Pensacola/Biloxi

Memorial Day Weekend promises to be the largest ever bringing in a projected 100,000 revelers to Pensacola and Pensacola Beach as far as Ft. Walton Beach. The four-day holiday, Fri.-Mon., May 26-29, will pump millions of dollars into the local economy.

The giant circuit parties presented by Oz New Orleans include Beach Maneuvers VII in the Bay Front Auditorium on Saturday, with Abracadabra VI in the Pensacola Civic Center on Sunday. Celeb DJs include Victor Calderone, Abel, David Knapp, Joe Gauthreaux, Manny Lehman and Scott Horner. Festivities kick off Friday with Bounce, a party hosted around the pool at Hampton Inn on The Beach. The weekend's events are sponsored by Miller Lite, Ambush Mag, G&L Internet Bank, ETC, Wet & TWT.

And don't forget Spellbound, the after hours parties 3am-9am, Friday thru Sunday, at the American Legion Hall, 1401 W. Intendencia at Barrancas St.

Gulf Coast Pride, 675 W. Garden St., stocks some of the most interesting merchandise you will ever see. Be sure to check out their weekend location, set up inside Hampton Inn On The Beach. Their Memorial Weekend Cup & Y2Gay T-shirts are sure to be a hit.

The Gay & Lesbian Internet Bank is located in downtown Pensacola at 270 N. Palafox St. More info is available at www.glbank.com.

Pensacola's only dance club, Emerald City, 408 E. Wright St., has a whole weekend of parties lined up. Friday kicks off with "Sweat" featuring DJ Joe Gauthreaux of Oz with lights by Jack Jokumsen. Saturday DJ Dewight Barkley spins with lights by Jack Jokumsen and a special performance by Lonnie Gordon. Sunday brings back DJ Dewight Barkley and Jack Jokumsen with a performance by Funky Green Dogs. Monday it's the Fabulous Four to the stage for Emerald City's special Memorial Day Drink & Drown blowout.

The Roundup, 706 E. Gregory St., will celebrate its 16th Annual Memorial Day Roundup, complete with tented parking lots boasting bars both in the club and under the tents.

Of course, the mega crowds will converge on the Gay beach throughout the weekend, some tents complete with chandeliers, furniture and fountains.

For more info., visit gaypensacola.com, part of the giant international AMBUSH-onLINE conglomerate with over 3.5 million hits and 300,000 unique visitors per month.

And did you know that Biloxi has its own Gay Beach? It's located one fourth mile east of Joeys' on the Beach [1708 Beach Blvd.], down from Wet & Wild.

Barcode at 153 Veterans Ave. is Biloxi's newest Gay bar. This upscale cruise pub, open since February, has hot music, videos and, of course, the pretty people of Biloxi, both men and women. It is open 7 days a week, 3pm til with 2 For 1 Happy Hour Fri., Sat. and Sun.

Following Memorial Day Weekend, Joey's on the Beach will host the Miss Gay Gulf States 2001 Pageant Sat., June 10th. This popular dance club is open 9pm til Wed.-Sat. and features Drink & Drown Wed., Fri. and Sat.