With summer just around the corner, our thoughts are starting to turn to balmy beach vacations, long afternoons spent sipping cocktails in the sunshine, and, of course, celebrating Pride.
Every year, the world’s most iconic Pride events beckon with promises of joyous festivities, cultural richness, unforgettable memories, and the celebration of love, inclusivity, and equality. So much more than just a fabulous party – although it is that too – Pride shares a significant and powerful message of support, strength, and acceptance.
From the tropical charm of Key West Pride to the electrifying energy of São Paulo’s grand parade, here we’ll explore the top 5 unique Pride events to visit this year.
At Air Partner, we are committed to making every flight an extension of the celebration, so we’ll be sure to help get your Pride party started in style. With 24 global offices and a worldwide network of industry-leading experts, we can ensure a bespoke, seamless, and luxurious travel experience that sets the tone for what is sure to be an extraordinary trip.
São Paulo Pride
Parade date: June 2, 2024
A must-visit event on the global Pride calendar, São Paulo Pride, held every June, is an exuberant, five-day festival that culminates in the world's largest Pride parade. Drawing over three million participants from all corners of the globe, it transforms Avenida Paulista into a pulsating sea of colour, music, and celebration. Expect incredible costumes, decadent floats, and a nonstop carnival atmosphere with live music ranging from samba to electronic dance. Visitors can also enjoy an array of activities in the weeks leading up to the parade, including engaging cultural fairs, buzzy street markets, art exhibitions, live performances, and thought-provoking seminars on LGBTQ+ rights and history.
As a city, São Paulo is a thriving, sky-scraper-strewn metropolis brimming with creative talent, cultural institutions, and an impressive fashion, food, and nightlife scene. As Brazil’s financial hub, it is home to a wide range of high-end amenities, including elegant hotels like Fasano, Emiliano, and the Rosewood, which offers guests an exclusive Pride Experience package.
With diverse neighbourhoods to explore and some of the country’s best galleries, restaurants, shopping malls, and museums, you will never be short of something to do in this cosmopolitan gem. And, while the city isn’t on the ocean, the state of São Paulo offers a wealth of white-sand beaches to unwind on after the festivities. If you fancy extending your Brazilian stay, the ever-popular Rio de Janeiro is just an hour’s flight away.
Most Convenient Airport: Campo de Marte Airport (RTE) is located 15 minutes from the city centre and is a designated private charter airport suitable for small jets. Nearby Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Congonhas-São Paulo Airport (CGH), both conveniently located within a 30-minute drive of the city centre, can accommodate aircraft of all sizes. All three options offer luxury lounges and VIP services for private jet passengers.
Madrid PrideParade date: June 6, 2024
Arguably the best and largest Pride event in Europe, Madrid Pride, or Madrid Orgullo as it is known locally, brings a lively and inclusive festival atmosphere to Spain’s dynamic capital city.
The event lasts over a week, from the end of June into early July, with most of the programme taking place in the city’s bustling gay neighbourhood, Chueca. The highlight is, of course, the Pride Parade, which sees some 2 million people line the streets between Atocha and Plaza de Colón to watch the buses, floats, and performers pass by in all their fabulous glory.
During the festival, there are heaps of activities, including the Mr. Gay Pride Spain competition, the ever-popular High Heel Race (a running race through the city’s cobbled streets where participants must wear heels of at least 4 inches!), and cultural events such as film screenings, open-air concerts, art exhibitions, and the LGBTQI+ Human Rights Conference, Madrid Summit.
Madrid has enough architecture, shopping, galleries, museums, bars, and restaurants to keep anyone entertained. Culture aficionados will relish a private tour of the Royal Palace or Prado Museum, while fashionistas will enjoy exploring the designer boutiques in the upscale Salamanca district.
The dining scene is divine, and you’ll find everything from authentic tapas and haunts to glitzy rooftop restaurants and lavish Michelin-starred delights. And, with a choice of plush hotels, including offerings from the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental Ritz, you’ll be able to unwind in the lap of luxury.
Most Convenient Airport: Located only 10 miles from the city centre, arriving at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) allows you to reach Madrid’s sights and hotels in under 30 minutes by car. The airport operates 24 hours a day, can accommodate aircraft of all sizes, and has multiple VIP lounges available to private jet customers.
Key West Pride
Parade date: June 9, 2024
Located on the southernmost tip of Florida, Key West is renowned for its “One Human Family” mantra and year-round Pride displays, including rainbow crosswalks. However, during the annual five-day Pride festival held in June, the entire island city comes to life in a joyous, heartwarming celebration of love and equality.
Visitors can enjoy an exciting program of events, including street fairs, wine-tasting sessions, food tours, pool parties, and drag shows. The Pride Parade, which takes place down famous Duval Street, is the highlight and will feature colourful floats, marching bands, and revellers in vibrant costumes.
