How to celebrate Pride weekend in St. Pete
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Participants cheer on last year's St. Pete Pride Parade. Photo: Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images
St. Petersburg's gayest weekend in the gayest month of the year kicks off tomorrow.
Why it matters: From the St. Pete Pride Parade to pop-up events around town, there are tons of ways to celebrate and be in community with LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.
- The festivities draw more than 300,000 people annually.
Things to do
Friday
✊ People's Pride Night: Catch drag performances, live music, free food, a free store and more at this second annual event, organized by a coalition that rejects corporate sponsorship and aims to return Pride to its protest roots.
- 6–10pm at Allendale United Methodist Church. RSVP here.
🎤 St. Pete Pride Slay the Bay Concert & Night Market: TikTok sensations Chinchilla, Flyana Boss and Cain Culto will feature in this indoor concert and market with local vendors.
- 4–11pm at The Coliseum. Tickets are $32.21.
Saturday
🏳️🌈 St. Pete Pride Parade, Trans March & Festival: The festival kicks off at 2pm at North Straub Park, followed by the Trans March at 5pm at Vinoy Park and the parade at 6pm.
- The waterfront route runs from Albert Whitted Park north along Bayshore Drive to Vinoy Park.
🥂 Pregame at Cocktail St. Pete (also featuring shuttles to and from the parade), Pinellas Ale Works or Mutts and Martinis.
🪩 Afterparty at Cocktail, the EDGE District's Pridetopia or at a giant free dance party at Jannus Live.
🏳️⚧️ GenderFreaks Trans Community Mixer: Drag performances, face-painting and more will feature at this 21+ celebration hosted by Queer Expression St. Pete. Dress up in your freakiest outfit, organizers say.
- 7-10pm, 3015 Seventh Street N. RSVP here.
Sunday
💃 St. Pete Pride Street Fair: Central Avenue goes pedestrian-only in St. Pete's original gayborhood for this annual festival with vendors, community organizations and live performances.
- Noon–5pm in the Grand Central District.
Transit and parking
Saturday: Ride the SunRunner or use the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's free park-and-ride service. It runs from 11am–midnight to and from St. Pete High or Pasadena Community Church.
- If you brave driving and parking yourself... good luck. The Sundial and SouthCore parking garages are closest to the parade route.
- Car access to the pier parking lots will be suspended from 4–9pm.
Sunday: Ride the SunRunner or the Central Avenue Trolley.
Road closures
Saturday: Bayshore Drive from Albert Whitted Park north to Fifth Avenue Northeast will close from 1pm through the end of the parade.
- The segment from Central Avenue to Fifth Avenue Northeast will remain closed until 11pm.
Sunday: Central Avenue and all cross streets between First avenues north and south from 20th Street to 31st Street will close from 6am–10pm.
Weather
Surprise, surprise: This weekend will be HOT, with high temperatures expected to hit the mid-90s.
- The heat risk will be major at best and extreme at worst, per the National Weather Service.
- Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and check on your friends.