The holidays can be complicated for LGBTQ+ people, and families may not be welcome at the table, but a change of scenery can brighten the season. Cities large and small across America offer queer and queer-friendly celebrations that combine traditional cheer and community spirit. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a small-town Christmas market, a weekend of drag-filled dancing, or a Santa speed run that combines cardio with charity, these destinations prove that your holidays are better when you’re inclusive.
Cleveland Winterfest (November 29 – January 6)
Cleveland’s season begins with Winterfest, which fills the public square with music, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a tree lighting show.
Highlights:
- date: November 29, 2025 – January 6, 2026
- Characteristic events: Tree lighting, fireworks and evening light show from 5pm to 11pm
- Market atmosphere: cleveland bazaar pop up in indie craft
- Food and drinks: Hot cocoa, mulled wine and food trucks
- Queer Nightlife Addon: Twisted Social Club, Vibe Bar + Patio, Leather Stallion
Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade (December 6)
Why bundle up when you can watch holiday floats under the palm trees? Palm Springs turns Palm Canyon Drive into a sparkling stage.
Highlights:
- date: Saturday, December 6, 2025 – Parade begins at 5:45 p.m.
- where: Palm Canyon Drive between Ramon and Tamarisk Road
- Float and band: Over 80 groups ranging from marching bands to giant balloons
- crowd: Over 100,000 visitors each year
- Additional notes: Village Fest Market, Breakfast with Santa, and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Holy Folly in Provincetown (December 5th-7th)
P-Town hosts the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ holiday festival, transforming Commercial Street into a quirky winter wonderland.
Highlights:
- date: December 5-7, 2025
- event:
- Holly Folly Follies Variety Show at City Hall
- Santa Speed Run Benefits Firefighter and Paramedic Organizations
- Tea dance with DJ Tony T
- Iconic sight: lobster pot christmas tree
- Nightlife: Crown and Anchor, Red Room, and Drag Cabaret
Atlanta Santa Speed Run (December 6th)
Atlanta combines camping and philanthropy with the annual Beltline Dash.
Highlights:
- date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
- Cause: Bonus: Bart’s Great Adventure (Supporting children with incurable diseases)
- schedule:
- Noon: Pre-party with live DJ and costume contest at Pour Taproom
- 2pm: The Run
- 2:30pm: Afterparty and awards ceremony
- Dress code: Santa hat, speedo bike, or outrageous holiday costume
San Francisco Extreme Christmas Weekend (December 13-14)
If your holiday playlist leans more toward EDM than carols, San Francisco’s circuit-style parties are the way to go.
Highlights:
- date: December 13-14, 2025
- Creator: Kai Martinez events
- event:
- venue: The Vault (industrial warehouse atmosphere), Halcyon (club hotspot)
- crowd: LGBTQ+ dancers, DJs, and partygoers from Japan and abroad
Enchanted Christmas, St. Petersburg, Florida (dates TBA)
This expansive vacation village within Tropicana Fields brings a magical atmosphere to the Gulf Coast.
Highlights:
- experience:
- The world’s largest Christmas light maze “Mischievous Elf”
- Ice skating course and Santa’s Palace
- Dozens of artisanal and international restaurants
- Light show: “Magical night sky” linked display
- Tips: Make your reservation early. Weekdays are less crowded and you can book your skates online
Denver Christkindle Market & Holiday Lights (dates TBA)
Denver combines European tradition with a Rocky Mountain feel.
Highlights:
- Christ Kindle Market: Mulled wine, Bavarian pretzels, artisan crafts, and Krampus sightings
- Georgetown Market: Two weekends of Victorian charm, carols and carriage rides
- Light display:
- Light Flowers at Denver Botanical Gardens (November-January)
- Zoo lighting with 2 million light bulbs
- Mile High Tree with synchronized music shows
- Queer angle: Close to Reno area with Trucks and Charlie’s
Chicago Santa Speed Run Northalsted (Date TBA)
Chicago’s LGBTQ+ neighborhoods host fun-filled festivals that incorporate philanthropy.
Highlights:
- position: Northalsted, the city’s queer quarter
- format: 1 mile run starting and ending sidetrack
- Beneficiary: heart of halstead
- schedule:
- Noon: Sign in
- 2pm: The Run
- 2:30pm: Awards Ceremony + Entertainment
- 4-8pm: Afterparty (Sidetrack stays open late!)
Philadelphia Christmas Village (dates TBA)
Love Park will be transformed into a German-style holiday village complete with food, gifts and lights.
Highlights:
- vendor: More than 80 booths selling gifts and seasonal foods from around the world
- atmosphere: Wooden hut, beer garden and live entertainment
- date: From late November until Christmas Eve
- Strange sights nearby: Philadelphia gayborhood with Woody’s, Bud & Marilyn’s and themed holiday nights
Christmas and New Year in Boston (2025)
- Markets and Fairs: Snowport Holiday Market (100+ vendors), Harvard Square Holiday Fair (weekends), SoWa Winter Festival (artisan shopping + cocktails), Old South Church Christmas Craft Fair.
- Lights: Explore Boston’s Christmas Lights Trail with the Old Town Trolley Tour. Highlights include Copley Square, Boston Common, Seaport, and Columbus Park Trellis.
- Cruises: Holiday Brunch and Cocoa Cruises feature harbor views while listening to live music.
- Queer Angle: South End, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain are home to Boston’s top gay bars. Club Café, Blend, dbar, Cathedral Station and Jack’s Cabaret will all host festive parties.
- Dining and partying: Ring in the new year with a rooftop igloo at Envoy, a sumptuous meal at Number 9 Park or Yvonne’s, or a queer dance night hosted by Boston Gay Mafia.
- Travel Tip: It gets cold in Boston, so plan on warm layers for outdoor events and book lodging near Copley or the waterfront for quick access to the First Night festival.
Gay Christmas and New Year’s Eve in New Orleans (2025)
- Parades and festivals: Krampus Parade, Jingle on the Boulevard, Holiday Parade, Festival of Lights LUNA Fête.
- NYE Countdown: Jackson Square hosts the Fleur de Lis Drop, a fireworks display over the Mississippi River. The best views are from Crescent Park or the Algiers Ferry.
- Sugar Bowl Parade: A Mardi Gras-style daytime parade through the French Quarter on New Year’s Eve.
- Queer Angle: Bourbon Street’s Bourbon Pub & Parade, Oz, and The Phoenix are hosting a huge queer party in New York. Don’t miss the drag at Always Lounge or Country Club’s drag brunch.
- Travel tip: Stay in or near the French Quarter to enjoy parades and nightlife nearby. If you arrive early on NYE, Jackson Square fills up quickly.
conclusion
From Provincetown’s lobster-trap Christmas tree to Chicago’s quirky speed runs to Boston’s festive drag brunch to New Orleans’ all-night parade, these holiday celebrations prove that LGBTQ+ joy is at the heart of the season. Whether you’re traveling for the markets, nightlife, or community connections, the United States is full of great destinations that will make you feel right at home.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
