Here’s how you can make your Labor Day weekend the gayest ever

There are hundreds of events happening during the week of Southern Decadence, featuring famous DJs from around the world, drag brunches and performances, dance events like Horsemeat Disco, and lots more. 

According to Southern Decadence founder Robert Laurent, “Cheers to Southern Decadence! What began in 1972 as an end-of-summer party among a small group of friends has transformed itself into a Quarter-wide weekend celebration. The first costume party was a farewell to Michael Evers, who was leaving New Orleans. Now, 41 years later, his spirit, wit and sense of frivolity continue, transformed into a celebration of Laissez les bon temps rouler!”

Considering Rehoboth is the “Nation’s Summer Capital,” you might expect that it puts on a good end-of-summer party. And you would be right. Sun Festival is full of dancing, beaching, and drinking.

Rehoboth Beach, DE is one of the more underrated LGBTQ+ beach towns in the US, but its sparkling Poodle Beach is always full of hot boys and girls. Plus, when Sun Fest kicks into high gear, Rehoboth becomes even gayer. Throughout the weekend, you’ll find dance parties, drag shows, and even a drag volleyball event.

You work hard every year, so why not celebrate with some Hard Labor? It sounds counterintuitive, but trust us: Hard Labor is the destination for all the bears, cubs, daddies, otters, and wolves who need to let off a little steam.

At this Fort Lauderdale blowout, you can expect dance parties, mixers, harness parties, leather parties, and –of course — pool parties.

Splash Days is a Labor Day weekend party raising funds from the LGBTQ+ community in Texas. The biggest event of the weekend, naturally, is the Splash Party. The kicker is that it takes place in the nudist-friendly park Hippy Hollow, which subsequently fills up with party barges. Over the years, the Splash Party has morphed into a weekend-long fête with parties all over the city.

Essentially a tea party, the Provincetown White Party might just be the classiest Labor Day party in the country. It’s the perfect excuse to come out to Provincetown for a long weekend of soirees, cocktails, and — of course — outrageous white outfits.

You can expect cocktails, entertainment, and fashion moments all afternoon long. As a bonus, your ticket cost benefits the essential Outer Cape Health Services. To cap it all off, you can attend the Tea Dance afterward.

Presented by Maine Street Gay Bar, Mr. Gay Ogunquit is a can’t-miss event that graces this gayborhood in Maine every summer. Come ogle at the beautiful men — or enter to show off what you worked on all summer! Maybe even earn some cash and prizes while you’re at it.

The events include best basket, best legs, best arms, best chest and, well, best everything. After the pageant, you can find out who won at the night’s tea dance.

Though Labor Day in Mexico actually happens in May, Puerto Vallarta knows all too well that the US boys need to let off steam come Labor Day. All weekend long, you can find parties galore in the good old PV. International DJs descend upon the city to deliver ragers, clothing-optional pool parties, drag brunches, and adults-only mixers. 

Saugatuck and Douglas are another destination for Labor Day revelers who want a little Michigan magic in their lives. Throughout Labor Day weekend, this gay hotspot plays host to tea dances, live shows, and international DJs. Events also include karaoke, cabaret shows, drag bingo, and a pool party, and last from Thursday through Sunday.