Project Pride SRQ presents the Gulfcoast Pride Festival

Local LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit Project Pride SRQ invites the community to the vibrant Rosemary District in downtown Sarasota for the Gulfcoast Pride Festival, which takes place on Saturday, October 25 from noon-5 p.m. This event is free and all ages are welcome.

The festival was formerly known as Sarasota Pride but was rebranded last year as the celebration would encompass the former Manatee Pride event as well. Unfortunately, last year’s event was canceled due to Hurricane Milton; organizers are thrilled to bring the event to completion this year.

The festival will feature: a street fair comprising 100+ local vendor booths; a drag show featuring headliner Pork Chop, from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”; delicious food from some of Sarasota’s finest restaurants available for purchase; a kids’ zone with age-appropriate activities; pet zone and pet pageant; an art zone; cool-down zone; and special guests and performances including DJ Brianna Lee, The Harvest Band, and Merge Eleven. Musical headliner is Zee Machine – he will perform at approximately 4:25 p.m.

New Project Pride SRQ Executive Director Tom Edwards will be available for conversation at the nonprofit’s booth during the street fair – he looks forward to meeting and speaking with members of the community about the organization’s expanded focus. Edwards plans to build upon the strong foundation of the nonprofit to build coalitions that foster inclusivity and stand against the elimination of human rights for any element of the population.

Zee Machine (aka Joe Bissell) is an LA-based pop/rock/electronic singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. After a handful of singles, he released a seven-song EP “Can I Be Honest…?” last year. He has been featured in People magazine, SPIN and other prominent outlets.

“While most people know that Pride Month takes place in June, they may not realize that LGBT History Month is recognized in October,” said Project Pride SRQ President Justyn Hunter-Ceruti. “This provides the perfect opportunity for us to be visible and welcoming, and to showcase the many positive aspects of our Sarasota-Manatee region as an inclusive community, with partners and allies who appreciate the diversity of its citizens. We invite everyone to join us for an unforgettable day of love, laughter and community!”

Project Pride SRQ is grateful to Presenting Sponsor Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) for its support of this year’s event.

“Gulf Coast Community Foundation is proud to support Gulfcoast Pride, the largest Pride festival in our region,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. “Our commitment to fostering vibrant, inclusive communities drives us to celebrate our region’s rich diversity. We look forward to joining the festivities this fall and celebrating the many voices that make our community remarkable.”

This family-friendly, free event is open to all; sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit ppsrq.org for more information.

About Project Pride SRQ
Project Pride SRQ is a Sarasota-based nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding awareness and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community by creating strategic partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and governments towards a shared goal. From providing youth scholarships to organizing local gatherings, Project Pride has brought together LGBTQ+ and allied partners since 2019 to build capacity, support, and a vision for an all-inclusive community where everyone is equally united, supported, and celebrated in Sarasota and beyond. For more information, visit ppsrq.org.