J.B. Hamel Park in downtown Sarasota will be home to the first-ever outdoor LGBT Pride festival in Sarasota on Saturday, Oct. 30.
A week after more than 1,000 people carried a mile-long rainbow flag across the Ringling Bridge, a few thousand attendees are expected to participate in the noon to 6 p.m. street festival at Main Street and Route 41.
This will be the first time Sarasota Pride has been held outside and it’s also the first time the festival has been in the fall.
Cindy Barnes, chairwoman of Sarasota Pride, said an outdoor festival makes sense and that many Sarasota residents have wanted a free, open air celebration for years.
“I don’t know why no one did this before now,” she said. “We’re expecting a pretty strong turnout.”
More than 50 vendors are on board for the festival and an entertainment lineup featuring local performers is expected to keep the crowd at the festival throughout the day.
“The response has been overwhelming,” Barnes said of residents’ reaction to the outdoor event. “People come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for bringing Pride to the street and for getting it out of the heat.’”
Sarasota Pridefest 2010 runs from noon to 6 p.m. and will includes the Double M Band, Karmic Tattoo and Diversity. A dunking booth is also planned and will feature local celebrities, including Mayor Kelly Kirschner.
There is no entry fee and money collected from the sale of T-shirts and special tumbler drinks will go back to Sarasota Pridefest. Barnes said she has already started planning the 2011 event for next October.
Nearly 90 volunteers have agreed to help with the festival, but more help is always appreciated. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Barnes at the number below.
For more details on Sarasota Pridefest and a full schedule of week-long events, visit SarasotaPride.org or contact Barnes at 941-320-9268.
