The sun is shining and rainbows are abound and we don’t just mean in the sky! June has arrived and that means Pride month is here! St. Petersburg has one of the largest pride festivals in the state of Florida, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. People come from all over the country to partake in the festivities, joining in on the fun to see phenomenal performers, drag shows, pageants, block parties, dances, carnivals, and so much more. All events are FREE to attend and are intended for the LGBTQ+ community & allies.
A Brief History of St. Petersburg Pride:
For over 20 year the Tampa area has officially been celebrating Pride, but after legislation effectively shut down Tampa’s Pride Parade, St. Petersburg picked up the torch and continued to turn one day of celebration into a month long endeavor. Today St. Pete's Pride lists on the Top 40 largest in the world! The Pride committee now hosts year-round events amplifying, supporting, and celebrating the voices of the local LGBTQIA+ community. The team works hard to ensure that all voices are represented and are heard.
The St. Petersburg Pride Parade:
When: June 23 2023
Time: 2pm-10pm
Cost: FREE
In its 21st year, the annual St. Pete Pride Parade will commence! This festival honors queer history through celebration, creating an accessible, safe place for members to party! The Parade route begins at Albert Whitted Park and goes to Vinoy Park along Bayshore Drive. The Parade Festival begins at 2pm on BOTH sides of the parade route! A party at Vinoy Park follows the parade, hosting main stage entertainment, VIP cabanas, and more. Within North Straub Park will be LOTS to do. Shop amount the artisans and vendor booths, eat from a variety of food trucks, party to the tunes from a live DJ, and sip on something fresh in the on-site beer garden.
Of course the parade is one of the most popular events to attend, but the Pride Committee has big events happening all month long. We’ve attached a list of all the upcoming events for June, but ’23, but following the St. Pete Pride website is the best way to stay consistently updated & informed about all events & updates, so be sure to follow their pages. To ensure everyone’s health & safety, the committee strongly encourages all attendees to follow current national COVID guidelines including up to date vaccinations, social distancing, and wearing masks.”
St. Petersburg Pride is a FREE event run by a non-profit organization. All donations contribute to keeping events accessible for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Saturday, June 10th- Youth and Family Day
Saturday, June 10th- Get Nude
Saturday, June 17th- Shades of Pride
Wednesday, June 21st- Stonewall Reception
Friday, June 23rd- Friday Night Concert
Saturday, June 24- TransMarch, Parade and Festival
Sunday, June 25- Street Carnival
Wednesday, June 28- Transtastic
Friday, June 30th- Queer E Okee
Downtown options for parking can be extremely limited, options including metered & free street parking and public garage spaces for rent. The cool thing about this area is that there are a lof of convenient public transportation options, including a free shuttle service from the St. Petersburg Trolley, the Looper Shuttle Service that drives around the edge of downtown St. Pete (making everything walkable), PSTA's Central Avenue Trolley, and of course Uber/Lift services.
Celebrate Pride on Treasure Island!
Local businesses all over town are pitching in to share in their support of Pride. One of our favorite hot spots is Caddy’s (walkable from Sunset Inn & Cottages). This beachside seafood bar constantly has a party going on - from live music every day to special performances, dances, discos, and other events, Caddy’s has it going on. Caddy's represented Treasure Island Pride at the Gulfport Pride Parade and continues to celebrate throughout the month of June. At the end of the month is their St. Pete Summer Jam, a three-day music festival at Cage Brewing. There will be lots of live music, delicious food vendors, and beer garden.
Stay with us!
Celebrate Pride Month by booking a stay with us! A 15 minute walk from Caddy’s and about a 15 minute drive from downtown St. Petersburg is Sunset Inn & Cottages, a Mid Century Retro Roadside Motel that borders the sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast.
Location is everything, and our motel is the perfect distance from downtown to partake in events while coming home at the end of the day to an oasis a bit further away from all the noise of partying.
Across the street from our property is Sunset Beach, nicknamed “the gay beach” among locals & queer community who often visit. Sunset Beach is a great place to spend the day and is the best place to see the most incredible display of colors in every evenings sunsets.
Sunset Inn & Cottages is proud to stand as an ally with the LGBTQIA+ community. Above all we provide a safe community of love and respect on Treasure Island.
We hope this blog inspires rainbow plans for your upcoming itinerary. Thank you for reading.