Las Vegas PRIDE is just around the corner, and members of the gay community are gearing up for another successful PRIDE celebration from October 8 – October 10, 2021 at Craig Ranch Regional Park. There will be plenty of things to do in Las Vegas this weekend geared towards LGBTQ+ folks, including a ton of after-parties, the Over the Rainbow musical festival, and a PRIDE Outside hike at the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail.
But Las Vegas pride is not just a weekend affair in Las Vegas. Check out our list below for ways to celebrate Las Vegas Pride all year round.
#1: Make Your Way Through the Historic Fruit Loop
The Las Vegas Fruit Loop is a smattering of gay and lesbian establishments with a rich history dating back to the 1970s. The Fruit Loop can be found just west of the University District, near Paradise Road and Naples Drive. According to historian Dennis McBride, it was in this area that “the Las Vegas gay community first found its voice.” Disco Fever brought the sex, drugs, and disco balls, Le Café was the first bar in Vegas to allow dancing between members of the same gender, and Gipsy was THE place to party in the 1980s, attracting gay and straight clientele alike, most notably Cher, Debbie Reynolds, Rip Taylor, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Liberace.
Sadly, many of these historic bars have been shuttered, demolished, or in some cases burned down. However, today you can still visit several venues in the Fruit Loop that carry on the legacy of Sin City’s fight for LGBTQ+ visibility and equality.
- Hit up Piranha Nightclub, a sprawling, lavish club with three different dance floors, underwear-clad bartenders, sexy go-go dancers, and drag shows every night of the week. Opened in 2006, it’s one of the hottest gay nightclubs in the city.
- Get Booked opened as Las Vegas’ first gay bookstore, Bright Pink Literature, in 1993 before rebranding as Get Booked. The shop now sells a variety of wares, including men’s clothing, underwear, sex toys, personal care items, and gifts.
- Known for its chill vibes and affordable drinks, QUADZ Video Bar is the site of the former Buffalo, a leather bar that opened in 1983. These days, it’s staffed by down-to-earth, friendly bartenders with just the right amount of sass. A great place to hang out or pre-game before hitting up Piranha.
- FreeZone is a nightclub and bar that’s been a Fruit Loop staple since 1996. This welcoming and inclusive space is open 24/7 and offers bottle service, an open dance floor, and a full restaurant.
#2: Grab a Drink at a Local Gay Bar
There’s no shortage of gay bars in Las Vegas, although you won’t find most of them on the Las Vegas Strip. After you’ve made your way through the historic Fruit Loop, enjoy a change of pace by hitting up one of these new and longstanding local gay watering holes.
- The Garden Las Vegas is one of the newest gay bars in town, located in the recently revitalized Arts District. You’ll see a good mixture of locals and out-of-towners here thanks to its chic, intimate lounge space and seemingly endless Instagram-worthy photo backdrops.
- Between the friendly drag performers and sexy dancers, you’re guaranteed to have a great time at Phoenix Bar & Lounge, one of the most popular gay bars in Las Vegas. Patrons love the delicious bar food, fun atmosphere, diverse crowd, and judgment-free zone, where you can also catch local Golden Knights games on TV.
- Stop in for a drink (or three) at Badlands Las Vegas, a saloon-themed gay bar in the Historic Commercial Center District. Located just east of the Sahara Las Vegas and open 24/7, this relaxed gay cowboy bar serves up strong drinks at great prices.
Related: The Best Las Vegas Gay Bars, A to Z
#3: Attend a Las Vegas Drag Show
Drag shows are booming in popularity throughout Las Vegas. You have so many options, from small shows at local bars to full-scale productions on the Strip. Check out some of our favorite drag shows below.
- High-quality entertainment and bottomless mimosas await you at Liquid Drag Brunch, held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Señor Frog’s inside Treasure Island. Bring your appetite and your dollar bills for the ultimate drag show featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Shannel, Coco Montrese, and Yara Sofia.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE! at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino brings the Emmy Award-winning reality show to the stage in this original production. Join a star-studded cast including the likes of Asia O’Hara, Derrick Barry, and Kameron Michaels as they work their way through a sickening season of Drag Race.
- Diva Royale brings NYC-style drag to Downtown Las Vegas inside the Cat’s Meow. With brunch and dinner shows available, any time is a good time to see the diva impersonators you know and love, including Madonna, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli, Adele, Nicki Minaj, Whitney Houston, Sia, Britney Spears, Beyonce and beyond.
- People are raving about Sunday Drag Brunch at Jimmy’s at Madison’s. This bar is still pretty new, but has quickly made a name for itself based on its hilarious Sunday drag shows, complete with $20 bottomless mimosas and Bellinis. Food service is fast and friendly, the space is cozy, and everyone is welcome.
