An energetic crowd of young people wearing rainbow face paint and colorful beaded necklaces , with some waving trans pride flags and cheering wildly at Tampa Pride 2025. — Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

LGBTQ+ Pride looks a little different this weekend in Ybor City. It’s the first year in over a decade without the big parade from nonprofit Tampa Pride. But a new group has stepped up to keep Ybor colorful.

Pride of Tampa hosts its first festival this Saturday at the Cuban Club, along with seven other events this weekend (listed below).

Daniel Johnson leads the nonprofit with a board of nine others. He and Treasurer Dustin Johnson already had their hands full with jobs and seven kids before starting the organization.

The inaugural Pride of Tampa festival spans the whole Cuban Club and its parking lot, with vendors, drag performers and entertainment.

When the party wraps at 6 p.m., Pride of Tampa organizers will lead a march from the club to Bradley’s. Dustin Johnson knows a three-block march isn’t the same as a full parade or an all out protest, but he wanted a nod to the parades that evolved from the 1969 Stonewall Riots.

“Pride started as a revolt,” he told CL. “So, even though the festival is a fun time of the day and we still want people to come out and enjoy themselves, we wanted to find a replacement for the parade where we were still taking pride to the streets—especially in this political environment.”

This political environment, where queer and trans people are being targeted by the Trump and DeSantis administrations, will likely soon include severing local governments from Pride. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Congress member Rep. Cathy Castor (no relation) make perhaps their last official Pride appearances in Tampa at this weekend’s festival.

Former Tampa Pride president Carrie West told CL that the organization—which faced a few years of trouble in the headlines before going on hiatus—is on its way to making a comeback with two potential candidates for his replacement.

Johnson told CL that this year’s festival builds off the hard work of other local Pride organizations, including Tampa Pride.

“It’s a lot of work to organize pride and put these events on, and it truly takes a village. Anyone who is willing to take that on and put in that work deserves all the accolades in the world.”

Meanwhile, he’s already starting to plan next year’s celebrations.

“Like any pride organization, we’re taking the left hook, and the right hook, and the uppercut here with all of these laws being passed in our lovely state, but it doesn’t stop us from doing what we’re doing,” Johnson said.

“There will be a Pride every year going forward with our organization, come hell or high water, come laws, restrictions or bans.”

Pride events and queer happenings across Tampa Bay

How To Support Trans Youth: Nico Lang Wednesday, March 25. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Allendale UMC, St. Petersburg

Pride of Tampa: Official Opening Party feat. Amy Demilo w/Jade Embers/Esme Russell Thursday, March 26. 10 p.m. $15 & up. Bradley’s on 7th, Ybor City

Tampa Bay Lightning Pride Night Thursday, March 26. 7 p.m. $30 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa. nhl.com/lightning

Pride of Tampa: Mixed Signals Friday, March 27. 10 p.m. $20 & up. The Social Bar & Lounge, Tampa

My Big Gay Italian Wedding Select times and dates from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, April 12. $20 & up. Carrollwood Players Theatre, Tampa

Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival Friday-Sunday, March 27-29. Times and prices vary. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg; Sun-Ray Cinema, Tampa

Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival: Night of 1000 Oscars (Trans pride dance party) Friday, March 27. 7 p.m. $25 & up. 1920, Ybor City

Eden Tampa Saturday, March 28. 9 p.m. $24.30 & up. Zodiac Nightclub, Ybor City

Girl Pride Tampa: Ivy Les Vixens w/Erin Boone Trio/Shevonne/Dirty Dolls Saturday, March 28. 12 p.m. $25 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City

Pride of Tampa: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Saturday, March 28. 3 p.m. $25 & up. District 8 Nightclub, Ybor City

Pride of Tampa: Festival Afterparty Saturday, March 28. 6 p.m. No cover before 9 p.m; $5 after. Bradley’s on 7th, Ybor City

Tampa Pride: Golden Hour ft. DJ Chemical Lex Saturday, March 28. 6 p.m. No cover. The Bricks, Ybor City

Baewatch All-Girl Island Party Sunday, March 29. 2 p.m. $50 & up. Shell Key Island, St. Petersburg

Pride of Tampa: Official Closing Party feat. Liza Rodriguez w/Chris Sugden Sunday, March 29. 3 p.m. $35 & up. 1920, Ybor City

Pasco Pride: Trans Day of Visibility Picnic Sunday, March 29. 12 p.m. No cover, but registration required. Address provided upon registration.

