The São Paulo LGBTQIA+ Parade takes place every year uninterrupted since its first event in 1997 and has become the largest gay parade in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records and the second most important event in the city – right after the Formula One race that takes place in Interlagos.
Although officially it is a 5 day event with the parade being the highlight, the party starts 3 weeks before with everything from debates, music concerts, dance performances, cultural fairs, and much more. The São Paulo Gay Pride usually takes place every year in June.
The official meeting time is at 12 noon but the area will be packed by participants and bystanders from early morning. Furthermore, the march itself does not start to move before 2 or 3 pm. The route takes the participants along Rua da Consolacao, to Praça Rooselvelt, where the event eventually ends. The focal points of the parade are the 25 or so themed floats, called Trio elétricos. To get to the parade take the metrô to Trianon-Masp or Consolação stations along Linha 2 – Verde, which runs the length of Avenida Paulista. Festivities continue late into the night at Praça Rooselvelt.
The mega event is strongly supported by the State and the City of São Paulo, counts with a solid security plan, and is sponsored by some of the most important companies of Brazil. The LGBTQIA+ Pride Sao Paulo attracts over 3 million people, receives over 400,000 tourists and moves over US$100 million. The event draws the attention of the press worldwide as well as to the hundreds of thousands of curious people that line up themselves along the parade’s route.
Known as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly destinations, São Paulo is a no-brainer place to celebrate Pride. If you have time to spare between night-long dance parties, check out Museu da Diversidade Sexual (Museum of Sexual Diversity). Here, you’ll learn more about Brazil’s LGBTQIA+ history and understand the significance of today’s Pride movement in Brazilian culture.
LGBTQIA+ best neighbourhoods to stay, clubs and bars
In general, the best part of town to stay in is in “bairro” Jardins, with all the shops on your doorstep and the gay bars and clubs nearby. Jardins / Cerqueira César is a district across from Avenida Paulista and home to upscale restaurants, chic fashion stores and several hotel options. Most are within a 15 to 20-minute walking distance from the gay hotspots in Frei Caneca This is one of the top neighborhoods of “Sampa”! Among other areas that is nice and could be considered are:
Frei Caneca / Consolação: Known locally as Gay Caneca, this gayborhood is full of gay and gay-friendly venues and is situated between the bustling Avenida Paulista and the uber gay Shopping Frei Caneca. Most of the city’s gay nightlife revolves around this district, especially at Aloka Club, one of the longest-running in the city.
Largo do Arouche / Centro: Everyone is welcome in this cheap and cheerful district, attracting all shades of the gay rainbow, from Bears to Transsexuals. Largo do Arouche is a section of the greater Downtown area (known as Centro). Among the clubs very welcomed to check is Danger Dance Club, a popular spot and home to EDM drinks, drag queens, and muscle guys.
Pinheiros: an up and coming district popular with hipsters and younger gay guys. The neighbourhood is home to a famous Saturday outdoor fair at Praça Benedito Calixto, which is pretty cool to check!
Bela Vista: centres on charming Bixiga or Little Italy, with plenty of homey trattorias and pizza parlours along and around Rua Treze de Maio. Narrow streets lead to the wide Avenida Paulista, the city’s economic and commercial nerve centre, lined with fashion boutiques, stylish cafes and cultural hotspots.
* For airline tickets from the United States to Brazil or Latin America, custom travel packages, hotels and alternative stays, contact our travel agent and tour organizer Magali DaSilva.
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