#4: See a Sexy Strip Show
Whether you love scantily-clad men, women, or both, there are plenty of Las Vegas shows to enjoy. Here are some of our personal faves.
- Chippendales recently made its post-COVID return at the Rio Hotel & Casino. There’s no mistaking the washboard abs and iconic bow tie that characterize these heartthrobs. Women and men alike are invited to this 75-minute show of tantalizing strip-teases and contemporary dance moves.
- Aussie Heat (not to be confused with the equally-sexy Thunder From Down Under) is one of the most hands-on male revues in Las Vegas. Onstage blindfolded lap dance contests are a regular thing here, with both men and women in the audience called up to participate. Don’t miss the after-party, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet the dancers.
- Fantasy: The Strip’s Biggest Tease is an all-women topless revue located at the Luxor Hotel and Casino (known as one of the Strip’s most gay-friendly resorts). Fantasy is popular with singles, couples, straight men, lesbian, and bisexual women alike. Backed by powerhouse vocalist Lorena Peril, the ladies of Fantasy put on a scintillating show of 15 back-to-back dance routines set to today’s hottest music.
- Funny, raunchy, and politically incorrect, audiences are still raving about Spiegelworld’s Absinthe more than 15 years after its debut. This steamy acrobatics and vaudeville show will appeal to men and women alike, gay or straight, especially those with an open (and dirty) mind. And if you like Absinthe, don’t miss Spiegelworld’s two other outrageous shows, Opium and Atomic Saloon.
#5: Visit a Las Vegas Bathhouse
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hang out at a bathhouse, you have several options while you’re in Las Vegas. Note: Listed services and amenities may be unavailable due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- Entourage Vegas is a gay and bisexual men’s bathhouse open 24/7. Here you can enjoy more than 12,000 square feet of relaxation, including a heated pool, jacuzzi, gym, sauna, steam room, and showers. You can also enjoy their video room and smoking lounge.
- Kuma Club is Las Vegas’ newest gay bathhouse, located just a stone’s throw from the Fruit Loop. This male-only spa is open to gay, bi, trans, or curious men and combines spa fantasy with an after-hours nightclub experience. Featured amenities include showers, a steam room, a dry hot and cold sauna, lockers, towels, water, and free Wifi. Be sure to catch clothing optional yoga on Sundays and Wednesdays for a super steamy workout.
#6: Go On a PRIDE OUTside Hike
A great way to enjoy the great outdoors in Southern Nevada and meet other like-minded people is to join Las Vegas PRIDE once a month for their PRIDE OUTside hiking meetups. Hikes take place on the second Sunday of every month and are open to all ages. This is a casual hiking group that is free to attend. Common hiking spots include:
- Cathedral Rock (Mount Charleston)
- Calico Basin (Red Rock Canyon)
- Late Night Trail (Red Rock Canyon)
- Mary Jane Falls (Mount Charleston)
- Historic Railroad Tunnels (near Lake Mead)
#7: Get Married, Vegas Style
Same-sex marriage wasn’t officially legalized in Las Vegas until 2014. In 2020, Nevada became the first in the nation to recognize gay marriage in its state constitution with the passing of the Marriage Regardless of Gender Amendment. If you’re looking to get hitched in Sin City, your wedding chapel choices are seemingly endless, from drive-thru weddings to hotel suite ceremonies, helicopter marriages, and beyond. Here are some LGBTQ+ friendly Las Vegas chapels for your consideration.
- If you’re looking for a gay-owned-and-operated chapel, check out The Gay Chapel of Las Vegas. In business for over 16 years, they offer everything from traditional, simple ceremonies to extravagant fairy tale packages. You can also arrange a classic Elvis wedding, not to mention Liberace, rock-a-billy, disco, western, and graveyard weddings.
- Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel is another gay-owned-and-operated chapel who offers a wide variety of wedding packages, from traditional to drive-up to Elvis to zombies. If you’ve got a wacky wedding idea, chances are Viva Las Vegas can accommodate you.
- Chapel of the Flowers is among the top-rated romantic wedding chapels in all of Las Vegas. All of their wedding and reception packages can be customized for same-gender couples, and your wedding planner will take care of all the details of your wedding, from finding the perfect dress to booking your accommodations and everything in between.
- If you’re looking for a quick and affordable ceremony, the Little Neon Chapel is a good choice. Located in offbeat downtown Las Vegas, this chapel was also chosen to perform the 10,000th same-sex wedding in Las Vegas. Wedding packages start at just $39 and include traditional, themed, and outdoor scenic ceremonies.
There’s Always Something to Do in Las Vegas
Whether you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing staycation or a wild weekend in Sin City, Things To Do in Las Vegas has always got you covered with the best hotels, restaurants, bars, and activities to do 24/7, 365. To stay up to date on the latest and greatest happening in our city, be sure to check out our other blog posts and follow us on Facebook.
