Christopher Street Day

From July 28 to August 05 in 2012 the Christopher Street day gets going. That means three days of parties, packed with a bumper-load of events. On Saturday Hamburg’s largest political parade will trek from the corner of Lange Reihe and Schmilinskystrasse – the heart of Hamburg’s gay and lesbian scene – right through the city centre.

More info at: www.hamburgpride.com

Hamburger Ledertreffen [Hamburg Leather Convention]

Immediately following the CSD, leather and fetish aficionados will be making their way to Hamburg for the Leather Convention, to be held in the Hanseatic metropolis from 16 to 20 August 2012. The main attractions are the party in the Catonium, the world’s biggest fetish and S&M venue, and the legendary Ship Party on board MS Stubnitz in the Port of Hamburg – attended by many international guests, including Hamburg’s reigning ‘Mr Leather’. In parallel to the Spike Leather party, trendy shops in the St. Georg district will be hosting a richly varied programme.

For more information, visit: www.spike-hamburg.com

Hamburger Frauenball [Hamburg Women’s Ball]

More than 1000 women enjoy themselves at Hamburg’s annual Women’s Ball at CCH. Star guests are a principal attraction (in 2009 Maren Kroymann and Steffi List attended) and again this year on 19 November 2011 there will be dancing in two ballrooms to standard and disco music and continuing into the early hours of the morning.

For further information, visit: www.frauenball.de

Winter Pride

A get-together for a good cause – at this pre-Christmas gay/lesbian mulled wine happening, held on Lange Reihe from 25 November 2011 to 01 January 2012, the gay/lesbian community works voluntarily to promote various charitable projects.

Santa Pauli

Hamburg’s hottest Christmas market, right in the heart of the red light district. From 24 November to 23 December 2011 the Spielbudenplatz is transformed into an erotic village of pre-Christmas stalls.