Live updates: St. Pete Pride parade returns amid record-breaking heat
The St. Pete Pride parade and festival returns to the downtown waterfront. It’s the most popular event during St. Petersburg’s monthlong celebration, which Visit St. Pete/Clearwater calls the largest Pride event in the Southeast. If you’re one of the 300,000 or so folks heading out to celebrate this weekend, here’s what you need to know.
The festival — featuring vendors, food trucks and a family area — runs from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. today in Straub Park, located at Beach Drive and Fifth Avenue NE.
The Trans March kicks off in Vinoy Park at 5:30 p.m. Next, the St. Pete Pride Parade starts at 6 p.m. from Albert Whitted Park. It will head north to Vinoy Park along Bayshore Drive.
Our guide to Pride features tips on parking and transportation. Check back here often to follow along with Tampa Bay Times reporters and photographers.
7:30 p.m. Pro-Palestine procession
The crowd in front of the Museum of Fine Arts erupted as a pro-Palestine procession passed.
There were a few “boos” and many cheers. Those marching clutched yellow signs that read “LGBTQ people stand against genocide.” They wore Palestinian flags as capes; One man donned a white outfit streaked with red, mimicking blood.
In a parade saturated with smiles and laughter, their faces were solemn.
— Nina Moske
7:20 p.m. Drag Jesus
It’s the first year Allendale United Methodist Church has dressed Jesus in drag. An inflatable, that is.
The figure is wearing a purple wig and tiara, meant to allude to a “crown of thorns,” said Amy Bordeaux of St. Pete.
”We are an open and affirming church,” Bordeaux said. “Being out here is part of our living it.”
Not long after, another Jesus lookalike sports a sign saying, “OMFG I SAID I HATE FIGS.”
— Gabrielle Lazor
7:15 p.m. Parade fashion
Amid a sea of rainbows and glitter, a few colorful St. Pete Pride fashion choices stick out.
One marching man wore a shirt that read, “My favorite color is no pants!”
Behind him, a group of women in full-body neon fishnets suits walked by. They wore the man’s favorite color — no pants.
A few minutes later, a woman in nothing but bikini bottoms hyped up the crowd, heart-shaped stickers covering her chest.
— Nina Moske
6:40 p.m. Aboard the HCA Florida Healthcare float
A massive inflatable rainbow arcs over the HCA Florida Healthcare float. Dripping from the bed’s metal railings are dozens of rainbow beads. They ordered 10 cases of necklaces to hurl into the crowd.
The float is working like a well-oiled machine — or a hospital. One woman unloads boxes of beads, ready to restock as others run out.
It’s Jeannette Morgan’s third time aboard the hospital float. She’s a residency coordinator at Northside Hospital in Largo, which means she works with a lot of new residents. “This is something that helps convince them to stay,” said Morgan. Events like St. Pete Pride prove just how large the community is, something she described as “so heartwarming.”
— Gabrielle Lazor
6:30 p.m. “I want it all!”
If you’re not careful, a stray string of beads, bouncy ball or piece of candy might hit you on the head.
Those not snatched out of the air by waiting hands land on the ground, but not for long.
Larvetta Parker, who goes by Lala, rushes to grab all the loose swag within reach. Her wrists and neck are stacked with colored beads.
“I want it all!” she said. “I’m the swag queen!”
— Nina Moske
6:15 p.m. Cheers on Bayshore and Central
Cheers from spectators are especially loud on the corner of Bayshore and Central, in front of a small group of protesters.
As the parade passes, a man shouts, “Men should not wear wigs!” and “Shame, shame, shame” into a microphone. He is surrounded by a few others holding signs with anti-pride phrases. His shirt reads, “Trust Jesus.”
But people aren’t paying much attention — they’re too fixated on the loud, colorful procession ahead. A passing City of St. Petersburg float blows bubbles into the crowd. They sail through the air, surrounding spectators and protesters alike.
— Nina Moske
6:10 p.m. Bubble fun for everyone
Cesar Cruz and Jason Hansen, from Orlando, drove two hours to just hang around — literally. They’re posted up in a tree by the St. Pete Pier, armed with bubble guns.
The procession has yet to pass them, but when it does, they should be just high enough to catch a glimpse. The tree is providing much-needed shade. And the bubbles?
“Adults love bubbles, too,” Hansen said.
– Gabrielle Lazor
6 p.m. Pride parade begins
The St. Pete Pride Parade has begun. Colorful Jeeps kick off the procession, and people sling beads and candy from their open roofs.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch follows behind in a convertible with a rainbow license plate.
– Nina Moske
5:45 p.m. “Send me to Tallahassee!”
Ashley Brundage hopes to become Florida’s first transgender elected official this election. She’s running as a Democrat for a seat in Florida’s State House.
