Austin Gay Pride 2023

Austin Gay Pride 2023

Austin Gay Pride week takes place each year in August and hosts a week long series of events and parties culminating in a major Parade on the Saturday of Pride week!

• The city fills up fast so book your hotel early. We recommend you stay in the downtown district. Guests love the Fairmont Austin giving the hotel a “Superb” rating. It is also host to the official pride pool party and features spacious rooms and central location.

Austin Pride Parade

• August 12th, 2023:  Austin’s pride parade is quite unique, joining Las Vegas as one of the few night time parade events in the USA. The Pride Parade keeps getting bigger and better with last year’s event drawing record numbers of parade participants and spectators to the streets of downtown Austin! Over 120+ entries, floats, special live performances & more!
• The parade kicks off at 8pm from the Texas State Capitol, marching down Congress Avenue and culminating at Fourth Street/Bettie Naylor Street (names for longtime Austin LGBT advocate and lobbyist) on the bridge.
• After the parade, stick around for after parties at nearby bars on Fourth Street and throughout the city.
• Stay close to the parade and after parties at the Hotel ZaZa Austin, rated “Superb” by guests, with a beautiful outdor pool and spacious rooms with high-end amenities.

Austin Pride Festival – Beyond the Rainbow.

• August 12th, 2023 – (Venue to be confirmed) Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse Segovia St.
• Inflatable Games & Carnival Rides, Drag Queen Story Time under the Big Tree in the Family Zone 12pm-1pm, 140+ Vendor Booths, Drinks & Food, and more!

Official After Party – Rain on 4th

• August 12th, 2023 – Follow the rainbow flags to 4th Street (a/k/a Bettie Naylor Street), the heart of Austin’s Warehouse District.
• Rain on 4th is the busiest gay club in Austin hosting the annual pride street party. The event features an amazing lineup of musical artists and pop culture icons!

Austin Pride Circuit & Pool Parties

• Cubby Hole – Oil Can Harry’s Pride Weekend Events.
• Austin Pride Pool Party at the Fairmont Hotel. Stay at the host hotel, The Fairmont Austin, rated “Superb” by guests with one of the best pools in town.
• Big Gay Pool Party by the Equality Alliance.

Gay Austin

• Austin’s LGBTQ scene has it all. You don’t have to look for rainbow flags or limit yourself to one small part of Austin if you’re interested in experiencing everything that the city’s large and diverse LGBTQ community has to offer.
• Unlike many places, which have only one or two areas known as ‘gay districts,’ Austin’s LGBTQ residents are truly everywhere.
• Who needs a gayborhood when the whole city is one? We break down Austin by neighborhood, calling out a few of our favorite places and LGBTQ-owned businesses in each.

Downtown

Downtown, Museums, gay dance clubs, a hike-and-bike trail around the lake — there’s something happening all day and all night in this city center. In 2012, a five-block section of West Fourth Street was renamed after Bettie Naylor, longtime Austin advocate for the rights of women and the LGBTQ community. Stay at the East Austin Hotel for a great experience, amazing pool and large rooms.

• OILCAN HARRY’S – Stop by OCH, the oldest gay bar in town, for weekly drag shows, late-night dancing and stiff drinks served by a super friendly bar staff. Insider Tip: Into sports? The back bar at OCH has been turned into a sports bar called Score.
• RAIN – Just two doors down from OCH, you’ll find this quintessential gay club. We’re talking DJs blasting pop remixes, a light-up dance floor and weekly amateur strip-off competitions.
• HIGHLAND – A popular gay lounge and dance club, this venue features guest DJs, dance competitions and themed events like drag queen bingo. Drag. Queen. Bingo!
• IRON BEAR – The only bear bar in town doesn’t care if you’re a bear; cubs, otters, wolves, and everyone else is welcome here, too. Insider Tip: Go on Sunday for a free karaoke party

Red River

With a strip of venues up and down both sides of the street, this is a popular destination for live music as well as dancing and food trucks. Red River is home to Austin’s growing alternative drag scene with multiple shows a month at Elysium and Cheer Up Charlies.

• CHEER UP CHARLIES – Listen to live music, dance under a parachute and drink kombucha from the tap at this LGBTQ-owned indoor/outdoor venue. Be sure to try the vegan
• SWAN DIVE – This live music venue is connected to Barbarella through a not-so-secret passageway in the back and hosts everything from live indie rock to burlesque shows.
• BARBARELLA – Known by locals as “Barbs,” this dance club holds themed parties most nights and stays open until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Insider Tip: Don’t miss TuezGayz – a local LGBTQ tradition that takes place every Tuesday with happy hour until 11 p.m. and dance videos until 2:30 a.m.
• ELYSIUM NIGHTCLUB – You’re always in for a treat at Elysium. This warehouse nightclub has been hosting Austin’s alternative nightlife since 2001 and is home to a number of drag shows.

South Congress

The area known as SoCo is home to local boutiques, historic live music venues, food trailers and more. Stay in the TownePlace Suites for a great rooms and a superb breakfast.

• JO’S COFFEE – This LGBTQ-owned coffee shop is home to the “i love you so much” mural and is an excellent place to grab a coffee and do some people watching. Insider Tip: Get Friday night started right with a live funk show here 7-9 p.m.
• HOTEL SAN JOSÉ – Pop into this minimalist oasis and savor a drink from the bar in their lush courtyard. Insider Tip: Hot day? Try their signature Frosé – frozen rosé with lemon.

Where to stay in during Austin Pride?

The following hotels are close to all the gay bars and the city’s main attractions. They all have high ratings with our readers and editors.

JW Marriott Austin,    Otis Hotel,    Austin Motel,    Hotel ZaZa