Gay Adventure
Gay Day at Six Flags
By Jake Brennan

Fairgrounds 7, popularly known as ‘Gay and Lesbian Day at Six Flags’, will take place Friday, September 24 from 6pm until midnight at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ.  With over ten thousand gay men and women (and their friends) expected, it is the largest private LGBT event in the United States.   A portion of the net proceeds will benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund.

"It was a hit from year one", says co-founder Mark Nelson, of his annual Fairgrounds party. “And after the spectacular six-city tour we did last year we’re taking the best of what was learned to drive home an even better event this year.”

Co-founder Gage Kristofer notes that in the weakened economy, “gay men and women are attracted to the idea of an affordable gay stay-cation close to home. Plus, the community continues to grow stronger. This year we are making a concerted effort to welcome gay newlyweds as well as gay families with their children.”

DJs Seth Gold, Corey Craig and Rhino Starr will provide the musical entertainment. 

Six Flags Great Adventure has won several awards in the past few months. Theme Parks Magazine ranked its El Toro coaster as the #2 top wooden coaster in the country.  With its 76 degree incline, El Toro features the country’s steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster.

The magazine also ranked the Nitro coaster as the #7 top steel coaster in the country.  Nitro blasts riders 230 feet in the air with a 215-foot drop at speeds approaching 80 mph.

Both coasters will be open at Fairgrounds 7.

Even with the anticipated record crowd this year, the park normally handles 60,000, so lines for rides will be much shorter and quicker.

As Fairgrounds 7 is a closed private event, season passes will not be honored.  It is the one night each year that LGBT attendees can walk hand-in-hand and enjoy the open-air thrill rides without fear of harassment.

“Fairgrounds takes place right before October’s National Coming Out Day,” continues Nelson. “So we like to think of it as a pre-celebration to the coming out festivities.”

For more information, please visit www.outinevents.com or www.gaysixflags.com.