Today, she walks down Bayshore in the Trans March, surrounded by cheers and color.
”Send me to Tallahassee!” she says, clutching a rainbow umbrella and passing out campaign flyers. “Make a better world together!”
— Nina Moske
5:30 p.m. Trans March begins
Vinoy Park is awash in a sea of light blue and pink as the Trans March begins.
People hold signs that read “Trans women are women, trans men are men” and “Protect trans kids!”
They chant, “Start the day with love! Fill the day with love! End the day with love!”
They clap, cheer and laugh as strong winds off the bay whip trans pride flags into a frenzy. The march will follow 5th Ave. NE from Vinoy toward the festival in North Straub Park.
— Nina Moske
5:20 p.m. Winds pick up before the parade
In true Florida fashion, violent winds have replaced sweltering triple-digit temperatures in a matter of minutes. Trans flags whip in the air while waiting for the march to begin.
Police officers are lining the route, blue-and-red flashing lights crowning their vehicles.
“Seems like everyone’s having a good time,” said Ofc. J. Farina, “hopefully the weather holds out.”
See photos of the day so far here.
– Gabrielle Lazor
5 p.m. Looking stormy
Ominous clouds have descended over Tampa Bay. Kacie Hart and Jackie Danford sit with their feet dangling over the water’s edge.
”We’re watching them for sure,” said Danford, looking towards the horizon. They drove about an hour and a half from Citrus County to join today’s festivities.
Compared to last year’s Pride, which came amid state legislation aimed at segments of the LGBTQ+ community, “there are not as many Jesus-thumpers,” Danford said.
That doesn’t mean there are none, though.
“They’re all bald anyways,” said Hart.
— Gabrielle Lazor
4:30 p.m. Longtime parade fans
Linda Martin and Kathy Miller sit on a shady stretch of curb on Bayshore. The pair, who live on Treasure Island, waited in line for over an hour to get into the festival, but got too hot and thirsty without water. They chose to stake out a place to watch the parade instead.
Martin said they’ve come to every St. Pete Pride parade since the first event in 2003.
”I love to be here and see my community,” Martin said. “I don’t get to see them much... It’s not like I’m out at the bars much anymore.”
— Nina Moske
4:25 p.m. The economic impact of St. Pete Pride
In a study by the tourism bureau Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, the St. Pete Pride parade and festival was the reason 78% of visitors came to the area in June in 2023.
They spent an average of $122 per day and one-third of them stayed in hotels. That brought a total local economic impact of $60.7 million, including $36.5 million in direct spending from attendees, supporting 574 jobs. The festivities also brought in $3.5 million in taxes.
Those numbers are actually down a notch from 2022, when the agency estimated $67.2 million in economic impact. But in April of 2023, Equality Florida issued a travel advisory, cautioning members of the LGBTQ+ community about “the risks posed to the health, safety, and freedom of those considering short or long term travel, or relocation to the state.” The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, later issued a similar advisory.
Over the years, St. Pete Pride has become the city’s largest event and one of the Tampa Bay area’s biggest economic drivers. It started out as a one-day event in 2003 with a turnout of about 10,000. St. Pete Pride now spans an entire month as a citywide celebration and tourism draw. In 2017, the parade route was moved from the Grand Central District to the downtown waterfront.
Read more about the growth of St. Pete Pride here.
— Sharon Kennedy Wynne
4:15 p.m. Free dad hugs
Outside the entrance to South Straub Park, Lee Bryan, 63, holds a rainbow American flag, blocking an “ex-homosexual” protester from view.
Bryan has been standing there for 45 minutes so far. He’s wearing a “Free Dad Hugs” shirt, grinning from ear to ear.
“Homosexuality doesn’t even exist,” yells the protester, still hidden behind Bryan’s Pride flag.
Bryan continues giving out hugs and high-fives.
— Gabrielle Lazor
4:10 p.m. Dangerous levels of heat
Times photographer Luis Santana has covered many festivals and parades over the years. He said today’s Pride event beats all of the Gasparillas he’s photographed. It’s 90 degrees in St. Petersburg, but feels more like 99 thanks to the humidity.
There are 11 St. Petersburg Fire rescue teams stationed in North Straub Park, said Times reporter Nina Moske. Each team has treated at least one person so far from heat alone — some from dehydration, others from heat exhaustion.
— Gabrielle Calise
4 p.m. First ever Pride celebration
”Are you here with anyone?” Natalia Carr asked.
The 18-year-old came to Pride alone.
She moved to St. Pete a couple months ago from Troutman, North Carolina. It’s Carr’s first ever Pride celebration, her attention glued to performer Antonio Ultra and his background dancers on stage in South Straub Park. She’s following Antonio’s every command, clapping her hands while the dancers twerk behind him.
