Up and coming in gay Las Vegas
This year, Las Vegas celebrated its 40th Pride, but it has plenty of LGBTQIA+ offerings for folks of all ages and persuasions all year round. Here’s what’s coming up this year and next.
Get your cowboy on
Nevada Gay Rodeo (NGRA) presents Cowboy Bingo Night on December 23 at Quadz Video Bar Las Vegas. Join the gang and make new friends in a fun and relaxed environment. Cocktail hour starts at 6:30PM and Bingo begins at 7:00PM with fabulous raffle prizes to be won.
Get sporty
The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) recently announced that at least 19 sports will be participating in the 17th annual Sin City Classic Sports Festival Presented by Lexus. The 2024 Festival, which is the largest annual LGBTQIA+ sporting event in the world, will take place in Las Vegas from January 11 – 14, 2024, and include a new exhibition in Rodeo. Each year the Flamingo Las Vegas hosts the Sin City Classic, which now sees the participation of over 10,000 LGBTQIA+ athletes and allies from around the world.
“The Sin City Classic has become a staple of the LGBTQIA+ sports community. Each year we work hard to create a safe space for our athletes to gather for a weekend of competition, fun, and – mostly importantly – community,” said Sin City Classic Co-Executive Director Jason Peplinski. “As the festival grows and evolves with a diverse roster of both sports and participants, this year we’re welcoming the LGBTQIA+ Rodeo to show off their sport to our attendees.”
For more information about the Sin City Classic or to register your team, please visit www.sincityclassic.org.
Additional sports hosting competitions at this year’s festival include: Bowling, Bridge, Cheerleading, and so much more. The festival kicks off with the Opening Night Registration Party. Competitions and nightly social events take place around the city, with the weekend culminating in the Closing Party at The LINQ Promenade’s Brooklyn Bowl.
Take a hike
And if you’re feeling fit before then, join in the free fun with Las Vegas PRIDE OUTside Hike. This monthly, outdoors event for all ages in the heart of Las Vegas Valley takes in scenic locations such as Cathedral Rock and Mary Jane Falls Trail. Walk at your own pace, bring snacks and plenty of water, and be ready to meet new friends in a healthy activity. This event is an initiative of The Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc., which produces, promotes, and supports numerous LGBTQIA+ Community Events throughout the year.
Make a splash
Pool season may be over for this year but there are two tempting pool parties to put in your calendar for 2024! Temptation Sundays at Luxor Hotel & Casino is the hottest and longest running LGBTQIA+ pool party in Las Vegas. Returning in May 2024, this is the perfect place to make a splash, soak up the sun, and sip a cooling cocktail. Guest DJs serve up the right vibes poolside — and be sure to keep your eyes out for the occasional celebrity drop-in. Host and nightlife impresario Eduardo Cordova guarantees you a good time in an accepting atmosphere!
With next year’s Elevate PRIDE Pool Party at SAHARA Las Vegas the LGBTQIA+ community can gather in a safe space and enjoy an inclusive, off-the-rails soirée at this rooftop bash on The Strip. Don’t miss out on a day filled with fun, laughter and unapologetic self-expression for those 21 and above, every Saturday from 11:00AM – 6:00PM at Retro Pool at SAHARA Las Vegas. Half of ticket proceeds are donated to PRIDE and your ticket includes free parking and valet. Feel like a VIP with cabana and daybed rentals. Book here for the upcoming season.
Fun for all the family
Las Vegas PRIDE Family Bingo invites you and your friends and family on the first Wednesday of every month at the beautiful Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. Come early, get settled in for dining and beverage services which begin at 6:00PM. Bingo begins promptly at 7:00PM. Families and youth are invited to this 100 percent smoke-free event and service animals are permitted.
Also big on family values is the Annual Henderson Pride Festival, held every spring. This series of events celebrates cultural diversity and promotes family values, health and wellness in all its forms. The City of Henderson aims to provide residents and visitors alike with an outstanding quality of life and Pride is one way to showcase its growing, vibrant LGBTQIA+ community.
Trendy and trending
For an elevated dining experience while in Las Vegas, head to the Arts District area and savor a menu of delights courtesy of James Beard Award-winning chef Todd English at The Pepper Club. This new culinary hot spot offers brunch, happy hour and dinner. It’s no secret that everyone loves brunch, and this is about as good as it gets as you take the first bite into Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny. If you’d like to get a little adventurous, how about the Japanese-fried chicken thigh or matcha-marbled waffle with maple syrup?
For healthy or hearty eats to fuel a great gay night out, head to The Garden, a chic and intimate LGBTQ lounge bar also located in the Arts District. At The Garden you will receive friendly service and a welcoming ambience with your craft cocktails, salads, pastas and burgers. The Garden was voted Best LGBTQ Bar by Las Vegas Weekly and offers happy hour specials and theme nights which you can find out about here.
Check in and check it out!
Now you can stay truly gay in Las Vegas when you check in to the newest LGBTQ+ boutique hotel in resurgent downtown. At Bent Inn Las Vegas you can relax, be yourself, and meet others who accept you as you are in a midcentury modern-meets-industrial ambience, playfully decorated with gay men in mind! This adults-only hotel is brought to you by Greg Kafka and Mark Hunter, the former owners of the successful Escape Resort and Desert Paradise in Palm Springs. Locally-owned and operated, this is the only 21+ gay resort in Las Vegas, with 33 rooms, a heated adults-only swimming pool, a relaxing garden, and resort amenities. And while the Bent Inn has a gastropub and poolside food truck, it’s also conveniently located within walking distance of the various eateries, the Fremont Street Experience, casinos and more. Bent Inn opens on November 22, make your reservation here.
Serving Vegas realness
Your night out in Vegas would not be complete without RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE! This is an original production based on the Emmy Award-winning competition reality drag show. Join RuPaul’s incomparable showgirls as they journey through a sickening season of Drag Race serving the Las Vegas realness — only found at the iconic Flamingo Las Vegas!
As you plan out your trip to Las Vegas, check out these incredible hotel deals. Plus, here’s a few things to do that you can add to your trip itinerary while you’re in the destination!
