Pride flag on the resort’s exterior tower signs.
In recognition and celebration of LGBTQ+ voices and culture, The Neon Museum has created a self-guided tour using the stanchion toppers which will be dotted around the Neon Boneyard to tell some of the LGBTQ+ stories of Las Vegas. Throughout the month, tour guides will place a greater emphasis on these stories, including facts from Las Vegas historian and queer advocate Dennis McBride. Highlights include stories about Liberace, Kenny Kerr and Christine Jorgensen.
Held every Saturday throughout June (and the summer season), the Las Vegas PRIDE Elevate Pool Party promises splash-tastic action at Retro Pool Lounge at SAHARA Las Vegas.
Cheapshot, a showroom and discotheque in downtown Las Vegas, presents an Elton John-themed piano bar experience every Saturday in June.
Celebrating 13 seasons, the long-running Temptation Sundays pool party at Luxor Hotel & Casino offers fun under the sun every Sunday in June—and the rest of the summer. The hotel’s resident production show, Fantasy, celebrates Pride Month with an additional number added to the production’s shows from Friday, June 16 to Sunday, June 18. The revue’s headliner will mesmerize the audience with a rendition “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga to recognize and show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Visitors can lace up a pair of roller skates to show some pride, as Las Vegas PRIDE Family Skate Night presented by CRUSH is taking place on Monday, June 5 at Crystal Palace Rancho.
Visitors can participate in friendly competition at Las Vegas PRIDE Family Bingo at The Portal at AREA15 on Wednesday, June 7.
For adventure seekers, Las Vegas PRIDE OUTside Hike offers a trek along Mount Charleston’s Mary Jane Falls trail, taking place Sunday, June 11. The organization also plans monthly hikes throughout the year.
The Mexican hideaway of La Mona Rosa will present a Pride Brunch on Sunday, June 11 and Sunday, June 25. The event will feature a drag show at noon, as well as an exclusive pride cocktail and signature brunch items.
Las Vegas female impersonator Frank Marino will bring a crew of pop-culture favorites to Frankie’s Uptown at Downtown Summerlin for Frank Marino’s Divas Drag Brunch. Taking place on Sunday, June 11, the event features performers giving their very best impersonations of stars such as Taylor Swift, P!nk, Beyonce, Rihanna, Tina Turner and more.
Visitors looking for some laughs with a side of plasticware can enjoy the Tupperware Party with Dixie Longate at 24 Oxford at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Sunday, June 11, with proceeds benefitting Aid for AIDS Nevada (AFAN). The resort also presents a Pride Month House Party on Wednesday, June 14 at Kassi Beach House, which features LGBTQ+-friendly DJs, a face and body painter and more. Additionally, RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite Monét X Change performs at the hotel’s 24 Oxford lounge on Friday, June 16. The property’s monthlong celebration also includes a production from another RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, as Gia Gunn brings the gossip and drama on Sunday, June 18 to The Shag Room. The special installment of the venue’s Upside Down Tea Party, Spilling the Tea with Gia Gunn, will also feature live performances by Elise Victoria and benefit Aid for AIDS Nevada (AFAN).
GLAM returns to Ghostbar at Palms Casino Resort on Sunday, June 11, hosted by American Idol alumni Mikalah Gordon and featuring DJ Lisa Pittman.
Sports fans can take in a game featuring the World Champion Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, June 15, as Las Vegas Aces PRIDE Night takes place at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
The 6th Annual PRIDE Bar Crawl takes place Saturday, June 17, when LGBTQ+ bars and mainstream venues invite revelers to hop around the destination. Registration begins at Therapy in the Fremont Street Entertainment District, with the event ending in a drag show and after-party at FreeZone Nightclub & Bar in Las Vegas’ beloved Fruit Loop.
Longtime Las Vegas female impersonator Frank Marino puts on Love Out Loud, a drag brunch at Level Up inside MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on Sunday, June 18. The event will feature performances by Marino and his Divas and include a buffet style brunch and two hours of bottomless champagne or sparkling wine.
Frank Marino continues his Love Out Loud experience with Guyote Sunday at Coyote Ugly at New York-New York Hotel & Casino on Sunday, June 18. The event includes a special performance by Thunder From Down Under and a one-hour meet-and-greet session with the cast. The event also offers a special opportunity for male guests to be allowed to dance on the bars with the Coyote Ugly dancers.
The Liberace: Real and Beyond exhibit opens at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas opens on Saturday, June 24. The display chronicles the LGBTQ+ icon’s life and features many personal items, including costumes, pianos, automobiles and more.
Gold Spike in downtown Las Vegas has announced the return of its Drag Queen Bingo night. Being held in the venue’s Backyard space, the Pride Month installment takes place on Thursday, June 29, featuring bingo games, live performances, giveaways and drink specials. An additional installment will take place on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Upcoming Events
Wynn Las Vegas will host two well-known LGBTQ+ comedians in July, as Tom Dillon plays the Encore Theater on Saturday, July 22, with Mateo Lane following in the same space on Saturday, July 29.
