This year's main St. Pete Pride celebration has expanded to two days — the parade on Saturday night, and the street festival Sunday. While the schedule has changed, longtime vets should have little trouble finding their way around Central Avenue's Grand Central District. But for the newbies — and those with maybe some hazy memories of last year — we've included a couple of handy maps (click to enlarge), along with a list of individual events running from Thursday through the weekend and beyond. Enjoy!
THURS. JUNE 26
Stonewall Reception
What better way to kick off Pride Weekend than with an open premium bar and light hors d’oeuvres amidst the cool elegance of St. Pete’s Museum of Fine Arts? The reception also features appearances by Mayor Rick Kriseman and a silver-haired gubernatorial candidate named Charlie, and a Macy’s runway fashion show. And a bonus for art fans: You get access to the MFA’s blockbuster show My Generation: Young Chinese Artists, featured recently on CL’s cover. 7-9 p.m., Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE. $35 in advance at stpetepride.com
FRI. JUNE 27
27/82 The Concert
With proceeds benefiting the St Pete Pride Community Grants Program, this event features Macklemore’s “Same Love” superstar, Mary Lambert, plus Hunter Valentine (the celesbian hotties from The Real L Word) and Orlando’s Kill the Sound. (For more on the concert, see the story on p. 23.) 7 p.m., State Theatre, 687 Central Ave. $25 general admission.
27/82 The After-Party
It’s a Girls’ Night! with DJ Mary Mack. Georgie’s Alibi, 3100 3rd Ave. N., 11 p.m.-3 a.m.
SAT. JUNE 28
Block Party
Get your motor running before the parade with live music from DJs, food, beverages and other entertainment. Between 22nd Street and 27th Street along Central Ave., 5 p.m. Free.
Una Voce Spaghetti Dinner
Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale (see story on p. 17) accommodates the parade’s new evening hours by switching from their traditional pancake breakfast to carb-loading of a different variety. 5-7 p.m., King of Peace MCC Social Hall, 3150 5th Ave. $7. una-voce.org
LGBT Pride Parade
More fun, less sun! Gather your friends for one out-rageous night — the first time St. Pete Pride has marched in the evening hours. More than 150 organizations and businesses who support the Tampa Bay LGBT community will be taking part in the Parade, and over 120,000 celebrants are expected to attend, maintaining the event’s bragging rights as the largest LGBT pride parade in Florida. Held in St. Pete within the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood and Grand Central District. Groups set to go at 3rd Ave. N at 32nd St. N (by Georgie’s) by 7:30 p.m. Step-off: Sunset. It’s all free, of course, but there’s a new feature this year for attendees who prefer to view the parade in style: The Glamstands, grandstand-style seating with open bar, food and air-conditioned restroooms for $40 a person, tickets at stpetepride.com.
After-Parties
Official St. Pete Pride After-Party: Georgie’s Alibi, 9 p.m.-3 a.m. w. DJ L Mo. Official St. Pete Pride After-Party (Girls): The Local 662, 662 Central Ave. Also on tap: American Idol’s Melissa McGhee at Enigma, 1110 Central Ave.; Pool party at Flamingo, 4801 34th St. S.
SUN. JUNE 29
St. Pete Pride Street Fest
Join over 20,000 guests, over 300 exhibitors and entertainers galore at this annual street fest. Look for CL’s booth on the south side of the 2600 block, where we’ll be giving away t-shirts, beach balls, stickers and much more. Attractions this year include three DJ stages, an art zone, food trucks and a special 18+ section, so there’s clearly something for everyone. For a list of the festival’s featured musical entertainers, see p. 23. Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Central Ave. between 22nd and 27th streets.
Post-fest T-Dance
Pride T-Dance: Georgie’s Alibi, w. DJ Reagan, 5-10 p.m.
All About Steve
The Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project wraps up Pride Weekend with an original comedy based on the movie classic All About Eve. Starring locals Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel (aka Scott & Patti) in a drag-ified version of the classic Bette Davis/Anne Baxter clash between glamourous stah and treacherous protegée, this evening not only promises to be a hoot and a half, it’s also a benefit: all proceeds go to Metro Charities to help persons with HIV/AIDS. Doors open 7 p.m., curtain at 7:30 p.m. American Stage, 163 3rd St. N. $15 in advance, “Pay what you can” at the door. 727-823-PLAY, americanstage.org.
THROUGH JULY 5
Herb Snitzer: Gay Pride Parades
An exhibition of photos of past Pride parades by one of Tampa Bay’s most renowned photographers. Continues through July 5 at Nuance Galleries, 804 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa. nuancegalleries.com.
