North American Bear Weekend is taking you to the Emerald City next month!
Lions, Tigers, and Bears! Oh My! North American Bear Weeknd (NAB) is taking you to the Emerald City!
Join hundreds of bears from all over the world in Lexington, Kentucky as they embark on an action-packed 4-day weekend trip to the Emerald City! Be sure to pack your bags accordingly to enjoy all of the celebrations and themed dance parties.
North American Bear Weekend will happen from Thursday, February 16th – February 19th, 2023. You definitely don’t want to miss out on the 11th annual event!
Host Hotel Room Rates & Booking Info
The Kentucky Bourbon Bears, the producers of NAB Weekend, are excited to announce the return of the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort & Spa as this year’s hot hotel! This beautiful 7-story hotel just completed a massive multi-million dollar renovation…and is BEAUTIFUL. There’s a steakhouse, 2 lounge/bars, a seasonal diner and a coffee shop. Other amenities consist of indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a spa, a fitness center, a golf course and sports courts. There is also 28,000 sq ft of event space, including a ballroom and a mansion.
The host hotel is currently sold out. The overflow hotel is the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, located right next door to the host hotel. Information for the Clarion Hotel is as follows:
- $105/night plus 16.07% tax = $121.87.night
- Free hot breakfast included in your daily rate
- No minimum stay requirement
- No upfront deposits required
- You’ll be charged at check-in
- You will not be charged for Resort Fees
To book your room(s) at the overflow hotel, simply follow the link and input your reservation online. You will be asked for a credit card to guarantee your room. Again, no charges will be incurred until check-in, and no Resort Fees will be applied to your bill.
Event Passes
Event pass pricing for NAB Weekend is as follows:
EVENT PASS PRICING:
$140.00 — 06/01/22 to 10/31/22
$160.00 — 11/01/22 to 12/31/22
$180.00 — 01/01/23 to Event Start
DAY & EVENING PASS PRICING:
$50.00…..Day Pass / Thursday
$75.00…..Day Pass / Friday
$100.00…Day Pass / Saturday
$35.00…..Evening Passes Fri/Sat after 7pm
Click HERE to Register for the Event!
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE FULL EVENT PASS?
- 6 Indoor Pool Parties
- Bearded Beauties Show
- Themed Dance Parties
- An Abundance of Sponsored Cocktail Parties
- Access to Brad Loekle Comedy Show (included w/pass)
- 11th Annual NAB Contest & Awards
- Catered Lunches included on Friday & Saturday
- Delicious Dinner Buffet included on Saturday night
- Optional Distillery Tour Excursion ($25 extra)
- Food Trucks Each Night Featuring Local Cuisine
- Educational Workshops & Amazing Vendor Market
- Bingo, Speed Dating & Other Fun Games
- And So Much More!
Event Schedule
As always, NAB weekend is FULL of events! Get ready to enjoy yourself at the North American Bear Contest, the Emerald City Ball, comedy shows, drag shows, a drag brunch, and more! The event schedule will include:
Thursday, February 16th
- NAB Contest, Part One
- Comedy Hypnosis Show
- Bearded Beauties Show (w/Bearonce & Fanci)
Friday, February 17th
- NAB Contest, Part Two
- Brad Loekle Comedy Show
- Emerald City Ball (w/DJ Alex Ferbeyre)
Saturday, February 17th
- NAB Contest, Finale
- Socks & Jocks Dance (w/DJ Alex Ferbeyre)
Sunday, February 18th
- Emerald City Drag Brunch ($40)
For FULL SCHEDULE of events click HERE!
Entertainers
ALEX FERBEYRE, Headlining DJ
Alex has an over 30+ year career; and with an uncanny ability to play to virtually any crowd and environment, his performances are a one-of-a-kind experience feeding off the interaction of his audience at hand. Honing his skills at massive music festivals, chic intimate affairs, and everything in between with equal vigor, he’s known for his signature Cross-genre-multi-generational sets fusing all styles House, vocal anthems, and more. it’s no wonder why thousands of fans flock to his shows at coveted Festivals including Headlines for Winter Music Conference, Gay8 Festival, Miami Beach Gay Pride, White Party, Winter Party Festival, Art Basel, Florida AIDS Walk, Gay Days Orlando, NYC Gay Pride, Gay Days Fort Lauderdale, Pride Fort Lauderdale, Stonewall Street Festival, MadBear Madrid and more; And touring with his SubWOOFer parties in cities including Orlando/Tampa, Washington DC, P-Town, Denver, New York City, Palm Springs, Atlanta, The Bahamas , Europe, and More.
BRAD LOEKLE, Friday Night Comedy Show Headliner
Brad Loekle (born May 18, 1978) is an American comedian. He started performing comedy routines after receiving a degree at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he majored in acting and music. Since 2008, he has been one of the commentators on TruTV Presents: World’s Dumbest…, a humorous reality television series. Loekle’s voice has been heard on Sirius XM Radio’s Morning Jolt, in which he served as a guest co-host. He is also a columnist for the Key West Gay Rag, which is a monthly publication for the LGBT community in Key West, Florida. In his columns, he talks about political issues affecting the gay community as well as his sexual escapades. When he is not writing about himself in the Key West Gay Rag, he opens up to his readers listening to what they have to say. He calls this section of the column, “Ask Nana”.
Loekle is a regular at the clubs in New York City. He attends clubs such as Carolines, Comix, and Gotham Comedy Club. He has also toured the country and performed at several venues such as night clubs, casinos, colleges, and resorts. In addition, he is a frequent performer on cruise ships and in resorts chartered by Atlantis Events.
RICHARD DARSHWOOD, Thursday Night Hypnosis Comedy Show Headliner
Richard E. Darshwood is a highly charismatic performer who has perplexed and amazed many notable celebrities such as film-maker Martin Scorsese, Grammy Winner Miranda Lambert, Super Bowl Champion Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers and many more with his delightfully animated personality, witty antics and clever tricks. His natural ability to fully captivate every audience he encounters has earned him two consecutive People’s Choice Awards from the International Brotherhood of Magicians and is precisely why he is affectionately known as “The Charming Trickster, himself.”
BEARONCE BEAR, Headlining Entertainer for “Bearded Beauties Show”, Poolside Games, & Drag Bingo
Hang on to your husbands! This sassy southern diva will set the stage on fire during our Bearded Beauties Show, and keep everyone laughing & entertained during Risque Bingo.
