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Vamps, Tramps & Naked People: An LGBTQ+ Guide to Halloween Across America

Travel Tips | Blue Monroe | October 1, 2025 | Homepage

It’s officially spooky szn and you know the (mostly true) stereotype: Gay Christmas takes form in Halloween. With the 31st fast approaching, it’s time to finalize your plans and perfect that costume. To help you haunt in style, we’ve pulled together the top LGBTQ+ Halloween events across the country. Whether your look is skimpy, scary, or politically charged, get ready to show off your… spirit.

From coast to coast, these celebrations are calling your name.

Note: These LGBTQ+ Halloween events are on the 31st unless otherwise noted.

Top 2025 LGBTQ+ Halloween Events Across the U.S.A.

A dynamic daddy duo of superhero enthusiasts happily pose together for a photo at Wicked Manors, Fort Lauderdales top LGBTQ+ Halloween event

Fort Lauderdale: Wicked Manors

While Florida politics might be the scariest thing in the state, Fort Lauderdale delivers a ghostly affair with Wicked Manors. This massive queer street party on Wilton Drive transforms into a fantastical queer masquerade. This year’s theme, “Eden After Dark: Temptation Awaits,” promises a night of forbidden fun and mythical creatures.

Four friends having a blast at Spooky Bear in Provincetown, a popular LGBTQ+ halloween event, wearing bear hats and trendy overalls.

Provincetown LGBTQ+ Halloween Event: Spooky Bear

The tip of the Cape gets bear-y spooky for Halloween. Spooky Bear weekend in P-Town features a packed schedule of parties, street entertainment, and events designed for every kind of zombie, angel, demon twink, daddy, and bear. It’s the perfect, celebratory end to the season.

A cheerful bunch of friends in colorful costumes depicting voodoo dolls, ready to have a blast at Halloween New Orleans, a top LGBTQ+ event

New Orleans: Halloween New Orleans (HNO)

Get ready to get campy in the Big Easy. Halloween New Orleans hosts a legendary weekend of fundraising parties, now celebrating 42 years of supporting those affected by AIDS. The theme is “Myths & Legends,” so prepare for an epic weekend of gods, monsters, and heroes. And since you’re in one of America’s most haunted cities, be sure to schedule some time to explore NOLA’s creepiest corners on a ghost tour through its infamous cemeteries.

A lively street scene with a bunch of people wearing costumes for the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, a top LGBTQ+ Halloween event

West Hollywood: Halloween Costume Carnaval

Join half a million festival-goers at the world’s biggest Halloween street party. The West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval shuts down Santa Monica Boulevard for an outdoor spectacle, complete with a costume contest and the crowning of an honorary “Queen of the Carnaval.” The wilder the costume, the better. The parade runs from 6 to 11 p.m., and with dozens of gay bars nearby, the after-parties are a given.

Group of guys in drag wearing waitress costumes with high heels for the 17th Street High Heel Race, a top LGBTQ+ Halloween event in Washington DC

Washington D.C.: 17th Street High Heel Drag Race

Held the Tuesday before Halloween (October 28th), the DC High Heel Drag Queen Race is a political spectacle our forefathers would surely approve of. Thousands gather at Dupont Circle to watch nearly 100 drag queens in full regalia and stilettos race down 17th Street. Expect tumbles, flair, and fierce competition.

Group of guys dressed at unicorns for Halloween Palm Springs on Arenas Road, a top LGBTQ+ Halloween event

Palm Springs: Halloween on Arenas Road

Think your costume has what it takes to win? Head to the desert for Halloween on Arenas Road on Friday, October 31st. Party-goers compete for over $1,800 in prizes in categories from scariest to most creative. Even if you don’t snatch a prize, you can still cut loose and dance the night away in Palm Springs to the electrifying beats of Dev. We call that a win-win, honey.

Three men dressed as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus for the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade in Chicago

Chicago: Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

Midwestern ghosts and ghouls take over Northalsted for the 28th Annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade & Costume Contest. The streets of Chicago come alive with an extravagant parade showcasing fiercely creative costumes. The competition is stiff, with cash prizes for the scariest, most original, and best drag creations.

Salt Lake City: The HallowQueen Ball

Utah Pride is resurrecting its Halloween fundraiser as The HallowQueen Ball on October 31, 2025. Held at the historic Masonic Temple, the night’s centerpiece is a high-stakes costume competition with a $2,500 grand prize, judged by celebrity guests. This 21+ event features a multi-floor party with live DJs and food trucks, with proceeds supporting the Utah Pride Center. Tickets are $30 and available at utahpride.org.

