ORLANDO’S BiGGEST PRiDE PLAYGROUND IS CALLiNG
Your Ultimate Guide to One Magical Weekend & Bear Jamboree 2026
Every June, Orlando becomes something extraordinary.
Not just a vacation destination. Not just a theme park capital. For one glorious, sweaty, glittersoaked weekend, it becomes a queer universe all its own — filled with circuit beats, poolside flirtation, chosen family reunions, drag, bears, dance floors, and thousands upon thousands of LGBTQ+ people celebrating Pride together under the Florida sun.
That’s the magic behind One Magical Weekend and Bear Jamboree, the sister events that now anchor one of the biggest LGBTQ+ gatherings in the country. Together, they create two distinct but interconnected experiences: One Magical Weekend delivers the massive high-energy Pride spectacle, while Bear Jamboree brings a warm, body-positive, bear-centered community vibe with nonstop entertainment and connection.
And if you haven’t booked yet? There’s still time to throw a few swimsuits in a bag and join the fun.
From Disney water-park takeovers and legendary pool parties to after-hours dance events that stretch until sunrise, this is the kind of weekend people talk about all year long. Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning veteran, here’s your complete guide to the can’t-miss moments of Pride weekend in Orlando.
ONE MAGICAL WEEKEND 2026
One Magical Weekend remains one of the largest LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations in the country, blending world-class nightlife with Disney magic and thousands of queer travelers ready to celebrate all weekend long. The energy here is big, glamorous, sexy, and nonstop.
THURSDAY, JUNE 4 — THE ARRIVAL ENERGY
Thursday is all about anticipation. Travelers pour into Orlando, hotel lobbies buzz with excitement, and the first parties kick off what quickly becomes a nonstop celebration.
DAYTIME
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 — RIPTIDE TAKES OVER
Friday is when the weekend truly explodes into full Pride mode.
Hotel Check-In & Poolside Meetups
12PM -4PM— Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort
Thursday daytime is the unofficial social kickoff, with attendees arriving early, grabbing cocktails by the pool, reconnecting with friends, and settling into the Pride atmosphere.
NIGHTTIME
THERAPY Pool Party — Day 1
#TBT Welcome Party
8PM – 1AM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Ballroom
One Magical Weekend’s traditional Thursday kickoff party launches Pride weekend with throwback energy, packed dance floors, and the first major reunion moment of the weekend.
DAYTIME
12 PM–8 PM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort Pool
One Magical Weekend’s iconic THERAPY pool parties officially begin with beats by DJ Kyle House and Edil Hernandez, cocktails, dancing, and wall-to-wall Speedos to the resort pools. It’s sunshine, music, and queer joy turned all the way up.
RIPTIDE at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
NIGHTTIME
8 PM–2 AM — Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water-park
This is the signature event. Thousands of LGBTQ+ attendees take over the entire Disney waterpark for one massive nighttime celebration complete with DJs J Warren and Joel Corry, wave pools, water slides, and dancing
under the stars. It’s one of the most unique Pride events anywhere in the world.
AFTER-HOURS
THERAPY Pool Party — Final Day
12 PM–8 PM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Pool
CADABRA After Hours
2 AM–8AM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Ballroom
When RIPTIDE finally ends, the hardest partiers head directly to CADABRA, where the music somehow keeps getting bigger as the night turns into morning.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 — PRIDE IN FULL FORCE
Saturday is peak energy. By now, everyone’s fully immersed in the weekend, friendships have formed, and Orlando feels entirely queer.
THERAPY Pool Party — Day 2
The final THERAPY party becomes one giant farewell celebration led by DJs Twisted Dee and Paulo, full of emotional hugs, final flirtations, and dance-floor moments that attendees will replay in their heads for months afterward.
NIGHTTIME
A Night of a Thousand Ariana Grande Party
8PM–1AM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Ballroom
Enjoy the energy of the Ariana-worshipping crowd, access to bars and food vendors, and the full experience of the party atmosphere. With DJ Joe Pacheco.
