Guide to Pride: St. Pete Pride parties, parades and festivals

Florida’s largest Pride celebration is back this week.

St. Pete Pride brings parties, art shows, a street festival and a free concert by Lisa Loeb. It’s the second largest Pride parade in the Southeast behind only Atlanta — and for the first time, has a corporate title sponsor.

Saturday’s Tech Data St. Pete Pride Parade commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising, spurred by police brutality against the LGBTQ community in New York City. The deep meaning is bringing people out in droves.

“We have 10,000 people in the parade this year, 2,000 from Tech Data alone,” said St. Pete Pride executive director Luke Blankenship.

And he expects some 1,000 people will be in the TransPride March, which has 170 units this year, up from 155 in 2018.

More than 200,000 people partied in downtown St. Petersburg for Pride last year, and even more are expected this year.

St. Pete Pride has released a new mobile app featuring the second-largest LGBTQ-friendly business directory in Florida. The app will also keep you up to date on all Pride activities in the area. You can download it from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Parking in downtown St. Petersburg can be difficult, especially during Pride weekend, so PSTA has announced that all routes will be free on Saturday. In addition, there is a free park and ride to the parade from St. Petersburg High School, 2501 Fifth Ave. N, from noon to midnight. For $10, you can park at Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, and get a ride to Bayshore Drive during the same time period.

The parade route along Bayshore Drive means Second Avenue NE will be closed all day from Beach Drive to Bayshore. Plus, Dali Boulevard SE will be closed from Bayshore Drive to First Street starting at 5:30 p.m. until the end of the event. Sunday is the street festival, so Central Avenue will be closed from 22nd to 28th streets starting at 6 a.m.

The VIP Glamstands will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and for $85-$125, you can get bleacher seating, air-conditioned bathrooms and an open bar. Tickets are available at stpetepride.com. There will be music on two stages in Straub Park starting at 2 p.m. Saturday and will continue after the parade ends.

Here are the events and parties for St. Pete Pride this weekend:

WEDNESDAY

Stonewall to Pulse: A Community Discussion

An intergenerational panel discussion featuring people who experienced milestones in LGBTQ history. Panelists include: Brandon Wolf, Pulse shooting survivor; Christine Leinonen, mother of Pulse victim Christopher Leinone; Cristina Yelvington, coordinator for LGBTQ Initiatives at the University of South Florida; Jason Marsden, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation; and Jay Chetney, who was at the Stonewall riots in New York. Free. 6:30 p.m. Metro Inclusive Health, 3251 Third Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 321-3854, ext. 1824.

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RELATED: He was at Stonewall 50 years ago. In St. Petersburg, he remembers the before and after.

THURSDAY

Kickoff Market and Drag Show

A mini festival featuring live music, food, dunk tank, a drag show and more than 40 vendors. Free. 6 p.m. Intermezzo, 1111 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (561) 307-3003.

Stonewall Reception

A fashion show, open full bar and appetizers. $30. 7 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

RELATED: Brandon author Rob Sanders talks about ‘Stonewall,’ his picture-book history for children

Passion for Pride

Music by DJ 5 Day Forecast, $15 Martini and Rossi Prosecco specials, pong games, prizes, specialty cocktails and open kitchen until closing. Free. 9 p.m. Crafty Squirrel, 259 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 898-4888.

Pride March and Service

Meet at Metro Inclusive Health for a march in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Ends at King of Peace MCC with an interfaith service titled “Looking Back, Loving Forward.” Theater, film and television producer Scott Robbe (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) is special guest. Free. 6 p.m. 3251 Third Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

The Scott and Patti Show

The mother and son lounge act performed by Scott Daniel and Matthew McGee is big on camp, improv and glittering costumes. $25-$30. 7 p.m. Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport. (727) 893-1070.

FRIDAY

SP2 Concert

Lisa Loeb (Stay) headlines this free concert. Alexis Mateo hosts the annual St. Pete Pride concert with area bands and singers. Benefits the St. Pete Pride Community Grants Program. Gates open at 6 p.m. with the first act going on at 7 p.m. Free. North Straub Park, Fifth Avenue NE and Bayshore Drive, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

Flag Wars

The screening of the documentary that follows the conflicts that arise when gay, white professionals move into a black, working-class neighborhood. Free. 7 p.m. Community Cafe, 2444 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 222-6979.

