A guide on how best to enjoy the biggest pride in Florida, and why you should be there!
St. Pete/Clearwater is home to a jubilant, thriving, and defiantly loud LGBTQ+ population which comes together annually for the entire month of June to celebrate its history and shout from the rooftops about the future.
St Pete Pride is the largest festival of its kind in the state, and one of the biggest in the United States, with over 300,000 attendees for the street parade last year alone.
Nicole Berman, Execuitve Director of St Pete Pride explains: “As we gear up for St Pete Pride 2024, I’m filled with immense pride and excitement for what lies ahead. St Pete Pride isn’t just an event; it’s a beacon of hope, representation, and celebration for our entire community. In 2024, we’re setting the bar even higher, ensuring that every individual, regardless of who they love or how they identify, feels seen, heard, and valued. Together, with the support of the City of St. Petersburg, our 2024 St Pete Pride sponsors, and the community at large, we’re writing a new chapter in our city’s history—one of unity, diversity, and unwavering solidarity.”
The St Pete Pride Parade, presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – 22 June, Downtown St. Pete
Boasting an impressive turnout of over 300,000 in 2023, the 2024 parade is set to be the biggest yet as St Pete Pride garners further attention on a domestic and international scale. As the biggest pride celebration in the state of Florida and one of the largest in the US, St Pete Pride stands as an important reminder of the presence of the LGBTQ+ community.
Starting at 2pm in North and South Straub Parks, the St Pete Pride Parade Day Festival, presented by CAN Community Health, features local vendors, food trucks, community partners, 2 entertainment stages, family area, and MORE! Check out all the Pride offerings in the park while you watch the Parade march by, and don’t forget to stay for SAUCY SANTANA, headlining the main stage!
Colourful Events All Month Long
Jubilations are not limited to the parade weekend, but continue throughout the entire month of June, including:
2024 St. Pete Pride Friday Night Concert with Sasha Colby – 21 June 2024, Jannus Live
Officially opening Pride festival weekend, join Jannus Live on Friday 21 June for the party of all parties. An event brimming with top LGBTQIA+ talent, dance floor bangers, and cocktails to suit, this is an exceptional night concluding with extra special guest, Sasha Colby. Winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 15, Sasha is a world-renowned performer, trans activist, actress and dancer, who electrifies each stage she graces. Do, not, miss, out!
Pride Kick-Off, presented by COCKtail – 1 June 2024, Grand Central District, Downtown St. Pete
Grand Central District, in downtown St. Pete, is host to the ‘Pride Kick Off Party’ setting off the month-long Queer festival. Expect DJ’s, live entertainment, craft beer, cocktails and more. An area continually popular with the local LGBTQ+ population, downtown St. Pete is the perfect host.
Youth and Family Day – 8 June 2024, North Straub Park, St. Pete
All members of the family are encouraged to get involved in Pride. A dedicated LGBTQ+ ‘Youth & Family Day’ on Saturday 8 June has been specially crafted for young queer individuals to feel accepted and learn more about the loving community they are a part of. Queer visibility for all ages is a cornerstone of St. Pete Pride.
Transtastic Celebration, presented by Love The Golden Rule, Inc. – June 28, The Museum of Fine Arts
Pride is about more than just partying in St. Pete, with evenings such as the ‘Transtastic Celebration’ dedicated to hosting an intimate space to hear and amplify the voices of St. Pete’s trans and non-binary community – now more important than ever. This event is an important pillar of Pride month that goes hand in hand with the Trans March that leads the St. Pete Pride Parade on 22 June 2024.
Shades of Pride, presented by Metro Inclusive Health – LGBTQIA+ Juneteenth Art & Music Festival – 14-15 June 2024
This two-day celebration where a ballroom ‘Honours Ball’ meets slam poetry is truly a stand-out. Throughout you can expect the ‘Pride Power and Passion Party’, and full introduction to ballroom culture with the legendary Kevin Prodigy! Followed by ‘Shade Vs Pride Slam Poetry’ hosted by Novacane, this is a full immersion into a key facet of LGBTQ+ culture. Hosted at The Factory in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District, you are able to indulge in the area’s famed arts scene.
Where to eat and drink
LGBTQ+ bars, restaurants, and nightclubs can all be found in the local area, from the renowned pop-up lesbian bar series ‘LickHer’ by Rachel Covello, to the uber-up beat ‘COCKtail’ at the Mari Jean, both great spots before partying the night away at ‘WetSpot’. We also highly recommend ‘The Saint’, a Catholic style bar where you can confess your sins for a cocktail!
Where to stay
Stays for Pride can be amped up at the ever-popular adults-only Mari Jean, where party-going LGBTQ+ travellers can stay and indulge in evening parties around the pool before a dance at the onsite nightclub. Alternatively, for a more relaxing beach-experience, The Saint Hotel is only moments from St. Pete Beach.
Where to beach
After a day of celebrating in downtown St. Pete, some R&R on the beach is well deserved, and Sunset Beach and Pass-A-Grille could not be better suited.
Friendly and welcoming, these beaches are known for their laid-back atmosphere and beach bars that open up onto the waterfront, providing a relaxing yet fun atmosphere perfect for a soothing evening watching the sunset. For those wanting to dance the night away, Sunset Beach is more akin, with venues throwing beach parties making for an evening that turns into the night!
For more information on St. Pete Pride, visit: www.stpetepride.org
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About Visit St. Pete/Clearwater:
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (VSPC) is the official destination marketing organisation of Pinellas County in Florida and covers 24 municipalities in the area. The region is located on the peninsula on Florida’s west coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the east.
The area offers 35 miles of award-winning white-sandy beaches, exotic nature trails, culture and arts. It is home to independent restaurants, boutique shops and a unique craft beer trail running from Tarpon Springs to Treasure Island showcasing 40+ local breweries’ fresh artisanal beer. Both Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach have consistently been listed among the top 5 beaches in America, in the annual TripAdvisor Readers’ Choice Awards.
Boasting the largest collection of Dali artwork outside of Spain in the Dali Museum, the county has a significant art scene, with walking mural tours, regular exhibitions and the impressive Chihuly Collection of hand-blown glass sculptures.
The destination is popular amongst families, couples and groups wanting a memorable beach holiday experience.
Tampa International Airport (just 30 minutes from St. Pete/Clearwater) can be reached from London with both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.
