In the late 1800s, the Irish poet Oscar Wilde called homosexuality, “the love that dare not speak its name.” Nowadays, gay people not only speak their name loudly and proudly but celebrate their orientation with parades all over the country. One of the best parades takes place in the progressive town of Austin, Texas.
The festivities begin with a parade on Saturday, August 10th at 11:00 am. The route goes from the Capitol Building down to Fourth St. and Congress. The day’s events are sponsored by the Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation. The Austin Pride Parade and Festival goes on all day long and over 400,000 people are expected to attend.
The Parade
The parade will include floats from LGBTQ organizations from around the state as well as local businesses. If you are interested in having a float in the parade, there is still time to register. Notable marchers in the past have included a large white unicorn, people dressed entirely in colorful balloons and gentlemen dressed in rainbow-colored Vegas showgirl headdresses. The Lone Star State is still a conservative place, and you are likely to see a protester or two yelling into the wind and waving signs sporting biblical quotes during these Austin City attractions.
The Festival
When the parade is finished, the festival begins. The event takes place at Fiesta Gardens where they will have plenty of food and drink. Some of Austin’s finest restaurants are sure to participate and you will never want for a colorful souvenir.
There are three stages with musical acts and drag shows. A lot of local organizations have tables at the festival, so you can find out how you can be proactive in the fight for equal rights. Tickets to the festival are free for kids under 6, $10 for kids 7 to 17 and $20 for those over 17. The kiddies will enjoy carnival rides and drag queen storytime.
Where to Stay for Austin City Attractions
The Austin Pride Parade and Festival is a popular destination for people from all over the south. Hotel owners look forward to all the money they will make on the tiny little rooms they offer. Why not rent a huge downtown Austin rental with a comfortable living room with plenty of seating, a state-of-the-art kitchen, sparkling clean bathrooms and private bedrooms with lots of closet space? The vacation experts at Austin Vacation Rentals can find your beautiful vacation home. Our homes go fast, so call us today at 833-241-7651. Check out our villas today!
