The holidays can be complicated for LGBTQ+ folks—sometimes family tables don’t feel welcoming, and a change of scenery makes the season brighter. Across the U.S., cities big and small offer queer and queer-friendly celebrations that mix traditional cheer with community spirit.
Whether you want a small-town Christmas market, a drag-fueled dance weekend, or a Santa Speedo run that doubles as cardio and charity, these destinations prove the holidays are better when they’re inclusive.
Cleveland WinterLand (Nov. 29 – Jan. 6)
WinterFest transforms downtown Cleveland’s Public Square (photo via Cleveland 19 News)
Cleveland’s not the first city that comes to mind for a gay getaway, but hear us out: Winterfest transforms Public Square into a legit winter wonderland with nightly light shows, carriage rides, and enough mulled wine to keep you warm through a Midwest winter. It’s not a specifically queer event, but the city’s gay bars make for solid nightlife after your fill of holiday cheer.
Things to do:
- Gay bars like Twist Social Club, Vibe Bar + Patio, and Leather Stallion Saloon (Ohio’s oldest leather bar)
- Studio West 117 gayborhood in Lakewood with The Fieldhouse sports bar, Trellis rooftop bar, and Muze Gastropub (drag shows and theme nights)
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
- Cleveland Museum of Art (free admission)
- Ohio City neighborhood for cocktail bars and restaurants
Where to eat & stay: Marble Room for upscale steaks in a historic bank building, or Mabel’s BBQ for casual eats. Stay at the Kimpton Schofield Hotel downtown—boutique, walkable to the festival, LGBTQ-friendly. Rooms around $150-180/night.
Provincetown Holly Folly (Every weekend in December)
Photo via Provincetown Tourism
Provincetown, already the gayest town in America, goes full holiday mode with Holly Folly—the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ holiday celebration. This year it’s expanded to run every weekend in December, with the kickoff weekend (Dec 5-7) being the biggest. Expect the iconic Lobster Pot Christmas Tree (yes, made from actual lobster traps), drag shows at every turn, and the legendary Santa Speedo Run where you’ll freeze your ass off running down Commercial Street in as little clothing as you dare—all to benefit local firefighters and EMS.
Things to do:
- Holly Folly Follies variety show at Town Hall (Dec 5, 8pm)
- Jingle Bell/Santa Speedo Run & Brunch (Dec 6, 9am start at The Mews)
- Crown & Anchor for drag shows and holiday tea dances
- Holiday markets along Commercial Street and The Canteen
- Red Room for underwear parties and drag performances
- Bar crawls and ugly sweater bike rides throughout the month
Where to eat & stay: The Canteen for lobster rolls and clam chowder with beachside seating, or Mac’s Seafood for fresh-caught fish and sushi. Fanizzi’s By The Sea has waterfront dining year-round. Stay at Ellery Hotel (highly rated, right on Commercial St) or Land’s End Inn (LGBTQ-owned, panoramic views, wine & cheese hour daily). Winter rates run $100-225/night.
Palm Springs Festival of Lights (Dec. 6)
The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade via Palm Springs Life
Why bundle up when you can watch holiday floats under palm trees? Palm Springs—also one of the gayest cities in America—transforms Palm Canyon Drive into a glowing spectacle for its 33rd annual Festival of Lights Parade. Over 100,000 people descend on the desert for this free event featuring 80+ floats, giant Macy’s-style balloons, and marching bands. The night before (Dec 5), catch the tree lighting at Frances Stevens Park with Santa, free cookies, and cocoa.
Things to do:
- Festival of Lights Parade (Dec 6, 5:45pm along Palm Canyon Drive)
- Arenas Road gayborhood with Chill Bar, Toucan’s Tiki Lounge, while leather lovers and those up for a cruise will enjoy the Tool Shed
- VillageFest holiday market (Dec 4-7)
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to escape the (mild) heat
- Modernist architecture tours through the gay-owned estates
- Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus holiday concert (Dec 19-21)
Where to eat & stay: Workshop Kitchen + Bar for farm-to-table dining, or Cheeky’s for legendary brunch. Stay at the Saguaro Hotel (pool parties and mid-century vibes), INNdulge Palm Springs (gay resort with clothing-optional pool), or the gay-friendly Kimpton Rowan. Rooms $150-300/night in December.
Atlanta Santa Speedo Run (Dec. 6)
via Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta mixes camp with charity for this annual BeltLine dash benefiting Bert’s Big Adventure (supporting children with critical illnesses). It’s exactly what it sounds like: hundreds of gays running through Midtown in Speedos, Santa hats, and outrageous holiday costumes. The pre-party kicks off at noon with a live DJ and costume contest, the run starts at 2pm, and the after-party goes till you’ve warmed up—or till the drinks run out.
Things to do:
- Santa Speedo Run starting at Pour Taproom (547 Amsterdam Ave NE, Dec 6 at 2pm)
- Midtown’s gayborhood along 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue
- Blake’s on the Park for drag shows
- My Sister’s Room (one of the country’s few remaining lesbian bars)
- Heretic Atlanta for late-night dancing
- Woofs sports bar
Where to eat & stay: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q for post-run BBQ plates (ribs, brisket, pulled pork with mac and cheese). Staplehouse for upscale New American. Stay at Hotel Clermont (retro-cool, rooftop bar with city views) or the Georgian Terrace (walking distance to Midtown gay bars). Rooms $140-220/night.