However, it's not just the atmosphere that makes Key West so special – it's the history. For Pride 2003, Gilbert Baker, the legendary artist responsible for creating the rainbow flag symbol, chose Key West as the location to construct and unveil a 1.25-mile-long rainbow flag, the longest in the world. It was carried down Duval Street and stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, or from “sea to sea”. Today, a carefully preserved 100-foot section of the flag is carried during the annual parade, and witnessing it is something that will stay with you forever.
Outside the celebrations, this aquamarine island paradise offers a laid-back vibe, colourful Caribbean-style architecture, mouth-watering cuisine, thrilling water sports, and miles and miles of soft sandy beaches to laze away the sun-drenched days.
Most Convenient Airport: For the most direct flight, Key West International Airport (EYW) is only a 15-minute drive from Duval Street and even less from many of the city’s leading hotels and guest houses. Alternatively, for a scenic drive to the Keys, opt for Miami International Airport (MIA) or Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF), both of which also offer short-hop flights and helicopter transfers to Key West.
Amsterdam Pride
Parade date: August 3, 2024
As one of the first countries to enact LGBT rights legislation, the Netherlands has long been recognised as one of the most gay-friendly nations in the world, and Amsterdam, its capital, embodies this spirit wholeheartedly. So much so, Amsterdam Pride, held annually from late July into early August, is known as one of the world's top Pride celebrations.
The programme features over 300 events, including a host of street parties, exhibitions, sporting feats, film screenings, and theatre shows. However, what truly sets Amsterdam Pride apart is its unique Canal Parade. Imagine vibrant, elaborately decorated boats gliding through the historic canals, with thousands of spectators lining the bridges and waterfronts, cheering and celebrating love and identity in all its forms. It is an unforgettable sight to behold.
As one of Europe’s most picturesque cities, Amsterdam provides visitors with a wealth of experiences to complement the world-class Pride festivities. Perusing the chic boutiques on P.C. Hooftstraat, sampling the creative food and café scene, taking a private boat tour through the UNESCO-protected Canal Ring, and paying a visit to one of the many stately museums and art galleries are amongst the must-dos.
Thankfully, the historic city centre is small and walkable, so a stroll is the best way to discover the charming architecture and quirky corners that make it so magical. When it comes to hotels, Amsterdam offers luxury travellers everything from exquisitely converted waterfront townhouses to storied grande dames.
Most Convenient Airport: Located under 30 minutes by a chauffeur from the city centre, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is a convenient choice. The airport can accommodate aircraft of all sizes and offers a designated private jet terminal with exceptional facilities and multiple VIP lounge options.
Chicago Pride
Parade date: June 30, 2024
Chicago is home to one of the oldest and largest Pride celebrations in the U.S., even giving the likes of New York a run for its money in the popularity stakes. The top events kick off with Pride Fest, a weekend street festival that usually occurs on the 3rd weekend of June and features live music, over 150 food vendors, and a jubilant atmosphere in the heart of the Northalsted neighbourhood (commonly referred to as Boystown), the first official gay neighbourhood in the country.
With performances from the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and the city’s top drag performers, to spectacles such as the High Heel Race and the adorable Proud Pet Parade, it promises a fun-filled weekend. Other much-loved events include the outdoor music festival, Pride in the Park, and Navy Pier Pride. The iconic Chicago Pride Parade traditionally draws the city’s month-long celebrations to an end in spectacular style, with millions of rainbow-draped supporters gathering in a dazzling display of pride and solidarity.
With its architectural marvels, sprawling shoreline, indulgent hotels, and an ever-increasing number of culinary delights, Chicago is a powerhouse of a city. Top activities include taking a private riverboat tour to see the sights, shopping the upmarket ‘Magnificent Mile’, exploring the bustling Navy Pier and Chicago Riverwalk, and visiting the Field Museum of Natural History and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Major League Baseball season will be well underway in June, so sports fans can even catch a White Sox or Cubs game. As for where to stay, the Windy City boasts a vast array of high-end hotels, including offerings from the likes of St. Regis Chicago and the Ritz-Carlton, with their far-reaching Lake Michigan views, as well as more intimate boutique abodes in the heart of hip neighbourhoods.
Most Convenient Airport: Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) is the city’s premier choice for private aircraft of all sizes and is conveniently located around 25 miles from Downtown Chicago and many of the top hotels.
Arrive in style with Air Partner
At Air Partner, we understand that behind every special occasion is a journey that sets the tone. Whether you are looking to attend one Pride event or fly to multiple cities' celebrations, travel as part of a large group, or experience a solo flight to relax after the festivities, we are here to help.
From managing intricate itineraries to organising VIP lounges, developing personalised menus, and bringing your ideas to life, our expert Account Managers are committed to ensuring that you not only travel with the utmost flexibility, convenience, and comfort but that every flight feels like an extension of the celebration. For more information, contact our Private Jets team today.
