Merry and Gay Holiday Celebrations

Travel Channel keeps you celebrating through the end of the year with fun holiday celebrations and GLBT festivals, including Miami's White Party Week and New Year's Eve on Rio's Copacabana Beach.

<a title="Wiener Christkindlmarkt" href="http://www.christkindlmarkt.at" target="_blank"> Wiener Christkindlmarkt </a> Travel to Vienna, Austria, to explore the Wiener Christkinlmarkt. This traditional Christmas market, located in City Hall Square, has 145 stalls selling spiced wine, gingerbread, unique arts and crafts and much more.

<a title="Christmas Mariachi Festival" href="http://www.christmasmariachifestival.com" target="_blank"> Christmas Mariachi Festival</a> Mariachi bands heat things up in Phoenix, AZ, during the holidays. This annual festival features the best, well-known mariachi singers and bands from Latin America, including Jose Feliciano and Vikki Carr.

<a title="White Party Week" href="http://www.whiteparty.org" target="_blank"> White Party Week </a> Experience the Miami Beach lifestyle, and enjoy good food and drink during 6 days of all-male and all-female parties, including the Women’s White Party Weekend. Party-goers spend money that goes to Care Resource, a organization that funds multiple HIV/AIDS programs.

<a title="Magnificent Mile Festival of Lights" href="http://www.magnificentmilelightsfestival.com" target="_blank"> Magnificent Mile Festival of Lights</a> If you’re visiting Chicago during the holidays, check out this illuminated festival. It’s known for its holiday-inspired store window displays, and its star-studded Disney procession on opening day. Be sure to get a front row seat to see the parade, live music and fireworks.

<a title="Catalan Christmas Fair" href="http://www.firadesantallucia.cat" target="_blank"> Catalan Christmas Fair</a> This fair, held outside of the Barcelona Cathedral, has 300 stalls selling seasonal goods, including Catalan nativity figures, mistletoe, Christmas trees and delicious treats like Christmas biscuits.

<a title="Sushi Drop" href="http://www.gaykeywestfl.com" target="_blank"> Key West Sushi Drop</a> Celebrate your New Year’s Eve in Key West, watching a campy, extravagantly dressed drag queen being lowered from the Bourbon Street Pub, in a large, red, high-heel shoe. Once the drag queen has dropped, ring in the New Year at the fabulous block party.

<a title="Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival" href="http://www.chinaholidays.com" target="_blank"> Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival</a> It’s 1 of the largest ice festivals in the world, and it attracts 1,000s of people to Northeastern China, to see snow carvings, ice sculptures, fireworks. There’s also skiing, ice sliding and swimming, for those who can take the chilly, subzero dip in the Songhua River.

<a title="Taste of Christmas" href="http://www.tasteofchristmas.com" target="_blank"> Taste of Christmas</a> This annual event in London has the UK’s leading chefs demonstrate their techniques for holiday food preparation. There are also special tasting workshops for wine, cheese and chocolate.

<a title="Melbourne's Midsumma" href="http://www.midsumma.org.au" target="_blank"> Melbourne's Midsumma</a> This annual LGBT arts and culture festival celebrates queer arts with exhibitions, musical and theater performances, live bands, picnics, dance parties and sporting events.

<a title="New Year’s Eve at Copacabana Beach" href="http://www.copacabana.info" target="_blank"> Rio’s Copacabana Beach </a> Spend New Year’s Eve on Copacabana Beach, Brazil’s 2nd largest event outside of Carnival. Dance to live DJs, sip champagne at midnight, celebrate African traditions, watch fireworks and don't forget to wear white. Brazilians believe it symbolizes good luck.

<a title="GFest" href="http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk" target="_blank"> Gaywise Festival</a> GFest, organized by Wise Thoughts, is London’s annual arts festival, featuring leading and upcoming LGBT and queer artists. It includes musical performances, dance, visual arts, theater, LGBT short films, debates, workshops and parties.

<a title="Pink Christmas" href="http://www.pinkchristmas.nl" target="_blank"> Pink Christmas</a> Hit the ice skating rink donned in gay apparel. Amsterdam’s Pink Christmas festival is a special holiday celebration for the LGBT community. Some of the events and activities include ice skating at Rembradtplein, a catwalk fashion show on Zeedijk Street and discounts at local gay bars and shops.