Celebrating Pride Festival and Pride Month in Saugatuck

Although Saugatuck gay pride is ever-present – intrinsic to our quaint town’s cultural fabric and always celebrated – LGBTQ+ festivities hit a high point in June, when the Pride Parade, Pride in the Park, and other events turn Saugatuck and Douglas into a Pride party to rival any. This event always sells out so we recommend that you book early for June. Learn about Saugatuck’s fascinating history and importance in gay culture, support LGBTQ+-owned local businesses, and ring in Pride month with thousands of like-minded revelers on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.

Saugatuck’s Legacy of Pride – A Century of Art, Open-Mindedness, and Tolerance

Saugatuck’s roots as an LGBTQ+-friendly town and travel destination stretch back over a century, closely linked with the arrival of the famed Ox-Bow School of Art residency program in 1908. As talented artists flocked to Saugatuck every summer to paint, study, and socialize, they brought an open-minded attitude and willingness to push the boundaries of expression. In addition to daring perspectives in their art, the scene surrounding Ox-Bow fostered a sense of freedom and acceptance, helping to plant the flag for Saugatuck and Douglas as the famed Art Coast of Michigan, where creativity thrives, and all are welcome.

A similar evolution occurred in Provincetown, where the Cape Cod School of Art was founded around the same time, attracting world-class artists to spend summers on the Cape painting and sparking a vibrant local arts culture. Like Provincetown, Saugatuck developed a reputation over the decades as a haven where LGBTQ+ lifestyles are accepted, promoted, and celebrated.

The bohemian spirit in Saugatuck blossomed during the 1950s and 60s when the Blue Tempo opened its doors as the first official gay bar in western Michigan. Other gay-focused establishments like the Dunes arrived in the 1980s, and today, you’ll see rainbow flags flying proudly everywhere you look, with numerous LGBTQ+-owned businesses throughout downtown.

Planning Your Perfect Saugatuck Pride Festival Weekend

Saugatuck gay pride takes center stage in early June when fun events fill the calendar for Pride Festival weekend. Kick it off on Friday, May 31st, by attending the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra show from 5:50-7 pm in Saugatuck at All Saints Parish, on the corner of Grand St and Hoffman St, just a 10-minute walk from our Saugatuck Hotel. Their non-profit music group supports the local arts and proudly hosts the performance as a launch-off for the Pride festivities. After the show, head over to downtown Douglas for the House Party at the Saugatuck Douglas History Center, where there will be more live music in the courtyard, food and drinks, and LGBTQ+ displays celebrating the inspiring history of Pride in our area.

On Saturday, June 1st, 2024, it’s officially pride party time, starting when long lines of rainbow-decorated floats meet at 10:30 am at Saugatuck High School for the Care-A-Van Pride Parade. The high school is just under a mile away on Elizabeth St, so take one of our bikes (available for free for Hotel Saugatuck guests) and cruise over to catch the start of the parade and follow along as they make their way to Beery Field in Douglas, where Pride in the Park goes all afternoon. The park becomes a massive celebration, with lively entertainment like the Gay Men’s Chorus, Drag Brunch, and local vendors selling delicious food. Bring a blanket and relax under the early summer sun, enjoying the LGBTQ+ community shining bright.

After the park festivities wind down, stroll across the street for a meal and cocktails at Everyday People Cafe, one of our favorite farm-to-table restaurants in Saugatuck. The smoked chicken thighs with locally sourced blue cheese or the shaved ribeye with mushrooms and onions from local farms feature on their upcoming seasonal menu, and their bar serves the best Saugatuck-area wines, ciders, beers, and creative cocktails.

Browsing at Local Galleries and LGBTQ+-Owned Boutiques

The next day, after a restful sleep and a leisurely start to your day enjoying the Kalamazoo Lake views, head out for some gallery-hopping and shopping at the many LGBTQ+-owned boutiques in Saugatuck and Douglas. Founders Guy and Steven have promoted diversity at Uncommon Coffee since they began roasting beans 30 years ago, and the new owners have continued in that same tradition with a rainbow-painted bench out front. Pick up a bag of their excellent beans, such as the Pride Blend and Love Wins, both bold exclamations for a love of coffee and tolerance.

Then head over to the Laffing Glass gallery, which showcases the glass art of proud LGBTQ+ owner and Saugatuck resident Leslie Fitzell. She uses a unique glass kiln technique to produce whimsical pieces of birds, fish, dogs, and flowers. In Douglas, an LGBTQ+ couple owns Lakeshore Pet Boutique, the only locally-run pet store in town. Amidst the rows of health-conscious pet treats, you’ll find unique items like Rainbow Pride dog toys. Stroll down Center St and check out the world-class art at Button Gallery, Water St Gallery, and the Ox-Bow House. Over the years, these galleries have all supported LGBTQ+ artists and embodied the open-mindedness of Saugatuck gay pride in their spaces.

A Not-To-Miss LGBTQ+ History Exhibit in Douglas, Plus Other Pride Events Throughout June

During your visit, be sure to also check out the Century of Progress exhibition at the Saugatuck Douglas History Center in downtown Douglas. The product of years of research, including recording oral histories from residents of western Michigan and gathering their stories related to LGBTQ+ culture, the exhibit presents a remarkable timeline from the early 1900s through the current day. You’ll learn about the challenges and successes, transcending stigmas and demonstrating Saugatuck's important role in the LGBTQ+ movement.

If you’re coming to Michigan later in June, the Pride celebration continues rolling, with Grand Haven Pride set to happen on June 8th, 2024. Grand Haven is just a 40-minute drive north—easy to make into a day trip from Saugatuck—and its 100%-volunteer-run Pride Day is impressive in scope, attracting over 5,000 people last summer. If you’re a runner, head 20 minutes north from Saugatuck to Holland on that same day, June 8th, for their Run with Pride 5k race, which raises money for Out on the Lakeshore, one of Western Michigan’s LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. At the end of June, on 6/29, Holland Pride will be an all-day celebration in Centennial Park, their 20th annual Pride event.

Stay with us, celebrate this summer, and show your pride!