AFTER-HOURS
Final CADABRA Session
2AM–8AM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Ballroom
For many attendees, this final after-hours set becomes the emotional sendoff of the weekend — sweaty hugs, exhausted dancing, and promises to reunite next year. With DJ Jerac.
BEAR JAMBOREE 2026
DAYTIME
12 PM–8 PM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Pool
Saturday’s pool party crowd is massive, loud, and unapologetically celebratory. DJs Isis Muretech and Liza Rodroguez spin nonstop while the pools and cabanas become one giant daytime dance floor.
RED Party: Ringmaster
NIGHTTIME
8PM–1AM — House of Blues Orlando at Disney Springs
One Magical Weekend’s famous RED Party brings high-glamour circuit energy, major production, incredible lighting, and international DJ Danny Verde to Disney Springs. This is the night many attendees plan their entire weekend around.
CADABRA After Hours
AFTER-HOURS
2 AM–8AM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Ballroom
The dance floor led by DJ Tom Stephan gets darker, sweatier, and more euphoric as Saturday night turns into Sunday morning.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 — THE GRAND FINALE
Sunday somehow balances celebration and bittersweet emotion. Everyone’s exhausted, emotional, and determined to squeeze every last drop out of the weekend.
One Magical Brunch
11AM–1PM – Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort
DAYTIME
Enjoy a delicious brunch menu (included with your ticket) while the stunning cast of queens serve up ahigh-energy show, comedy, and nonstop fun.
While One Magical Weekend delivers the massive festival atmosphere, Bear Jamboree offers something equally special: a welcoming, body-positive, community-centered experience built specifically for bears, cubs, otters, admirers, and friends.
The vibe is playful, social, sexy, and surprisingly intimate considering the size of the weekend. Whether you arrive solo or with your chosen family, Bear Jamboree has a way
of making everyone feel instantly included.
THURSDAY, JUNE 4 — THE BEARS ARRIVE
Meet & Greet
5:30PM–7:30PM — Crowne Plaza Lobby Bar
DAYTIME
Bear Jamboree starts warming things up with casual social gatherings, meet-and-greets, and community hangouts designed to help newcomers instantly feel at home.
#TBT Welcome Party
8PM – 1AM — Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Ballroom
One Magical Weekend’s traditional Thursday kickoff party includes everyone as it launches the Pride weekend with throwback energy, packed dance floors, and the first major reunion moment of the weekend.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 — POOLSIDE PRIDE
DAYTIME
Bearchella Pool Party – Wet & Woofy
11AM–7PM — Crowne Plaza Pool
Expect laid-back vibes, furry bodies, great music, and a community atmosphere that feels instantly welcoming whether you arrive solo or with friends. With DJs Chris Adams and Tim Stanley.
NIGHTTIME
Bear Lagoon at RIPTIDE Nighttime — Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
This is the signature event, but Bear Jamboree brings its own furry flavor to the waterpark takeover, creating a bearfocused party atmosphere within the larger One Magical Weekend event. Thousands of LGBTQ+ attendees take over the entire Disney waterpark for one massive nighttime celebration complete with DJs J Warren and Joel Corry, wave pools, water slides, and dancing under the stars.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 — ONE LAST HUG
DAYTIME
Bearchella Pool Party – Soaked and Stroked 11AM–2AM — Crowne Plaza Pool
This all-day and all-night pool party to keep the fun and furriness going with a massive lineup of superstar DJs, including DJ Ruze, DJ Danny Gallegos, DJ Sklarz, and DJ Tim Stanley.
Bingo with a Twist & Bearoke
1:30PM–6:30PM — Hyatt Place
Because sometimes the best moments happen away from the giant dance floors. Sunday’s bingo and Bearoke are hosted by Bearoncé and Bearded Man and offer hilarious, campy breaks from the nonstop party circuit
MONDAY, JUNE 8 — UNTIL NEXT YEAR
Monday morning in Orlando is always emotional. But what makes One Magical Weekend and Bear Jamboree so enduring isn’t just the parties. It’s the feeling.
