ORLANDO | June 12, 2019 will mark three years since a gunman walked into the Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring dozens more.
Several organizations will hold vigils, memorials and events in and around Central Florida to honor the victims leading up to and on June 12. We have gathered information on a few and provided it below. Watermark will continue to update this list over the next two weeks with more events as information becomes available.
If there is a Pulse-related event not listed that you would like to let the community know about, please send an email with event information to Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com.
Provincetown Community Compact’s Prayer Ribbon Installation
Friday, June 7, 2 p.m.
City Hall Plaza, Orlando
Following the Pulse tragedy, the Provincetown Community Compact remembered the victims at a special ceremony at Provincetown Town Hall. Each of the 49 Pulse victim’s name and age, which was inscribed on a black Prayer Ribbon, was read aloud and attached to part of the 2,800 Prayer Ribbons which, over the last 29 years, has recognized those in the community we loss to the AIDS pandemic.
For the third year in a row, Provincetown Community Compact and residents of Provincetown, Massachusetts are bringing the memorial strand of Prayer Ribbons to Orlando. The colorful ribbons include beautiful messages.
The Prayer Ribbons Exhibit will run from June 7-16 at Orlando City Hall Plaza. City residents and visitors are encouraged to join the prayer ribbon community by adding a person to honor and/or a message to a ribbon. A table will be placed in the City Hall Rotunda with forms for people to write messages and mail it to the Provincetown Community Compact.
2019 CommUNITY Rainbow Run
Saturday, June 8, 7-10:30 a.m.
Wadeview Park, Orlando
Hosted by the onePULSE Foundation, the third annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run is a 4.9K run/walk to celebrate diversity while honoring those lives that were taken in the Pulse tragedy.
Registration is $49 if done by June 7, $60 the day of. Proceeds raised benefit the onePULSE Foundation. Register at CommUNITYRainbowRun.com.
“Love Speaks: Artistic Responses to the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy” exhibition
Saturday, June 8-Sunday, June 16
Orange County Regional History Center
This remembrance exhibition shares artwork from across the nation created in the wake of this senseless act of violence. These diverse works – from paintings to basketry to graphic novels – all pay tribute and serve to remember those who were taken during the tragedy and to inspire a better tomorrow for those who remain.
The community is invited to see “Love Speaks,” as well as the History Center’s permanent exhibits, with no admission charge from Saturday, June 8, through Sunday, June 16.
The exhibition will remain open through Sept. 22. For more information, visit TheHistoryCenter.org.
The 49 Fund 2019 Scholarship Recipients
Saturday, June 8, 3-4:30 p.m.
City Hall, Orlando
Join Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and The 49 Fund founder Barry Miller, Esq. as they announce the 10 recipients of The 49 Fund’s 2019 college scholarships in the amount of $4,900 each.
For more information of The 49 Fund scholarship program, visit The49Fund.org.
Love and Kindness on the Lawn
Sunday, June 9, 12:30-2 p.m.
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando
Join the One Orlando Alliance at Seneff Plaza in downtown Orlando to honor the spirit of #OrlandoUnited! This free event will feature local music and food trucks. Scheduled performers include Jasmin Rhia, Melissa Crispo and the Orlando Gay Chorus, as well as special vocal performances by Pulse survivors Joshua Lewis and Vico Baez Febo.
Event organizers will be taking a “giant heart” photo and video with attendees at 1:30 p.m. for a tribute video being released June 12 and Puja Madan of The Mindfulness Map will lead a group meditation at the event’s conclusion.
This event is free and open to the public. Love and Kindness on the Lawn is part of Orlando United: Acts of Love and Kindness currently going on. The One Orlando Alliance encourages you to share your own acts of love and kindness on social media using the hashtag #ActLoveGive. Visit ActLoveGive.org for more information.
49 Bells
Wednesday, June 12, noon
Downtown Orlando
On June 12, 2019, bells will toll 49 times in unison around the world as a tribute to the victims taken during the Pulse Nightclub tragedy.
Hundreds of churches, synagogues, mosques and businesses for the past two years have participated with 323 houses of worship in nine countries participating in 2017 and 449 of them ringing their bells in 2018. This year’s goal is 612 churches.
Several Central Florida churches that participated the past two years and will again this year include First United Methodist Church of Orlando, First Presbyterian Church or Orlando and Cathedral Church of St. Luke and Joy MCC.
For more information and a list of participating churches, visit OneOrlandoAlliance.org/49-Bells.
Orlando United Day
Wednesday, June 12, all day
City of Orlando and Orange County
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Orlando City Commissioners and the Orange County Commissioners joined together to collective proclaim June 12 as Orlando United Day in the City of Orlando and across Orange County.
Orlando United Day Youth Art Exhibit
Wednesday, June 12, 2-5 p.m.
Zebra Coalition, Orlando
You are invited to stop by the Zebra Coalition’s Community Open House for a youth art exhibit June 12 in honor of Orlando United Day. The exhibit will run from 2-5 p.m.
Pulse Remembrance Ceremony
Wednesday, June 12, 7-9 p.m.
Twisted Rooster, Melbourne
Join Space Coast Pride for a night of remembrance, reflection and love as they honor and remember the 49 brave souls who were lost in the Pulse tragedy. There will be a wide variety of special performances, music and speeches to honor their memories. All proceeds from this evenings entertainment will be donated directly to the OnePulse Foundation. This is a free event.
Annual Pulse Remembrance Ceremony
Wednesday, June 12, 7-8 p.m.
Pulse Interim Memorial, Orlando
Join the onePULSE Foundation at the Pulse Interim Memorial in an hour of remembrance and tribute to the 49 lives taken. The event is open to the community. The Annual Remembrance Ceremony will bring together Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and include reflections from local spiritual leaders and community leaders as well as songs and programming to honor the victims, survivors and first responders. For more information, visit onePULSEFoundation.org.
