Cologne, Germany boasts approximately one LGBT resident for every ten individuals city-wide — and the resultant explosion of gay and lesbian culture, from bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs to the city’s spectacular Pride events, has won Cologne distinction as the gay capitol of the country.
Gay pride has become integral to Cologne’s cultural identity, according to a report in the Star Observer. Nowhere is this pride more evident than in the Christopher Street Day weekend, a cluster of high-profile events celebrating the culmination of ColognePride.
According to the city’s gay calendar, Pride runs from June 18 to early July. The event draw hundreds of thousands of participants and is expected to host more than 500,000 in 2011. ColognePride concludes with four signature events: the Cologne AIDS gala, the Christopher Street Day Festival, the Colour dance party and the Christopher Street Day parade. Each event offers something different for festival goers and features prominently in the city’s LGBT social scene.
The AIDS gala is perhaps the most glamorous event of the weekend; but for those who prefer a more casual vibe, the Christopher Street Day Festival runs through the weekend and offers outdoor market stands and entertainment throughout the Old Town portion of the city. ColognePride ends with a massive Pride parade, during which more than 30,000 participants will process from the right bank of the Rhine through the city and finally to the Cologne Cathedral.
