What happens when the city of Sarasota’s most thriving, artsy, inclusive, fun, and creative neighborhood hosts a festival that matches it in energy, enthusiasm, and spirit? You’re about to find out! After 25 years of a beautiful run in Bayfront Park, the Sarasota Pride Festival has found a new home in downtown Sarasota’s dreamy and vibrant Rosemary Art & Design District (RADD). And we couldn’t be more excited! On Saturday, October 21st, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, RADD will come alive with rainbow-clad joy along the Boulevard of the Arts and Florida Ave as Project Pride SRQ hosts the biggest and most dynamic LGBTQ+ Pride Festival Sarasota has ever seen! Our new location means more space, more people, more entertainment, more events, more vendors, more artists, more organizations, more food, more character, more charm, more connection, and more fun! It also means that Sarasota’s beautiful downtown shops and restaurants get to be a part of the celebration like never before. Join us as this fun fall festival kicks off @ 11:30 a.m. with the Community Pride Bike Rally, led by our Grand Marshall, Tom Edwards of the Sarasota School Board, and honorary Grand Marshall Ally, Donna Koffman. We’re providing bikes for the first 50 people! Show up, hop on a bike (or bring your own), and breeze along Sarasota’s iconic Main Street to the festival grounds. The Festival’s mainstage will host an incredible lineup of live performances featuring renowned LGBTQ+ artists, local talent, and sensational drag queens, including an extended performance by Thorgy Thor, an international celebrity and musician who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 8) and All Stars (Season 3) and is known for an unrivaled combo of music, comedy, and lip-sync that is pure, full-throttled fun. When hunger strikes, head to the Food and Beverage Village for a diverse array of sweets, treats, and eats to keep you fueled and happy throughout the day. You’ll find local favorites serving up delicious food from food trucks and food stalls, with options to satisfy every palate. For attendees 21+, a dedicated beverage zone will pop, pour, and provide all the fizzy, frothy, and fun drinks to keep you dancing like no one’s watching. Artists, crafters, and entrepreneurs will be on hand in a lively and colorful Artisan Marketplace showcasing local creativity and offering a variety of handmade goods and unique finds just in time for the upcoming gift-giving holiday season. The festival is also hosting a Community Resource Fair where you can connect with LGBTQ+ organizations, local businesses, and support groups from Sarasota and the surrounding area. But wait, what if your pet wants to celebrate pride, too, you ask? It can! Well-behaved furry, scaly, or feathered friends are invited to join a parade of their own- the first-ever Sarasota Pride Festival Pet Parade! Prideful pet owners and their precious pets of all sizes can meet up @ 3 p.m. near ALSO Youth (Boulevard of the Arts & Lemon Ave.) to walk, strut, slither (eek!), and sniff their way to the main stage, where cute contestants will win accolades and prizes! The Sarasota Pride Festival is an inclusive, welcoming, fully family-friendly event.

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