St. Pete Pride: What to know about Florida's largest LGBTQ+ parade
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A scene from the 2023 Trans March. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
Florida's largest Pride festival is taking over the Sunshine City this weekend.
Here's what you need to know:
What's happening: While St. Pete Pride events have been happening all month, this weekend is the annual parade, trans march and street festival, which draw hundreds of thousands of revelers.
- All ages are welcome, although organizers noted "this is a space of free and uncensored expression."
State of play: The weekend kicks off Friday at 6pm with a concert at Jannus Live featuring R&B musician Durand Bernarr. This is the only ticketed event of the weekend, and admission is $25.
- The festivities kick off Saturday at 2pm with a festival featuring performers and more than 100 booths with vendors and community organizations spread across North and South Straub parks downtown.
- The Trans March steps off at 5:15pm at Vinoy Park, followed by the main parade at 6pm. The route begins at Albert Whitted Park and runs north along Bayshore Drive to Vinoy Park.
- Finally, on Sunday, a giant street fair will take over the Grand Central District from noon-5pm, featuring live entertainment, street performers, vendors and more.
Road closures: On Saturday, Bayshore Drive from Albert Whitted Park to Fifth Avenue Northeast will be closed from 1pm until the parade ends.
- A segment of Bayshore from Central Avenue to Fifth Avenue Northeast will stay closed until 11pm, when the festival wraps up.
- On Sunday, Central Avenue and all cross streets between first avenues north and south will close from 6am-10pm between 20th Street and 31st Street.
Transportation: You can try driving and parking downtown, but we wouldn't recommend it. Biking, scootering or the SunRunner, which will be fare-free on Saturday, are all better options.
- The SunRunner will depart roughly every seven minutes from free park-and-ride areas in lots 6 and 7 of Tropicana Field or at St. Pete High.
- Drivers can park at the lots from 11am-midnight and catch the bus to the Sixth Avenue South, Third Street South or First Street North stops to get closest to the parade.
Yes, but: Don't leave your car overnight, city officials said in a news release. The last SunRunner will depart from the parade site at 11:30pm to get folks back to their cars in time.
- On Sunday, street fair participants can take the SunRunner to the 22nd Street north or south stops — but the $2.25 fare will resume (and yes, the bus accepts Apple Pay).
Stay hydrated: With highs expected in the upper 80s, it's gonna be HOT. Bring water, check on your friends and happy Pride!