The fourth annual Winter PrideFest, OUT Central Oregon’s annual celebration of winter sports among the LGBTQ+ community, marginalized individuals in the community, and their allies, is returning to one of the country’s top destinations for outdoor recreation. Featuring four days of on- and off-mountain sports and social activities, Winter PrideFest will take place March 3-6, 2022, at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Ore.
“Winter PrideFest was conceived as a way to bring the LGBTQ+ community together over a shared passion for outdoor recreation and winter sports, and to do so in a way that is inclusive, social, educational, and above all, fun,” said Jamie Nesbitt, president of OUT Central Oregon. “What started as a local grassroots effort in year one has quickly evolved into an event with national cache, and we think there’s no better venue to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the outdoors than Mt. Bachelor and Bend.”
At Mt. Bachelor, Winter PrideFest will feature organized groups for Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. New for 2022 is Bonfire on the Snow with Wanderlust Tours, a snowy nighttime snowshoe trek to an ice-carved amphitheater complete with a bonfire and warm cocktails. In town, attendees can take part in a Welcome Snocial at various businesses in the Box Factory, WIGS night-time ice skating at Seventh Mountain Resort, a panel discussion on Inclusivity in the Outdoors (co-sponsored by OSU-Cascades DEI Lab), a downtown Après Ski Party at Crater Lake Spirits and other locations, and the signature Winter PrideFest Dance Party at 10 Barrel East. More events to come!
“We have seen attendance at Winter PrideFest increase exponentially from 150 attendees in year one, to over 700 attendees in year three, and we estimate that more than 1,000 people will take part in this year’s event,” said Nesbitt. “With two-thirds of those attendees coming from outside of Central Oregon, there’s no question that Winter PrideFest has quickly established itself as a marquee winter event for the LGBTQ+ community, our allies, and everyone to rally around.”
To take advantage of the special 2022 Winter PrideFest lodging discount at Campfire Hotel, valid for stays between March 1 and March 8, use Code: PRIDE22. Most Winter PrideFest events are free to attend, though space is limited for certain events and activities, and advance registration is encouraged. For more information or to register for Winter PrideFest, visit www.outcentraloregon.com/
