How To Make The Most Of Oregon’s Winter Pride

I was at a vision boarding party last year at a lesbian-owned bookstore (shoutout to Denver’s Petals & Pages) when I realized one of my goals for 2024 was to attend more queer events—especially for Pride. As Pride is generally in June, though, I figured I’d have to wait a while. That is, until I got an email inviting me to check out Winter PrideFest in Bend, Oregon. 

What’s Winter Pride Fest, you ask? Just another gay ski week? While it does consist of some skiing, there are actually other activities to enjoy throughout. That’s good because, well, I don’t ski. In fact, this small but mighty Pride has been running since 2018 and welcomes hundreds of people from all over the world who, like me, don’t always feel like waiting until June for our rainbow-laden shenanigans. The event generally takes place in early March and this year’s happens March 6th through 9th.

Winter PrideFest always begins with a fun community event called the Winter Snocial. This outdoor Pride kick-off party was held outdoors underneath a massive tent in the Old Mill District. March in Oregon means parka weather, but there were enough heaters and people (and booze, if that’s your thing) to keep us all warm. Even hotter were the drag performances by a slew of queens including RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, WILLAM. This year, the Winter Snocial will feature Spikey Van D, Tashia, and Majestic ALL CAPS. This all-ages event will be held at the Volcanic Theatre Pub on March 6. Start your weekend off right! 

But of course, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. The main event, of course, is skiing on Mt. Bachelor. You can ski Friday, Saturday, or both days and enjoy a few Pride Runs with your crew! Or you can simply enjoy the lodge party like I did. If you’re opting out of skiing, though, you’ve got plenty of other options to choose from.

WIGS: An Icebreaker is one of the most family-friendly events where you can ice skate (or simply spectate) as well as enjoy all-ages drag performances. My favorite moment from last year’s was when a proud Lady Gaga enthusiast in a pastel rainbow wig gave it their all to “Born This Way.” This year’s Icebreaker event will be hosted by Lylac, with performances by Deco Llatage, Amora Namor, and others, and remains one of the few totally free events of the weekend.

From there, you can opt to go on a night snowshoe hike and campfire experience hosted by Wanderlust Tours, or head to PrideFest Comedy Night (which is way more my speed). The latter is where I found most of the queer women in town were hanging out! Maybe that’s because Dana Goldberg was headlining. And she was, indeed, a treat. I was also introduced to another funny comedian, Logan Escobar! This year’s comedians include Zack Binder and Juno Men opening for must-see headliner Erin Foley.

Saturday culminates in the big Winter PrideFest dance, taking place at Silver Moon Brewing this year. Sadly I opted out of this as I’m an elder millennial who turns into a pumpkin after a certain hour of the night. But honestly? I regret missing out, so please go!

If you don’t ski and are looking for activities outside of Winter Pride on Saturday or any other day, exploring the surrounding area is another great option that won’t disappoint.  There are tons of LGBTQIA+ businesses in town, plus other points of interest you’re going to want to check out while there.

For one, I highly recommend grabbing some brunch and coffee (a latte, more specifically) at Turtle Island Coffee Shop. Indigenous, queer, and two-spirit owned, this place has all the vibes you want with your daily cup of caffeine. I had the Pow-Wow Bowl, which was scrambled eggs atop Native American wild rice, plus dates, berries, and more. Nearly a year later, I am still craving it. Bo’s Falafel was another gem in town. This queer-owned brunch spot has some of the most legit falafel sandwiches I’ve ever had. And while I didn’t have the bagels, I’d be surprised if they weren’t just as good. Queer-owned and operated Spork also has a bevy of scrumptious eats on the menu ranging from lomo saltado to dan dan noodles. And finally, don’t forget to pick up a cardamom-infused ocean roll or five from The Sparrow Bakery—they will truly haunt you in the very best way.

As for drinks, there’s a great brewery scene in Bend, and I highly recommend a stop at 10 Barrel Brewing Co (East or West), Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House, or Bevel Craft Brewing. If you’re more of a cocktail person, Velvet in Downtown Bend is also a solid spot. Everyone I spoke to while in Bend also seemed to have a soft spot for McMenamin’s, a former 1936 Catholic schoolhouse that’s been converted into a hotel, pub, brewery, movie theater, and live music venue.

Other than stuffing your face with delicious food and drink, you can also visit the otters and owls (and other animal pals) at the High Desert Museum or catch an indie flick at the Tin Pan Theater. Or if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you can do as I did and visit the The Last Blockbuster, which still rents out movies and sells plenty of nostalgia merch.

If you’re traveling to Winter PrideFest and looking for a place to rest your head, Campfire Hotel and Waypoint Hotel are both hosting the event. The Waypoint is pet-friendly and has a pool, hot tub, cruiser bikes for rent, and outdoor fire pits. Last year, I stayed at the queer-run Campfire Hotel and loved my room. It had plenty of vintage touches including an old-school radio and rotary-style phone. Also fun: each room has a musical instrument you can bring out to play around the on-site campfire. Upon checking in, people were already getting into the Pride spirit at the on-site lounge bar called The Canteen (where you can grab drinks like the Bee Sting or the Rye An Gosling). Others were already enjoying a dip in the heated, salt-water pool, which is open year-round. Both hotels are good options and a walkable distance (or short Uber/Lyft ride) from Downtown Bend and all the Pride festivities.

While I won’t be able to make it to this year’s Winter PrideFest, it’ll always have a soft spot in my heart. You’ll happily bump into familiar faces at every event and get to pack in a lot of different activities in a single weekend (comedy! ice skating! drag bingo! snowshoeing! dancing!) Plus it’s in a queer-friendly small town so you can feel good about spending your money there.  It hasn’t been a great start of the year for our community, so I think it’s more important than ever for us to seek out joy and connection as much and as often as we can. And if it comes in the form of funny lesbians, drag brunches, and watching queer youth live their truth? I’ll take it.