St. Pete Pride 2016: Mayor Kriseman Raises Rainbow Flag

St. Petersburg, FL — St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman officially kicked off a weekend of festivities with the raising of the rainbow flag over City Hall Thursday morning. St. Pete Pride Weekend festivities are staged as the last big hurrahs in the city’s month-long Pride observance.

The weekend’s festivities include an illuminated night parade in the Kenwood and Grand Central districts on Saturday, June 25 and a street festival on Sunday, June 26.

In light of the June 12 mass shooting in Orlando, the city of St. Petersburg has announced plans to beef up securityaround this year’s festivities. In making that announcement, the St. Petersburg Police Department noted it cannot do it alone.

“If you see something, say something,” the agency reminded on Twitter.

St. Pete Pride is the city's annual celebration of the Tampa Bay area's LGBT community.

"The purpose of St Pete Pride is to promote unity, visibility, self-esteem and a positive image of and among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community of Tampa Bay and throughout the State of Florida by way of cultural and educational programs and activities," the organization explains on its website. St. Petersburg's annual Pride festivities are the biggest in Florida and among the largest in the country, organizers say.

This year’s annual LGBT Pride Parade steps off at sunset Saturday along Central Avenue. The parade features more than 150 organizations and businesses and is expected to have more than 4,500 marchers. It draws more than 200,000 people each year, according to St. Pete Pride.

While the parade doesn’t start until sunset, the Saturday Block Party begins at 5 p.m. This event features food, drinks, live music and more. It’s staged between 22nd and 27th streets along Central Avenue. The block party is scheduled to run until 11 p.m. or so.

Sunday’s Pride Festival takes place along Central Avenue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 350 exhibitors are expected to line both sides of Central Avenue for six blocks during the celebration, which features DJs, food, beverages and other vendors.

For more information about St. Pete Pride, visit its website.

Photos courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg and Shutterstock