Carr asked her brother, who she lives with, and her sister if they wanted to join her.
“I don’t know… they didn’t want to,” she said.
— Gabrielle Lazor
4 p.m. Getting crowded
The festival at North Straub Park is filling up. The line to enter now curves around the perimeter of the park toward Bayshore Drive.
People wait eagerly outside the fence, clutching drinks and bouncing to the hip-hop music that blares from the main stage.
Inside, more lines for food trucks, water fountains and bathrooms.
— Nina Moske
3:40 p.m. Pups of pride
One of St. Pete Pride’s furriest attendees may be its best dressed.
Koda, three and a half, is from Tampa. He’s wearing a tie-dye shirt that says “Radiate Positivity,” a rainbow bow tie, a straw hat and sunglasses. It’s this pup’s first time at pride, and he can’t wipe the smile off his face.
”He loves everybody and he loves the attention,” said owner Shane Wietrecki.
Koda isn’t the only dog to dress up. Others sport colorful leashes, bandanas and beaded necklaces. Many tents have dog bowls with free, cold water for the festival’s four-legged attendees.
— Nina Moske
3:38 p.m. Downtown parking warning
Times photographer Luis Santana parked at the SouthCore Parking Garage at 101 1st Ave S in St. Petersburg — and was handed a warning note.
“Notice,” the slip of paper said. “Following the conclusion of this evening’s event, you can expect to see delays when exiting the garage. High flows of traffic on the street may cause delays, of up to several hours, when exiting the garage.”
Hoping to avoid parking? North Straub and Vinoy Park are excellent points for drop-off and pickup.
Here are other transportation tips from Times reporter Sharon Kennedy Wynne:
Free Park & Ride lot: The St. Petersburg High School parking lot will be a free park-and-ride spot from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Cars must be out of the lot by midnight.
Tropicana Field Lots 5, 6 and 7 offer free parking from 6 p.m. to midnight. From there, take the city buses.
PSTA service is free for riders on June 22 for routes 9, Central Avenue Trolley and the SunRunner.
On parade day, take the SunRunner to Sixth Avenue South at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg or First Avenue South and Fifth Street to get closest to the parade route. The best departure stop is First Avenue North and Fifth Street.
— Gabrielle Calise
3:30 p.m. Counseling coupons
In South Straub Park, 8-year-old Everlee Baker sits with her eyes closed as Ashley Cassell paints a rainbow tiger on her face.
Everlee’s mom, Sheena, brought her two daughters to St. Pete Pride to “teach them about diversity and kindness and respect” for all people. Indie, 5, holds her mom’s hand, her face freshly painted with green and blue peacock feathers.
Sheena’s bag is full of coupons for “50% off your first 3 private-pay therapy sessions.” The counselor from Riverview is a proud ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.
— Gabrielle Lazor
3:15 p.m. Giving back at Pride
Adrian Deal, 45, and Hillary Machado, 31, are stationed at the “Glam Tent,” the VIP entrance to North Straub Park. The booth is stocked with bowls of candy and cold drinks.
Deal, of Tampa, said this is his fourth year volunteering at St. Pete Pride.
”I feel like I need to give back to the community,” he said, “because the community does so much for me.”
Deal said he loves working the parade because it’s “an all-day party.” Find St. Pete Pride volunteers in bright green shirts around the festival and along the parade route.
— Nina Moske
3:15 p.m. All aboard the Over Exposed!
Brian Swartzwelder’s boat, draped in garlands of Pride flags and a rainbow-striped American flag, is docked in Central Yacht Basin along Bayshore Dr. SE.
”It’s the best place to watch the parade,” he said, wearing a shirt that says, “Be careful who you hate, it could be someone you love.”
The Over Exposed’s mini fridge is stocked with rainbow Jell-O shots. There’s also a handle of vodka. Besides the booze, Swartzwelder’s friends brought Cuban sandwiches and jambalaya.
The boat owner noted that when he sails across the water with his colorful decorations, it’s not uncommon for others to sneer in passing, instead of returning the typical “boat wave.”
— Gabrielle Lazor
3 p.m. Seeking shade
A new musical act takes the main stage in North Straub Park every few minutes.
Listeners lounge in any shady spot they can find on the lawn, taking refuge from the heat. Some people clutch colorful umbrellas while others gather below trees and tents. They wipe sweaty brows and cool themselves with the rainbow fans organizers passed out at the entrance.
As a cloud passes over the sun, there’s a collective sigh of relief from the crowd.
— Nina Moske
2:45 p.m. Lutherans for Love
Pastor Katy Fast wore a rainbow sash draped over her robes. She smiled and welcomed people toward her booth in North Straub Park, decorated with signs that read “God is your biggest fan!” and “Lutheran’s for Love.”
