City: Albuquerque, NM

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (505) 873-8084

Address: 300 San Pedro NE

Description: This celebration of Albuquerque’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community paints the Expo New Mexico state fairgrounds with a fluttering array of rainbow flags on the second weekend in June. The city’s first gay rights march in 1976 was a small affair of 25 to 30 people walking along Central Avenue. Over the years the rallies grew bigger, with a 2-mile parade that still starts at Central Avenue, a host of entertainment, and everyone in the community joining in. It’s now reckoned to be New Mexico’s largest GLBT event and one of the biggest parades in the state. Around 20,000 joined the parade in 2009. Entertainment ranges from belly dancers and improv theater to chart toppers like Taylor Dayne. The Pride Art Show features artists discussing their work, and many pieces are available for sale. Prizes are awarded to the best parade entries, and other contests include Pride Idol and a Queer Bake-Off and Recipe Auction, with awards for best pie, cake, and cookies. Previous fairs featured a car show, line dancing and hip-hop lessons, and a pet parade. A Children’s Corner has activities and entertainment to keep the kids occupied. Admission is $13 a day, and children under 12 are admitted free.