San Francisco Extreme XXXMas (Dec. 13-14)
If your holiday playlist leans more EDM than carols, San Francisco’s circuit-style parties deliver. Produced by Ky Martinez Events, Extreme XXXMas Weekend brings two massive dance events: Imagina (Saturday night, 10pm-4am at The Mint) and Nocturnal after-hours (Sunday morning, 3:30-8:30am at Halcyon). Expect world-class DJs, go-go dancers, and a crowd of local and international LGBTQ+ partygoers celebrating the season with beats instead of bells.
Things to do:
- Imagina party at The Mint (industrial warehouse vibes, Saturday 10pm)
- Nocturnal after-hours at Halcyon (Sunday 3:30am – because why sleep?)
- The Castro gayborhood with Twin Peaks Tavern, Beaux nightclub, and Castro Theatre
- SF Gay Men’s Chorus holiday concerts (check schedule)
- Union Square holiday ice skating and shopping
- Dyker Heights-style light displays in neighborhoods
Where to eat & stay: Frances for Cal-Italian comfort food in the Castro, or Starbelly for brunch and cocktails. Foreign Cinema in the Mission for dinner and movies. Stay at the Phoenix Hotel (rock ‘n’ roll vibes, LGBTQ-friendly) or the Parker Guest House in the Castro (gay-owned B&B). Rooms $150-250/night.
Twin Cities Queer Holiday Market (Dec. 18-19)
via Instagram
This is what you came for—a specifically queer gift market with two dozen local LGBTQ+ makers and small businesses selling handmade goods, art, jewelry, candles, and apparel at Summit Brewing in St. Paul. Festive specialty drinks flow, drag queens make appearances, and a portion of all vendor sales goes to The Aliveness Project supporting the queer community. It’s free to attend, runs 5-9pm both nights, and gives you a chance to actually support queer creators while you shop.
Things to do:
- Queer Holiday Market at Summit Brewing (910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul, Dec 18-19, 5-9pm)
- Twin Cities’ queer bars: The Saloon, Gay 90’s, Lush, and The Eagle
- First Avenue (Prince’s legendary venue) for live music
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Walker Art Center
- Mall of America if you need more shopping therapy
Where to eat & stay: Northern Fire for wood-fired pizza or Meteor Bar for craft cocktails. Pizzeria Lola for creative pies. Stay at the Rand Tower Hotel (art deco, downtown Minneapolis) or Canopy by Hilton (modern, North Loop neighborhood). Rooms $130-200/night.
Boston Holiday Markets & Festive Cheer (Throughout December)
Boston’s Snowport
Boston goes big for the holidays with multiple markets, light displays, and enough queer nightlife to keep you warm through a New England winter. The Holiday Market at Snowport features 100+ vendors, while SoWa Winter Festival offers artisan shopping with cocktails. The Holiday Lights Trail hits all the major spots (Copley Square, Boston Common, Seaport), and you can take it all in via Old Town Trolley Tour. Plus, the city’s queer bars in South End and Jamaica Plain throw festive parties all month.
Things to do:
- Holiday Market at Snowport (100+ vendors through December)
- SoWa Winter Festival for artisan shopping and cocktails
- Boston Holiday Lights Trail (Copley Square, Boston Common, Columbus Park)
- South End gay bars: Club Café, dbar, and Cathedral Station
- Jamaica Plain’s Blend bar and Jacques’ Cabaret for drag
- Holiday harbor cruises with cocoa and live music
Where to eat & stay: Oleana in Cambridge for upscale Eastern Mediterranean, or Yvonne’s for glamorous New American in a supper club setting. Atlantic Fish Company for New England seafood. Stay at The Envoy Hotel (rooftop igloos!) or Aloft Seaport (modern, walkable to waterfront). Rooms $180-280/night.
BONUS: New Orleans Gay Christmas & New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
If you’re still going after all that, ring in 2026 the New Orleans way: with massive queer parties, Mardi Gras-style parades, and a Fleur de Lis drop over the Mississippi at midnight. Bourbon Street’s gay bars (Bourbon Pub & Parade, Oz, The Phoenix) throw huge NYE bashes, while the French Quarter hosts the Sugar Bowl Parade during the day on December 31. It’s festive, it’s boozy, and it’s unapologetically queer.
Things to do:
- Jackson Square Fleur de Lis drop and fireworks at midnight (best views from Crescent Park or Algiers ferry)
- Sugar Bowl Parade through the French Quarter (Dec 31, daytime)
- Bourbon Street gay bars: Bourbon Pub & Parade, Oz, and The Phoenix for NYE parties
- The Allways Lounge for drag, Country Club for drag brunches
- Krampus parade and Jingle on the Boulevard events
Where to eat & stay: Cochon for Cajun comfort food, or Commander’s Palace for classic New Orleans fine dining. Café du Monde for beignets (obviously). Stay in or near the French Quarter—Hotel Monteleone (iconic, carousel bar) or Soniat House (boutique, romantic). Book early, rooms $200-400/night during NYE.