For one weekend, thousands of LGBTQ+ people from around the world gather in a place built around fantasy and joy — and create something deeply real. Friendships begin. Relationships spark. Communities reconnect. People who may not always feel fully seen in everyday life suddenly find themselves surrounded by queer celebration everywhere they look.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 — COMMUNITY & CELEBRATION
Bearchella Pool Party – Thick thighs
11AM–2AM — Crowne Plaza Pool
DAYTIME
This all-day and all-night pool party to keep the fun and furriness going with a massive lineup of superstar DJs, including DJ Chris Adams, DJ Tim Stanley, DJ Castle, and DJ JB Burgos.
Bingo with a Twist & Bearoke 1:30PM–6:30PM — Hyatt Place
Because sometimes the best moments happen away from the giant dance floors. Bingo and Bearoke are both hosted by Bearoncé offer hilarious, campy breaks from the nonstop party circuit
Jessica Kirson Stand-Up
8PM–10PM — Hyatt Place
NIGHTTIME
Get ready to laugh until your belly shakes – Bear Jamboree is bringing one of comedy’s biggest powerhouses to the stage: Jessica Kirson
Bearlicious Dance Party
11PM–3AM – Hyatt Place
Do not miss the all-new Bearlicious Dance Party featuring DJ Alex Ramos! This new Bear Jamboree event is ready to bring the heat – so show up, let loose, and make it a night to remember.
That’s why these events continue growing year after year. They aren’t just parties. They’re affirmations.
Whether you come for the circuit music, the Disney magic, the bear community, the pool parties, or simply the chance to feel fully free for a few days, Orlando Pride weekend delivers something unforgettable. The magic is waiting.
Pick Your Priorities
You do not need to attend every single event. Choose your “main character” moments for the weekend – maybe RIPTIDE, a pool party, and one afterhours event – then let everything else happen naturally. FOMO is real, but exhaustion is worse.
Party Survival Guide
Massive Pride weekends like One Magical Weekend and Bear Jamboree are unforgettable – but they can also wipe you out if you’re not careful. Here’s how to survive the madness, keep your energy up, and still look cute by Sunday.
Travel in Packs
Hydrate Like It’s Your Job
Florida heat, pool parties, dancing, and cocktails are a dangerous combo. Drink water constantly, not just when you feel thirsty. Your future self will thank you around 2 a.m.
Eat Actual Food
Big party weekends are more fun – and safer – with friends. Share locations, check in on each other, and make sure nobody disappears into the night without at least one person knowing where they went.
Respect Your Limits
Vodka sodas and protein bars are not a meal plan. Find time for real food with carbs, protein, and something green once in a while. Party stamina is built on chicken tenders and hydration.
Master the Power Nap
A 45-minute reset before going out can completely change your night. The people still dancing at 4 a.m. are usually the ones who snuck in a nap earlier.
Don’t Overschedule Yourself
There’s no prize for going the hardest. Know when your body needs rest, food, water, or sleep. A good Pride weekend is about feeling amazing, not completely destroying yourself.
Leave Room for Random Magic
Trying to cram four parties, brunch, Disney, and an after-hours into one day sounds iconic until you’re crying in an Uber from exhaustion. Leave breathing room in your schedule.
Wear the Comfortable Shoes
Nobody cares how hot your shoes are if you can’t walk by Saturday afternoon. Blisters can ruin an entire weekend faster than bad tequila.
Some of the best moments happen outside the official schedule: meeting new friends in a hotel lobby, spontaneous dance floors, late-night conversations, or a random invite that becomes your favorite memory of the weekend.
Remember Why You’re There
Yes, the parties are incredible. But weekends like these are also about queer joy, connection, freedom, and community. Take a moment to actually soak it all in between the dance floors and cocktails.
