The Great Lakes prepare for a Pink Summer of LGBT events.
There’s something about a big yearly happening that tends to get people all pumped up with anticipation.
From Reading Music Festival to ArtsFest in Birmingham, there’s always an excited buzz around any event, which probably comes down to the public’s love of having a good old knees up and an excuse for a for having a bit of fun.
With the Great Lakes USA preparing itself for the Gay Games, no doubt there will be a sense of buzz whizzing through the gay community worldwide this summer.
The Gay Games (GG9) will be hosted this year in Cleveland and Akron in Ohio, consisting of 35 sporting and cultural events.
Athletes will travel from all around the world to the US to compete in a variety of challenging feats, from braving the waters of Lake Erie to running the world famous Akron Marathon course.
Other categories in the mix include synchronised swimming and dance sport, which should more than put this year’s competitors through their paces.
In addition to some thrilling sporting events, an opening and closing ceremony and music concerts, Gay Games 9 will also feature themed parties, exhibitions and a lively Festival Village, making sure there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The Great Lakes USA certainly lives up to its name, being the largest expanse of freshwater in the world and covering the U.S states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
With that in mind, there’s little wonder why the region is the best choice to fill out a stream of enjoyable Jam-packed Pride festivals over the course of the summer.
For more information about the Gay Games, CLICK HERE:
Other LGBT events in 2014
This riverside festival is a weekend packed with picnics, a golf outing, commitment ceremonies, beer gardens and of course, a parade! Motor City Pride culminates as the largest LGBT gathering in Michigan and is located at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Holding Pride in the historic Hart Plaza solidifies the notion of LGBT people as active parts of the larger community.
The build-up for this Pride fest starts long before the end of June with a series of events and performances, LGBT outreach programmes and foodie delights. Tag teamed between the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Pride itself is set to be even bigger this year as the celebrations continue following the 2013 legalisation of gay marriage in the state.
This festival has more than tripled in size in the last five years, and is expected to draw in 100,000 visitors to enjoy the festivities and Indy’s new eclectic bars and restaurant scene for 2014. Located in downtown Indianapolis, it spans two neighbourhoods – Fountain Square Theatre District, a gritty, artsy area with pubs, ethnic eateries, White Rabbit Cabaret Burlesque shows, and duckpin bowling, coupled with Mass Ave with a large theatre scene, specialty bookstores, bars and coffee shops.
Held on the Henry Maier Festival Park grounds, Pridefest Milwaukee always has an impressive performance line-up with past special guests having included Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin and Patty LaBelle. The three-day festival features dance pavilions, a health and wellness stage, a culture and arts pavilion, a Milwaukee Gay Arts Center stage, and a wide range of children’s and family activities. This year, the top headlining acts are Sophie B. Hawkins and Andy Bell (of Erasure fame), who will open the festival on the Friday night; the Indigo Girls, who perform on Saturday night; and Dangerous Muse and Amanda Palmer (of the Dresden Dolls), who will be performing Sunday night.
Celebrate the heritage and comradery in the city’s annual party. Two weeks of events culminate with a Pride parade featuring 200 outrageous floats and more than 800,000 revellers cheering every step of the way.
Held in downtown Springfield, IL, the town’s celebrations make for a great family day out bringing together the whole community where guests can enjoy live entertainment, vendors selling local produce and lots of food and drink. Held in May PrideFest follows the annual Drag Race, a night of performances from drag artists and local celebrities, that is held in May.
If that isn’t enough to wet your appetite, there are also a host of comedy, music and film festivals to enjoy, not to mention a fascinating photo exhibition.
Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo
This exhibition features 41 black-and-white images of participants in the gay rodeo taken by award-winning, Los Angeles-based photographer, Blake Little. The images date back to 1988 when Blake became captivated by the gay rodeo scene.
This is the first display of the exhibition, highlighting an often ignored part of American Western culture. Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeoand associated public programs at the Eiteljorg are a part of the museum’s ‘Out West’ series. The series, created and produced by independent curator Gregory Hinton, illuminate the many contributions of LGBT communities of the American West, and celebrate the diversity of the region.
The exhibit is now on until July 13 at Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western art, Indianapolis.
Get set to laugh out loud at Equality Michigan’s Annual ComedyFest that is taking place on 8 March. Located in Dearborn, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied communities will be entertained by some of America’s finest comedians.
This is an annual LGBT free summer music festival, held in Madison, Wisconsin, for all-ages organised to celebrate Madison’s gay community through a day of music, performance, art, and celebration. Festival-goers can listen to local folk musicians, punk bands, and DJs while dancers and performers entertain and visitors enjoy the range of beer and cocktails. The event will also include the Fourth Annual Fruit Loop, a 5K run/walk through the beautiful Marquette neighbourhood, starting and ending at the Fruit Fest event grounds.
Now in its 32nd year, this LGBT International Film Festival showcases some of the finest films and animation. It is the second largest LGBT film festival in the US and showcases some of the best films across the globe. The 2014 line up is still to be confirmed but with previous documentaries winning critical acclaim and notoriety for their contribution to the world of film, the standard is high for this year.
This film festival showcases up to 30 films each year with selected films unveiling their premier to the audience. From documentaries to shorts to features, all productions highlight the diversity in LGBT storytelling and film making.
With enough events to engorge yourself like a kid in a sweet shop, all that’s left is to pack a couple of suitcases, book a flight and set off across the pond for an action-packed summer to remember.
London Bearfest 2014 will take place across the capital between May 18-May 26, 2014. Bears, cubs, otters and admirers will be traveling to the capitol from near and far to enjoy the festivities.
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