Fast, a pastor at St. Marks Lutheran Church, said three Lutheran churches in Pinellas organized the booths. This is the group’s second year at St. Pete Pride, and they’re offering communion, a prayer tent, and a “divine selfie station.”
“We believe God created all LGBTQIA+ people, and we want to celebrate that,” she said.
Fast said festival attendees are appreciative of the church’s presence. “It’s wonderful to offer a different theological perspective.”
— Nina Moske
2:40 p.m. Like an oven
Six men, some already shirtless, lazily maneuver around each other as they tend to fryers and grills underneath their food tent, the Happy Belly.
They’re serving up a feast of meaty turkey legs, sizzling funnel cakes, and loaded fries.
”It feel like an oven out here,” said Walter Jones. They’ve been in the park since 8 a.m. to set up.
A woman comes up to Jones asking for a strawberry lemonade. The Happy Belly is out, so she goes with a regular lemonade instead. Air above the oil dances in distorted heat waves.
— Gabrielle Lazor
2:20 p.m. Pride festival is underway
South Straub Park has been transformed into a promised land for fair food and pride. Mr. Vyn Suazion, the reining Mr. Rose Dynasty, hosts this afternoon’s community stage. The Rose Dynasty Foundation works with and supports various charities to ensure that LGBTQ+ youth grow up safe and supported.
”If anyone thinks it’s not hot under that wig, y’all are fooling yourself!” said Suazion, as he invites entertainers to take the stage next to security.
It’s the second Pride parade where officers are waving metal detectors past visitors before they enter the park.
— Gabrielle Lazor
2:05 p.m. Ready for the parade
As festivities kick off in North and South Straub parks, some people have already staked out spots to watch this evening’s parade.
Tyrell Mills, 28, and Kesha Wooten, 51, of St. Petersburg, arrived at 12:30 to secure a shady corner of sidewalk along Bayshore Drive. They set up chairs and lounged under a tree in front of the Museum of Fine Arts, handing water and Gatorade to passersby.
”We’re excited to interact with the people, see all kinds of different people, all the outfits,” Wooten said. “Just hope they stay cool out there!”
— Nina Moske
2 p.m. Neighborhood block party
On the corner of First Ave. SE. and Bayshore Dr. SE., 69-year old Jan Taylor stakes out her spot at the beginning of the parade’s route. She’s been out here since 9:30 a.m. Last year, it was 7 a.m.
A row of lawn chairs spill out to her left. She’s expecting about 30 of her neighbors from Crescent Heights to come out for what’s become a “neighborhood block party.”
Originally from rural Tennessee, she didn’t grow up in an accepting community. This is her third Pride parade in St. Pete, and she’s dressed for the occasion in a shirt with a silhouette of Tampa Bay’s iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge, saying “Don’t Straighten My Skyway” after this year’s overpass went unlit from the usual rainbow display in June.
— Gabrielle Lazor
1:30 p.m. Enhanced security measures continue for St. Pete Pride parade
This is the second year that Pride organizers have installed security for its big parade and festival. Last year, the organization paid more than $125,000 for police and private security protection.
It was the first time in its 21-year history that they set up barricades and metal detectors. The caution rose because of a bomb threat before Nashville’s Pride parade and a rise in threats from right-wing extremists and radical Islamists in events around the world.
Tempers and warnings have cooled substantially this year, said Byron Green-Calisch, president of St. Pete Pride. But security remains in place, he said, to alleviate fears and also to assure safety in an area where alcohol will be sold.
There was also a pall over last year’s Pride events because of a newly enacted state law that prohibited a person from knowingly admitting a minor to adult performances such as drag shows that could have cost a business its liquor license. That law was later overturned by the courts.
— Sharon Kennedy Wynne
12:22 p.m. St. Petersburg prepares for a hot festival
Start hydrating now, St. Pete. With highs in the 90s, today’s Pride parade will be a scorcher. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue has set up cooling stations inside their medical tents, which are positioned throughout the parade route.
As the day goes on, keep an eye out for symptoms of overheating: a strong pulse, headaches, high body temperature, dizziness, confusion and nausea. If you or someone around you needs help, call 911 or head to a medical tent.
“Until aid arrives, someone experiencing heatstroke should be taken to a cooler place and, if possible, cooled off with a wet cloth or water bottle to the head,” writes Times staffer Brandon Kingdollar. “The CDC recommends against giving someone something to drink while they’re experiencing heatstroke — because they are not fully alert and conscious, they could choke on the liquid.”
For a full list of tips on dealing with high temperatures today, check out our guide.
— Gabrielle Calise