The goal isn’t to survive perfectly. The goal is to make it to Monday with incredible memories, new friends, and at least one story you probably shouldn’t tell publicly.
Turning Every Step Into Community Impact
Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Every Pride season comes with its own traditions. There are parades, parties, drag shows, and festivals. But in Atlanta, one event has steadily carved out a uniquely meaningful place in the city’s LGBTQ+ calendar: Pride Run ATL.
More than just a 5K through Piedmont Park, the Pride Run has become a celebration of visibility, resilience, health, and community care. What began in 1991 as the Southeast’s first LGBTQIA+ run has evolved into a movement that continues to uplift Atlanta’s queer community while raising critical funds for organizations serving those most in need. Since its founding, the event has helped raise more than $500,000 for HIV/AIDSrelated services in Atlanta.
This year’s race, taking place June 7, brings together runners, walkers, allies, families, and advocates for a shared purpose: showing up for the LGBTQ+ community in every sense of the word. Organized by Front Runners Atlanta, Pride Run ATL remains deeply rooted in the history of queer resilience during the HIV/ AIDS crisis. In its earliest days, members of the organization reportedly met in secret because of hostility toward LGBTQ+ people. Out of that climate emerged not only a running club, but a support network and a visible act of resistance.
Today, the event’s mission is just as urgent. Pride Run ATL describes its purpose as fighting stigma while championing physical and mental wellness, HIV prevention, and affirming community spaces.
That impact becomes especially clear through the four beneficiaries supported by the 2026 race: AID Atlanta, Lost-n-Found Youth, Out Front Theatre Company, and PALS Atlanta.
Among them, AID Atlanta remains one of the city’s most vital organizations. For decades, the nonprofit has provided HIV testing, prevention, healthcare navigation, housing assistance, and support services to Atlantans living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Pride Run ATL’s roots are directly connected to that work. The race itself was originally created to raise money for people impacted by HIV during a time when stigma and fear were rampant.
Even in 2026, Atlanta continues to face major public health disparities surrounding HIV, particularly among LGBTQ+ communities and communities of color. Events like Pride Run ATL help keep these conversations visible while generating real dollars for organizations doing lifesaving work on the ground.
Equally moving is the inclusion of PALS Atlanta, an organization that demonstrates how compassion can extend beyond traditional healthcare services. Founded in 1990, PALS – short for Pets Are Loving Support –helps Atlantans living with critical illnesses keep and care for their beloved pets. The nonprofit provides pet food, veterinary assistance, and basic animal care support for people who may otherwise be forced to give up their companions during times of financial or medical hardship.
The emotional connection between LGBTQ+ people and their pets is often profound, especially for individuals who may experience isolation, aging alone, chronic illness, or estrangement from family. For many clients, PALS helps preserve not just a relationship with an animal, but stability, comfort, routine, and emotional survival.
PALS also shares a deep historical connection with AID Atlanta, with many clients referred directly through the organization’s network of services. Together, they represent two different but interconnected forms of care within Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community: medical support and emotional support.
The other beneficiaries continue that broader vision of community investment. Lost-n-Found Youth works to support LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, while Out Front Theatre Company creates space for queer storytelling and representation through the arts.
That combination reflects what Pride Run ATL has become over the years: not simply a race, but a collective expression of what queer community care can look like. It’s fitness and fundraising, celebration and activism, remembrance and hope all rolled into one event.
And perhaps that’s why the race continues to resonate after 35 years. Whether participants are seasoned runners or simply walking with friends, every person crossing the finish line becomes part of a legacy built during one of the hardest periods in LGBTQ+ history –and carried forward through joy, visibility, and solidarity.
In a time when LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare access continue to face political attacks nationwide, events like Pride Run ATL remind Atlanta that Pride has always been about more than celebration. Sometimes, it’s also about showing up for one another, one step at a time.
