Expect live entertainment and a sendoff to the Melissa Etheridge Cruise at the port. Tea Dance: Water Street launches the new Tea Dance, which it hopes will become a tradition for the day after Pride. and 1:15 a.m., spotlighting Pheyonce Montrese, host Kori Stevens and Felicity Lane. After the parade, there are drag shows at 11:30 p.m. for a preparade party with good viewing spots on the patio, starting at noon. īradley's Pride Party: The neighborhood bar opens at 10 a.m.
Tampa Pride Balcony Party: Overlooking the parade, this balcony get-together includes a cash bar, DJ dancing and a postparade soiree. Girl Pride Tampa : A Tampa Pride bash featuring the "Sexy Spinster" and DJ Shannon C, Dirty Dolls Burlesque Show and live music by the Cheaters. parade goes down at Seventh Avenue and Nuccio Parkway, followed by a performers' showcase from 2 to 5:30 p.m. A performance by the Gay Men's Chorus of Tampa Bay is at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Hillsborough Community College parking lot.
One day, she added, "everyone will get along and hold hands."Īn expo with food trucks and art vendors takes place from 10 a.m. "I definitely see a more open attitude," Guilder said. But that has mostly relaxed now, she said, and she rarely needs to step up security anymore, with the exception of crowd control. Explore all your optionsĮach year seems to bring a more open generation, said Chou Chou Guilder, 38, general manager of LGBTQ club Southern Nights, who has worked there for 15 years.Īccording to Guilder, the Pulse shooting sent a chill through the LGBTQ club scene in Ybor City, prompting clubs to post armed guards and extra security. Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. It featured a parade, parties, a business expo and celebrity guests. The annual gathering grew and became PrideFest. It was a low-key affair with softball games and a barbecue. In 1982, Tampa's first Pride parade was held at the University of South Florida. That year, she performed mass marriages in a city park when gay marriage became legal.įirst responders to the Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016 will appear at the front of the parade, as will a 100-foot rainbow flag. Hillsborough County Clerk Pat Frank will be recognized as a community supporter for her work in 2015. Representing the Tampa Bay Pride Band is artistic director David Triplett-Rosa. Multiple grand marshals include drag entertainer Amy DeMilo, community activists Nicholas Staszak and Tyler Reed, City Side Lounge owner Jim Encke and "Battle of the Houses" winner Ja'Sraria Infiniti. Jane Castor is a past grand marshal of the parade, and David Straz is a longtime supporter who is sponsoring one of the high school bands in the parade. That includes appearances from Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who embraced the event each year and walked the parade tossing beads, to current mayoral candidates. According to West, Tampa is on its way to reclaiming the crown as one of the biggest Pride demonstrations in the state.Ī big part of the parade this year, West said, are community tributes to acknowledge how it got here. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of the prior weeks of this event? Madness,Lots of fun,no big deal,no chaos? I like a party as much as anybody but I also like lazy quiet sunny days.Last year drew about 40,000, he said, and organizers estimate 45,000 to 50,000 will arrive Saturday. Crowded everywhere and terrible traffic trying to get in and out of KW. Would it make any difference if I pushed it back a couple of days? I am only in Florida for 1 week based in FLL and am now concered KW might be crazy crowded and not it's normal lazy self that entire week +. I am all for celebrations of all kinds but was really hoping for the truer KW expierence. Is this very bad timing on my part to get any real sense of Key West beacuse the city will be filled with revelers and celebrations? The article I read made it seem like a very big event and will be lots and lots of people in the city that normally are not there. Planning on arriving early Tues June 8th and departing early afternoon June 9th.
I just read that Gay Pride week starts June 9th this year and my first time ever to Key West is June 8th and it is a very very short overnight visit.