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.

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.

Keep reading: Weather forecast

Whoever wins the St. Pete mayor's race will govern a city that prides itself on welcoming all while facing restrictions from the Legislature and governor on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

State of play: A state law that bans cities and counties from funding and promoting such programs goes into effect Jan. 1, less than a week before the new mayor will be sworn in.

Here's what the candidates had to say at a forum last week:

Ken Welch, incumbent: "I stood against the backwards legislation coming from Tallahassee. ... I renamed the Historic Gas Plant development from Tropicana Field, because it wasn't about a baseball field. It was about community."

Charlie Crist, former governor and congressman: "I'll protect every resident from discrimination in their job, their housing, and their daily life, no exceptions."

Brandi Gabbard, City Council member: "I just fundamentally believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are important economic drivers. They are important moral fabric compasses that we all need to be working towards, regardless of what Tallahassee says."

Maria Scruggs, former NAACP St. Petersburg president: "To bring meaning to our tagline, 'We are St. Petersburg,' we have to ensure that every person in this city feels that they're valued, that their input ... does not depend on what clique they're in."

Jim Large, former fire chief: "We need to stay neutral on issues — social issues, cultural issues, political issues — and focus on the core functions."

Kevin Batdorf, former Shore Acres Civic Association president: "My platform is 'Together we can do this. United we'll shine.' ... I believe in that. I believe that we're all equal, regardless of who we are, what we are, where we are."

Go deeper

🪧 A controversial effort to attract a large-scale data center to Citrus County is dead after the developer, Deltona Corporation, withdrew its rezoning request amid backlash from residents. (Tampa Bay Times)

🚽 Pinellas County Schools has joined school districts in Manatee, St. Lucie and Osceola counties in requiring children to be potty-trained before enrolling in its pre-kindergarten program.

🎣 Clearwater charter captains say Florida's extended Gulf red snapper season could deliver a needed boost to the local economy after hurricanes battered the region and Atlantic closures sent anglers west. (Tampa Bay 28)

We asked you what Florida should have buried in America's Time Capsule.

Y'all made one thing clear: "Not challenge coins, pins, and booklets representing our governor, legislators and other leaders," Cindy L. wrote.

• "It is not their memory that we should be memorializing."

Among the suggestions:

Representation from "the REAL Florida," like a slice of key lime pie, a Jimmy Buffet record, or a stuffed manatee or alligator, said reader Sharon T.

• "Because the way things are going, none of this is gonna be around in 50 years."

Some more sobering realities, from Terry B.: "Water from one of our few remaining springs. A picture of manatees in one of those springs. A picture of Miami Beach before it is under water..."

And some even more sobering ideas, from Rebecca T.: "A high school student ID with instructions for what to do in the case of a mass shooting printed on the back.," and Ray M:

• "A list of the names of the more than 200 people on Death Row in Florida to make it clear to people in the future as to what a barbaric society Florida was in 2026."

Finally, a small comfort, suggested by Sharon T. and Donna P.: A mug or decal invoking local meteorologist/celeb Denis Phillips' Rule #7 on his list of hurricane rules.

• For the uninitiated: "Stop freaking out... until I tell you to. We're fine."

Spread the word

I visited Armature Works' Love Island Watch Party last week with my wife, Maya, and sister-in-law, Alex, and it was packed.

• Dozens of people sprawled across the lawn on blankets and folding chairs as a massive TV streamed the show, ads and all.
• The watch parties are every Thursday at 9pm and free to attend!

I'll be there again tonight. Come say hi if you make it!