A Smorgasbord of Prides

Zurich EuroPride

May 2-June 7

The primo Euro homo event of the year, in 2009 EuroPride comes
for the first time to the Alps-adjacent Swiss city of Zurich. A
luminous slate of concerts, art and film exhibitions,
conferences, workshops, sports, and of course parties will
light up the town, building to a Pride weekend city center
traffic-free town festival and climaxing in the parade June 6.

EuroPride09.eu

CSD Cologne

June 20-July 5

Kicking off with the unique-in-the-world WomenPride Festival,
CSD Cologne in Germany cranks into full gear the weekend of
July 3 with its annual AIDS gala Friday, the 10,000-strong
Colour Cologne party Saturday, a massive parade Sunday, and an
action-packed street festival running throughout.

CSD-Cologne.de/index_en.html

Antwerp Prid

e

June 25-28

One of the few Prides that isn't centered on a parade, the
Belgian festival is more a four-day
feestje,

with special events at venues all around the fabulous Flemish
city, including a multivessel Saturday boat party on the
Scheldt River. There's even a Gay City Bus Tour to show pride
visitors around.

AntwerpPride.com

Madrid Pride

July 1-5

Better known locally as Madrid Orgullo (or just Mado), the
Spanish capital's Pride is the country's most lively, colorful,
and massive. The annual parade on July 4 draws upward of 1.5
million revelers, making it one of the biggest in the world.
COGAM.es/en/Secciones/Orgullo-LGBT

Copenhagen Pride

July 25-August 2

Running concurrently this year with World Outgames Copenhagen,
the Danish capital's festivities include a weeklong
market-style Pride Square at the center of town, where
multiethnic group Sabaah (those with backgrounds other than
Danish; Sabaah.dk) will have a strong presence. The parade, for
the second year featuring a Danish army contingent, will be
followed by a huge free concert on City Hall Square on August
1.

CopenhagenPride.dk/uk

Amsterdam Pride

July 31-August 2

Amsterdam Pride kicks off in earnest Friday, July 31, with
specialized gay street parties (women, Caribbean, etc.) all
over town. The marvelous Saturday afternoon Canal Parade on
August 1 is the weekend's nautical headline event, when some
350,000 assemble to watch scores of bedazzled dinghies float by
along the Prinsengracht.

AmsterdamPride.nl