West Volusia County is the perfect place to explore if you are an LGBTQ+ community member seeking a suburban, quaint downtown, or nature-filled experience away from the hustle and bustle. Although the city isn’t globally known as a “gay hot spot,” there are several LGBTQ-inclusive businesses and establishments to visit. From engaging “Drag Bingo” nights at Abbey Bar to fantastic weekly “Drag Nights” at Cafe DaVinci, a sense of pride can always be seen coursing through the community.
A place to start – Community groups and organizers
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s imperative to know that you are supported everywhere that you go. That’s the mission of groups like Support Volusia, DeLand Pride, and Lake Helen Pride.
Support Volusia acts as the umbrella organization for the other, more community-driven groups. Headquartered in DeLand, FL., Support Volusia aims to unite local resources to create positive change by advocating for and supporting marginalized groups in our community. Their member organizations, DeLand Pride and Lake Helen Pride, share a similar mission; to attract LGBTQ members and their allies to our community by nurturing professional and personal relationships and providing an active and positive force in Volusia County and beyond.
A critical component of Support Volusia is the Volusia-Flagler Rainbow Alliance Scholarship Program, which offers scholarships to LGBTQ+ students in Volusia or Flagler County attending or planning to attend a college, university, post-secondary vocational or technical program. To date, they have awarded 21 grants to future LGBTQ+ leaders.
For more information on Volusia County’s pride community, visit supportvolusia.org.
Nightlife is where it’s at
Downtown DeLand’s mix of bars and nighttime attractions are great gathering spots, especially on weeknights and weekends. Monthly/Quarterly events can be found at various venues including:
The Artisan Lounge is a notable inclusive spot with weekly drag shows. This is a smaller venue that will make you feel part of the action. Check out their upcoming events on their Facebook page:
Cafe DaVinci also features a weekly pride night on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. The show is outdoors and you can grab a seat in the courtyard after grabbing a beverage. Look for more events on their Facebook page:
Abbey Bar is another intimate venue that hosts a large variety of pride events. Drag Bingo is hosted here by local drag icons such as Aaliyah Nouveau, with guests such as Ginger Beer, Kirk DaVinci, Crystal Vahz, Twisted T, and more. Accompanying the bingo fest are nights chock-full of drag performances and an extended happy hour of delectable cocktails. There are a number of other events hosted here that can be found on Abbey’s Facebook page:
Rainbow Bowling League
Those traveling in LGBTQ groups can try their hand at the Rainbow Bowling League, which occurs seasonally during DeLand Pride. Win cash prizes and trophies with your team of four – all while celebrating diversity, making new friends, and enjoying a bit of family-friendly fun!
Other events include a meet and greet at Wander Bar Cocktail Lounge and The Artisan Lounge on the third Thursday of every month. This social is a great time to meet new friends, neighbors, and local business owners while enjoying handcrafted cocktails. This casual networking event is from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Some of the bigger events to mark on your calendar
For a small city, DeLand has a lot of big events in store for tourists and locals alike. Depending on when you choose to travel to DeLand, here are a few LGBTQ-focused events you can enjoy.
The biggest Pride event the area has to offer is DeLand’s annual “Love is Love Pride Fest 2023.” This week-long celebration kicks off this year on Saturday, February 4, in Downtown DeLand’s Artisan Alley and nearby Cafe DaVinci with a pride marketplace, family-friendly drag performances, live entertainment, a dance party, activities for kids and so much more! For more information on this year’s festivities can be found at delandpride.org. Other yearly events include:
The DeLand Pride Pageant
The yearly DeLand Pride Pageant crowns a king and queen to represent DeLand at community events across Florida. The pageant comprises three categories, the first being a creative costume presentation based on the year’s theme. Then, contestants will present their formal wear and be part of a talent show.
Rainbow Cook-Off
If you consider yourself a star in the kitchen, there is no better event for you in DeLand than the Rainbow Cook-Off! Every year, only six chefs qualify for the cook-off and are tasked to come up with a signature dish based on every color of the rainbow. Even if you don’t reign supreme, you’ll at least get to enjoy dishes outside of your comfort zone!
More information on West Volusia County can be picked up in the Visitor Center located at 116 W. New York Avenue in Downtown DeLand, FL, or can be found online at www.visitwestvolusia.com. Please call 386-734-0162 for more information.