Alright, folks, gather ’round! Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure of figuring out the best LGBTQ+ festivals around the world. It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right?

Getting Started: The Research Phase
First things first, I had to do some digging. I mean, I couldn’t just magically know all the top festivals, could I? So, I started with a simple search. I just typed in something like “best LGBTQ+ festivals” and see what pops up.
I spent a good chunk of time sifting through all, just reading descriptions, checking dates, and seeing what kind of vibe each festival had. I wanted to find a good mix – some big, some small, some well-known, some a bit more under the radar.
Making a List: Narrowing it Down
After the initial search, I had a HUGE list. Seriously, it was overwhelming. So, I started making a spreadsheet. Yep, an old-fashioned spreadsheet. I listed the festival name, location, dates, and any notes that stood out to me. This helped me get a better visual overview.
Then came the hard part: narrowing it down. I had to be ruthless! I focused on festivals with consistently good reviews, diverse events, and locations that seemed appealing. I also considered the time of year – I didn’t want all the festivals to be in the summer, for example.
Deep Dive: Checking the Details
Once I had a shorter list, I went back and did a deeper dive on each festival. I looked at their past lineups, photos, and any videos I could find. I wanted to get a real feel for the atmosphere and see if it matched what I was looking for, and I would attend the festival in person or in a virtual environment.

The Final Result: My Top Picks!
Finally, after all that researching, list-making, and deep-diving, I had my top picks! It was a tough process, but I’m pretty happy with the festivals I ended up with. I think it’s a good representation of the amazing diversity of LGBTQ+ celebrations around the world.
So I hope my process can give you some ideas about how to learn a new thing.