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.