Group of friends dressed in costume for the Henri David Ball in Philadelphia

Philadelphia: Henri David Presents: Halloween The Ball

Since 1968, queer jewelry maestro Henri David has hosted Philly’s most vibrant and Instagram-worthy bash. While Henri’s own costume is always the main event, his guests consistently give him a run for his money. This is where you go to see and be seen.

Staged performer at Gay Bash'd in Boston for Halloween event

Boston: Gay Bash’d Halloween

Gay Bash’d, a queer artist-run collective, brings back its annual Halloween Bash. This Boston event is known for its edgy drag performances that pair shock value with undeniable talent, creating a space for the city’s genderqueer community and allies.

A group of guys dressed as aliens in the colors of the Pride rainbow flag at Fantasy Fest in Key West for a top LGBTQ+ Halloween event

Key West Fantasy Fest: The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Halloween Party

For a truly hedonistic experience, Key West’s Fantasy Fest is a 10-day, no-holds-barred party (October 17–26th) filled with costumes, body paint, and debauchery. This year’s theme, “Bedtime Stories & Magical Monsters,” invites you into a world of enchanted tales. While some events are family-friendly, many are geared toward adults, like the Desire Male Fetish Party and the Tops or Bottoms underwear party.

A friendly man with spooky makeup and a knife, ready to scare you with his Halloween costume at New York's Village Halloween Parade -- a top LGBTQ+ Halloween event

New York City: The Village Halloween Parade

At 7 p.m. on October 31st, Greenwich Village erupts into a massive celebration of creativity. To join the Village Halloween Parade, you must be in costume—no exceptions. With 50,000 marchers and countless spectators, it’s an epic spectacle of music, dance, and all things Halloween.

A jolly green witch balloon happily glides along the street, spreading Halloween cheer at Rehoboth Beach Sea Witch Halloween event

Rehoboth Beach: The Sea Witch Festival

The most family-friendly event on our list, the Sea Witch Festival takes over Halloween weekend. By day, kids march through town in their costumes. By night, the queers take over Rehoboth Beach. Head to Blue Moon Restaurant and Bar, where costumes are encouraged for its legendary drag show.

Drag queens get ready for the New Hope High Heel Race, a top LGBTQ+ Halloween event

New Hope: High Heel Drag Race

On October 26th, hang with your ghoul-friends on the banks of the Delaware River. Sponsored by New Hope Celebrates, this one-block race requires runners in 3”+ heels to carry a pumpkin up a hill, decorate it, and race back down without it breaking. It’s as chaotic and fabulous as it sounds.

Members of the sisters of perpetual indulgence

San Francisco: Halloween in the Castro

This Halloween, the Castro comes alive with the Castro Night Market: Halloween Edition! The event brings together fabulous local food vendors, creative merchants, and a vibrant dose of queer community spirit. It’s a free, open-to-all celebration where costumes, culture, and camp collide — so grab your spookiest (or cutest) look and join the fun in one of the world’s most iconic LGBTQ+ neighborhoods.

Now, Unleash the Halloween Queen Within at one of these LGBTQ+ Halloween Events

So, whether you’re looking for a ghoulish bash in the Big Apple, a frightful soirée on the West Coast or a spooky drag show, there’s no shortage of Halloween events that celebrate and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. Remember, Halloween is about being whoever or whatever you want to be, so let your imagination run wild, embrace the chaos, and above all, have a hauntingly fantastic time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest LGBTQ+ Halloween events in the USA?

The West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval is the largest, drawing half a million people. Key West’s Fantasy Fest is a massive 10-day festival, and Halloween New Orleans is a multi-day charity event that takes over the city.

Which cities host LGBTQ+ Halloween parades?

Several cities host major parades, including New York City (The Village Halloween Parade) and Chicago (Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade). While not a parade, Washington D.C. hosts the iconic 17th Street High Heel Drag Race, another can’t-miss street spectacle.

Is Fantasy Fest in Key West LGBTQ+ friendly?

Absolutely. Fantasy Fest is famous for its hedonistic, anything-goes atmosphere and is extremely popular with LGBTQ+ travelers. Many of its themed parties, like the Desire Male Fetish Party, are specifically geared toward a queer audience.

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