Sarasota–Ever since Cindy Barnes pulled Sarasota Pride out of the shadows and onto Main Street five years ago, the festival has grown exponentially each year. In 2014, the Oct. 18 festival is expected to bring more than 5,000 to J.D. Hamel Park in one of the most visible areas of the city.
“More than 225,000 people pass by that park every six hours,” explained Barnes, chairman of Sarasota Pride. “Visibility is key to Pride and we have to be out there to let people know we are a part of the community.”
Sarasota Pride, which is technically in its 25th year, could see its largest crowd yet, thanks to the addition of headliner Dario.
“We’ve always used local entertainers,” said Barnes, chairman of Sarasota Pride. “This is our first national act and he was affordable.”
Dario is an international recording artist who appeared on American Idol in Season 2 and began his career on Star Search. Dario recently released his sixth album and is touring Pride festivals around the country. Barnes said he has helped festivals similar in size to Sarasota Pride double attendance.
“Every time folks hear Dario on our website they get excited,” Barnes said. “I’ve gotten calls from as far away as Miami and Jacksonville asking about details on his concert.”
Sarasota Pride runs from noon to 6 p.m., and Dario is scheduled to take the stage from 4-5 p.m. Musical acts are slated to perform all day long.
Besides a headliner, Barnes was excited to share that drag performances have returned to Sarasota Pride.
“In the days of the old Sarasota Pride Fest we had well-known drag performers like Lady Bunny,” Barnes said. “When we brought it outside that first year we had to sign a decency clause with the city and I was apprehensive to bring drag into it. But now we’ve shown we’re a family-friendly event and we have Lindsay Carlton and a team of drag performers that are just incredibly talented. They’ll give us an hour and a half of drag, which I know people will love.”
Sarasota Pride is very different than neighboring Pride events, and Barnes is well aware of that. When it is compared with St. Pete Pride or Come Out With Pride in Orlando, she’s quick to point out the community of Sarasota is very different.
“We don’t have the population that those cities have,” she said. “We’ll never have those kinds of numbers. But we can support a Pride this size and maybe even a little bigger. But I don’t anticipate ever moving out of J.D. Hamel Park. It’s too perfect. Too visible.”
Before the actual festival on Oct. 18, Sarasota Pride will hold a fundraiser on Monday, Oct. 13 at Florida Studio Theatre. Mark and Joey’s Big Gay Cabaret show will offer a humorous, musical look at Pride the week before the big event. Tickets are available at SarasotaPride.org.
“Mark Bowers and Joey Panek are just incredibly talented guys,” Barnes said. “They’re good friends and friends of mine. They’ve put together a whole new show for us.”
VIP tickets have already sold out, and seating is limited, so, I’d suggest people get their tickets as soon as they can.”
Fundraising events happen year-round for Sarasota Pride, and Barnes said her monthly women’s dances bring upwards of 200 women each time.
“I don’t know where a lot of these people are during the rest of the year,” Barnes laughs. “But Sarasota has the population to support Pride.”
Fundraisers help seed the following years’ event, which will return to J.D. Hamel Park in 2015. Money from vendors, food trucks and alcohol sales also help fund upcoming Pride events, which is why coolers and outside alcohol are prohibited.
Vendor space is still available, but those interested must contact Barnes directly at 941-320-9268.
