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A large crowd is expected this year for the next Summer Diversity Weekend Friday, August 07, 2009 in Eureka Springs, AR.

With four distinct yet mild seasons, Eureka Springs is a fabulous place to vacation any time, but gay travelers particularly like to visit for the Diversity Weekends staged throughout the year—in spring, summer, and fall (supplemented by other queer weekends, including the Eureka Gras Extravaganza in February). Throngs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender folk from near and far descend on Eureka Springs, and the hills come alive with the sound of partying.

Of course, a significant percentage of Diversity Weekend revelers are straight. The youth of today, even those living in the Ozarks, grew up on Will & Grace. This queer-hip Internet generation is more sophisticated than we can probably grasp. The youngsters have tons of gay friends, they Tivo Ellen DeGeneres, and they know where the best party is.

Many visitors are surprised to learn there are no gay bars in Eureka Springs. As in some parts of Europe, there just isn’t much need for them here. In the alternate universe that is Eureka Springs, pretty much all of the bars are gay-friendly.

Eureka Springs lodging options run the gamut from historic 19th-century hotels to dude ranches, modern chain motels, mom-and-pop lodges, luxury log cabins and tree houses, Victorian cottages and bungalows, and so many bed-and-breakfasts that the town promotes itself as America’s B&B Capital. There’s even a “Bikers Only” motel (Eureka is big with motorcycle enthusiasts).

Article used in part with permission from this article.