Drag Queen Docent Tour

Join local comedy queen Bak Lava for a unique look at the museum’s collection. Benefits St. Pete Pride. $14.95. 4 p.m. Chihuly Collection, 720 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

Enigma Celebration

A two-day Pride party with two-for-one happy hour from noon to 9 p.m., $5 Absolute drinks and $4.75 Fireballs from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. and performances by Daphne Ferraro and cast (Friday) and Kori Stevens and Daphne Ferraro (Saturday). No cover. Opens at noon both days. Enigma, 1110 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 235-0867.

Pride Gayla

Get a champagne greeting at the door for this cocktail party with performances by local queens Jacqueline St. James and Victoria Michaels, signature Pride cocktails, giveaways, passed appetizers and dessert. $65. 8 p.m. Red Mesa Events, 128 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. (800) 584-5414.

Prom in Wonderland

An Mad Hatter-themed prom experience. $20, $40 VIP. 9 p.m. Flamingo Resort, 4601 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

Pride Shabbat

Join a musical prayer service with special guest speaker Rabbi Bryan Mann of Congregation Beth Shalom of Brandon, the first openly gay Rabbi in Tampa Bay. Free. 6:30 p.m. Congregation B’nai Israel, 300 58th St. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 381-4900.

Disco Kickoff

A silent disco follows a live performance by the Cheaters. $10. 10 p.m. Salty’s Gulfport Bar, 5413 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport. (727) 592-4983.

SATURDAY

Tech Data St. Pete Pride Parade

The party starts at 2 p.m., with the parade stepping off on Bayshore Drive at 6:30, followed by a concert in the park featuring Australian electronic artist Vassy. Free. Straub Park at Beach Drive and Fifth Avenue NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

TransPride March

Precedes the St. Pete Pride Parade. The first 1,000 to register get a free TransPride March T-shirt. Free. 6:30 p.m. St. Petersburg waterfront, 375 Bayshore Drive, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

Quench After Party

Mingle with the Men of Quench and see the Diva Show. Get $3 drafts, $4 Fireball shots and $3 drinks after 1 a.m. Quench Lounge, 13284 66th St. N, Largo. (727) 754-5900

Rainbros Party

The party on the parade route includes drag performances, appetizers, open bar, DJ dancing and swag. $75. 5 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 493-5610.

Drag Brunch

Adriana, Juno Vibranz, and Nicole T. Lane bring glitter and sass for a drag show with brunch. $25. 11 a.m. Saturday. SubCentral at the Iberian Rooster, 475 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 258-8753.

Iberian Rooster After Party

Adriana Sparkle, a.k.a. “The Bearded Mermaid,” serves as host for this underground drag and burlesque show with appearances by Ashlee T. Bangkx, Vyn Suazion, Carmen Lai Garden, Mya Valentine and Zeal Milan. Free. 9 p.m. Iberian Rooster, 475 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

Silent Disco

Grab your headphones and choose a genre of music from three DJs and dance under a rainbow of lights. $10. 8 p.m. Old Key West Bar and Grill, 2451 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 623-0969.

Drag Queen Storytime

Drag sensation Berry Ayers, known as Beneva Fruitville, reads to children. Free. 10 a.m. Kenwood Organic Produce, 3325 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 777-7306.

PrideWOD 2019

Wear your rainbow gear for a CrossFit class. Benefits Metro Inclusive Health. $15. 7:30 a.m. CrossFit St. Pete, 2727 Sixth Ave. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 469-3240.

Bradley’s Party

Music by DJs Charles Machado and Steve Vaughn and two drag shows starring Kori Stevens with special guests Jaeda Fuentes and Felicity Lane. No cover. 10 p.m. Bradley’s on 7th, 1510 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. (813) 241-2723.

SUNDAY

St. Pete Pride Festival

Live entertainment, music, art displays, vendors and food. Free. 11 a.m. Grand Central District, 1800 Block of Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. (727) 342-0084.

Punky’s Pride Market

Arts and collectibles, food, drink specials and drag shows. Victoria Michaels leads the Punky’s cast through a spoof on Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. No cover. Noon Punky’s Bar and Grill. No cover, food and drink additional. 11 a.m. Punky’s Bar and Grill, 3063 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 201-4712.