Movies & Martinis: Priscilla Queen of the Desert March 30. 8 p.m. The Wet Spot

Pride Connect Wednesday, April 1. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Park & Rec DTSP, St. Petersburg

Pride @ 5663 Saturday, April 4. 7 p.m. Studios @ 5663, Pinellas Park.

Queer Expressions St. Pete: Spring Clothing & Trinket Swap Saturday, April 4. 5 p.m. No cover. Lassing Park, St. Petersburg

Hunky Jesus & Foxy Mary Pool Party Sunday, April 5. 1 p.m. No cover. The Wet Spot at Cocktail, St. Petersburg

Lesbian Lick & Flick: Pariah Monday, April 6. 8 p.m. No cover. The Wet Spot at Cocktail, St. Petersburg

Drag Queen Bingo @ ECBC Second Wednesdays. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. $10. Emerald Coast Brewing Company, New Port Richey

RuPaul’s Drag Race Finale Viewing Friday, April 17. 5 p.m. No cover, but donations encouraged. The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, Sarasota

Sunday Soul Third Sundays. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. $10. The Garage on Central, St. Petersburg

Glamour Puss Thursday, April 23. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Disco Pony, Ybor City

St. Pete Pride Kickoff Weekend Friday-Sunday, May 29-31. Details TBA.

Dunedin Jays Pride Game Friday, June 5. 7:15 p.m.-10 p.m. $8-$11. TD Ball Park, Dunedin.

Family Day On The Pier Sunday, June 7. 10 a.m. No cover. St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg

Stonewall Reception Thursday, June 11. 6 p.m. Prices TBA. Urban Stillhouse, St. Petersburg

Community Kickstarter Pride Weekend Friday-Sunday, June 12-14. Times vary. Call or text (352) 204-3234 for scheduling. Ichetucknee Yoga Club & Outdoor Meditation Center, Branford

Lipstick Masquerade Saturday, June 13. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Prices TBA. The Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Polk Pride: Kick-Off Party Saturday, June 13. 11 a.m. Prices TBA. Union Hall, Lakeland

Polk Pride: Pride For Youth Wednesday, June 17. 6:30 p.m. No cover. United Women’s Club, Lakeland

Polk Pride: Pride In Faith Thursday, June 18. 7 p.m. No cover. Beacon Hill Fellowship, Lakeland

Shades of Pride: Juneteenth Friday, June 19. Time and prices TBA. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg

Polk Pride: Friday Night Pride Friday, June 19. 9 p.m. Prices TBA. The Parrot, Lakeland

Bear Pride at the Lake Saturday, June 20. 11 a.m. No cover. Ichetucknee Yoga Club & Nature Retreat, Branford

Polk Pride: Pride After Dark Saturday, June 20. 9 p.m. Prices and location TBA.

Polk Pride: Pride In The Park Saturday, June 20. 9 a.m. No cover. Munn Park, Lakeland

Transtastic Thursday, June 25. 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. $26.90 & up. James Museum, St. Petersburg

St. Pete Pride: Friday Night Concert & Market on the Waterfront Friday, June 26. Details TBA.

TransMarch and Festival Saturday, June 27. 2 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Marching from Vinoy Park to Albert Whitted Field, St. Petersburg

St. Pete Pride: Parade and Festival Saturday, June 27. Details TBA.

St. Pete Pride: Sunday Street Fair Sunday, June 28. Details TBA.

Bears at the Lake: Stars, Stripes & Splash Fourth of July Weekend Nature Retreat Friday-Sunday, July 3-5. 2 p.m. No cover. Ichetucknee Yoga Club and Nature Retreat, Branford

Sapphic St. Pete First week of November. Details TBA.

Josh Bradley contributed to this report.

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