Located just south of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay region along Florida’s misty central Gulf Coast, the bustling city of Sarasota has developed an increasingly popular celebration of gay pride. It makes sense, given the relatively young population, by Florida standards, and the vibrant population (around 55,000 in total) in this upscale city whose metropolitan area also encompasses several beautiful barrier islands, including Siesta Key, Bird Key, Lido. Key, St. Armands Key, and the largest of them all, Long Boat Key. The Sarasota Gay Pride celebration takes place in mid to late October, this year’s date is Saturday October 15, 2016.
The Sarasota Gay Pride Festival takes place downtown next to Sarasota Bay, JD Hamel Park (Gulf Stream Avenue on Main Street), right near Bayfront Park and Golden Gate Point, just southeast of the bridge that leads to Bird Key and St. Armands. The celebration begins at noon and lasts until 5 p.m. and features food trucks, a beer garden and tiki bar, live music and a DJ, a commemorative Pulse performance, a vendor expo, and a family fun zone. .
Sarasota Gay Resources
Many local bars, restaurants, and other businesses are likely to have a greater gay presence during the week, and possibly even some parties and promotions. Check regional gay newspapers, such as Watermark, for more details. Also take a look at the excellent travel site produced by the city’s official tourism organization, the CVB for Sarasota and its islands.
