SWFL Pride in Ft. Myers set for first weekend in October
Pride-SWFL celebrates its eleventh annual SWFL Pride from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. This event is inclusive and open to the public.
SWFL Pride is an outdoor family-friendly event that includes live entertainment, food and drinks, and activities for all ages.
The annual event was launched in 2009 as a celebration for Southwest Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and allies. A few hundred people attended the first year it was hosted. Since then, attendance at SWFL Pride has grown significantly. More than 6,000 people attended SWFL Pride in 2018.
This year’s entertainment is headlined by Billboard Dance/Club number-one artist Pepper Mashay (“I Got My Pride” and “Dive in the Pool”), Rupaul’s Drag Race season 9 contestant Farrah Moan, and Grammy-nominated music producer and DJ Chris Cox. Entertainment will also include live sets by DJ Mad Mel and performances by local drag entertainers.
Admission is a $5 donation at the door. Limited tickets for the VIP tent are available for purchase online. Bring a chair or blanket for the entertainment. Please no coolers or pets; service animals are permitted. Parking is free and available onsite.
Additionally, a Brunch and Tea Dance with DJ Chris Cox are planned on Sunday, Oct. 6, beginning at noon, at Society at Bell Tower Shops, 13499 Bell Tower Drive. Admission to brunch is free; Tea Dance is $10 at the door. The event will include drink specials, dancing and live entertainment. For ages 21 and up.
Pride-SWFL is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting visibility and acceptance for Southwest Florida’s LGBT community.
For more event information, or to become a Pride sponsor, vendor or volunteer, visit PrideSWFL.com. Connect with Pride-SWFL on social media at facebook.com/Pride.SWFL, @SWFLPride, and SWFLPride on Instagram.