Singer, choreographer and internet sensation Todrick Hall will take the Vegas stage on Tuesday, Sept. 19, as he presents Todrick Hall: Velvet Rage at House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
Las Vegas Pride Events
Las Vegas PRIDE celebrates 40 years with the Ruby Anniversary, aptly named Red and Wild. The annual Las Vegas PRIDE Parade—one of the only nighttime gay pride parades in the United States—kicks off the celebration on Friday, Oct. 6 in downtown Las Vegas. The procession, taking place down Fourth Street, features fabulous floats, glamorous drag queens, community organizations and more.
The parade is only the beginning of a weekend-long celebration of LGBTQ+ unity, as the Las Vegas PRIDE Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 7. Held at the Craig Ranch Regional Park, the event features entertainment, food and beverage, family-friendly activities and more.
Las Vegas PRIDE also sponsors additional parties throughout PRIDE weekend and several non-sanctioned parties at the LGBTQ+ venues in the destination also host celebratory events.
Events Throughout The Year
The Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s AIDS Walk Las Vegas occurs annually in May, most recently taking place at Sunset Park. Now in its 33rd year, the event features entertainment from community and Strip performers, including Chippendales, Vegas! The Show, the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus and more.
The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association’s most anticipated event of the year, the BigHorn Rodeo, takes place from Friday, Sept. 15 to Sunday, Sept. 17 at Horseman’s Park. The annual event features rough stock, roping, speed, and camp events. The organization also puts on several gatherings throughout the year, including Cowboy Bingo Night at Quadz Video Bar. Attendees can participate in the classic game with the chance to win fabulous raffle prizes from sponsors and supporters.
Also held in May, the Henderson Pride Festival features a series of events focused on celebrating diversity, self-awareness and promoting health and wellness. The event traditionally features live entertainment, food trucks, a family fun zone, vendors and more.
The Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Inc. hosts its Las Vegas Coronation event each December, which attracts International Imperial Royal Court System dignitaries from across the United States to the destination.
Held each January, the Sin City Classic is a multi-day LGBTQ+ sports festival. Started in 2008, the event has grown to become the largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world. Nearly 8,000 LGBTQ+ athletes and another 2,000 fans and allies will attend the event, which provides an open atmosphere for LGBTQ+ athletes to connect and compete over the course of four days of competition and social activities.
LGBTQ+ Weddings
Caesars Entertainment offers several nuptial options for same-sex and gender non-binary couples at its resorts throughout the destination, with options to say “I do” on The LINQ Hotel + Experience’s High Roller observation wheel, on the Eiffel Tower deck at Paris Las Vegas, and at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, where celebrity-style wedding packages come complete with paparazzi and a red-carpet host.
Famed for theatrical-themed weddings, the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel offers two new wedding packages: “ShElvis” and “Queens of Vegas.” The two packages performed by icons of drag launches during National Pride Month but will be offered year-round. The ShElvis package includes a drag queen Elvis serving as the officiant, who also will perform two songs; while the Queens of Vegas package features a choice of a drag queen Madonna or Cher impersonator. Both packages include florals, photos, limousine transportation and more.
Lgbtq+ Entertainment And Nightlife
Part of a chain of western-themed gay bars, Charlie’s Las Vegas is a short ride from the Strip on the west side of Las Vegas. The space features a full dance floor and a vibrant entertainment calendar including drag shows, karaoke, and bingo.
FreeZone Nightclub and Bar pairs a casual atmosphere with upbeat music and nightly events like karaoke and drag shows. Guests can also grab a bite from their bar menu or play a round of pool.
Just off the Strip, Fun Hog Ranch is a casual hangout offering several beers on tap, cocktails and more. The welcoming space routinely partners with community organizations for fun, themed events.
The Garage, located a few miles off the Strip, is a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. Modeled after an auto-body shop, the bar features pool tables, shuffleboard and darts, in addition to drink specials and mouth-watering bar bites.
The Garden Las Vegas is an intimate and chic lounge bar located in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District, featuring craft cocktails, light bites, and extravagant ambiance. Visitors can join some of the most talented drag queens every Saturday and Sunday at the Bottomless Drag Brunch for endless cocktails, delicious food and fun that slays.
Serving up unforgettable parties seven nights a week, Piranha Nightclub is the ultimate late-night location for LGBTQ+ revelers. From international DJs to world famous drag queens, the entertainment is top-notch and draws a lively, diverse crowd. Depending on the occasion, guests can enjoy a cocktail or dance the night away on Piranha’s state-of-the-art dance floors among go-go dancers.
Just a short walk from Piranha and FreeZone is Quadz. In addition to pool tables and darts, the bar also features regular special events, including bingo and themed parties.
From the creative team behind the Emmy Award-winning series RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! at Flamingo Las Vegas is an extravaganza featuring cast favorites including Derrick Barry, Jaida Essence Hall, Jorgeous and more.
Drag Brunch at Señor Frog’s at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino offers an unlimited supply of mimosas, a bottomless Southwestern-inspired buffet, and entertainment from queens—or royalty—from RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Shannel and Kahanna Montrese.
For more information about Las Vegas or to plan your next trip, please visit www.VisitLasVegas.com.