Chosen Family
The Queer Bonds That Define Pride and Resilience
By Jordan Logan Photos: Ames Studio
This Pride season, the Atlanta Women’s Chorus is turning the spotlight toward one of the most enduring and defining elements of LGBTQIA+ life: chosen family. Their upcoming show, Chosen Family, celebrates the people who step in when biological families cannot, honoring the networks of care that have sustained queer communities for generations. “The Atlanta Women’s Chorus has built that kind of family through music, creating a safe space where people are seen, celebrated, and connected through their shared voices,” said David Aurilio, the executive director of Voices of Note Inc. . For the chorus, the performance is not only a musical event but also a tribute to the relationships that transform survival into belonging.
A Chosen family has long been central to LGBTQIA+ culture because it emerges out of necessity. Throughout history, countless LGBTQIA+ people have faced rejection, misunderstanding, or silence within their own homes. In the absence of acceptance, they built support systems of their own through friends, partners, mentors, and community members who offered safety, affirmation, and love. These relationships became lifelines, forming the foundation of queer resilience.
The Atlanta Women’s Chorus has long embraced the idea of community as a core part of its mission. As part of Voices of Note, the nonprofit organization that also includes the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, the group has built a reputation for performances that blend artistry with advocacy. Chosen Family continues that tradition by centering the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and highlighting the importance of connection.
linking audiences with organizations that support LGBTQIA+ individuals across Georgia. By partnering with advocacy groups, service organizations, and local creatives, the Atlanta Women’s Chorus reinforces the idea that Pride is not limited to parades or performances. It is a collective effort that thrives when communities work side by side.
These partnerships help amplify resources for mental health, family support, policy advocacy and community care. They also highlight the interconnectedness of LGBTQIA+ experiences, acknowledging that identity intersects with race, gender, class, immigration status and other lived realities. Through these collaborations, the chorus demonstrates that a chosen family is not only personal but also communal; a network strengthened by shared purpose.
Chosen Family is designed to be both a celebration and a reflection. Through music, storytelling and community engagement, the Atlanta Women’s Chorus invites audiences to honor the people who have shaped their lives, whether through mentorship, friendship or unwavering support. The show underscores that Pride is not just about visibility but about the relationships that make authenticity possible.
This year, the chorus is also emphasizing the role of community partnerships under the theme Stronger Together. These collaborations extend the show’s impact beyond the stage,
As Pride Month unfolds across Atlanta, the Atlanta Women’s Chorus’s message is clear that a chosen family remains a cornerstone of LGBTQIA+ identity, history, and joy. The bonds formed within queer communities continue to offer strength, safety and belonging, just as they have for decades. For additional details regarding the upcoming performances and the mission of the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, please visit voicesofnote.org.
BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl. com
736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE
X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE
THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE
CHESHIRE
HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
WESTSIDE
MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW
840ATL 840 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
BOGGS SOCIAL & SUPPLY 1310 White St. SW Atlanta, GA 30310 boggssocial.com
ANSLEY
ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE
TRIPPS : tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE
EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD
MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE
LORE ATLANTA loreatl.com 466 Edgewood Ave loreatl.com
DINING
MIDTOWN
CASA ALMENARA 991 Piedmont Ave NE casa-almenara.com
LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE
TUK TUK THAI FOOD LOFT TUKTUKATL.COM 1745 Peachtree Rd NW
DEKALB
LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE
RETAIL MIDTOWN
BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1000 Piedmont Ave NE, Ste A
ANSLEY
BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510-D Piedmont Ave. NE
FITNESS
MIDTOWN
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfi tness. com
500 Amsterdam Ave N
CHESHIRE
GRAVITY FITNESS gravityfi tnessatl. com
2201 Faulkner Rd NE
SPAS/BATHS
ADULT
FLEX SPA flexspas.com 76 4th St NW
SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Party: The Peach Ball @ Masquerade
Photos by: Russ Youngblood Peach
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I know I am my own worst enemy to the point that I am still undefeated!
