St. Pete Pride Parade: What You Need to Know

On the heels of the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision to declare same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional, St. Petersburg is gearing up to show its pride.

The city’s annual LBGT Pride Parade is set to take place Saturday, June 27, starting with a block party at 5 p.m. The parade itself kicks off in the Historic Kenwood neighborhood and Grand Central district at sunset. The event features more than 150 organizations and is anticipated to draw more than 200,000 people.

Here’s what parade and block party goers need to know:

• Cost – Free to attend
• Where the block party takes place – It will be held between 22nd street and 27th Street along Central Avenue
• What to expect – The party features food and beverage vendors and lots of music courtesy of DJs
• Where to get “Glamstand tickets” – For those who don’t want to stand for the parade, “Glamstands” will be set up. Visit St. Pete Pride online for ticket information. The prices range from $25 to $50.
• Parade route – The parade kicks off on 3rd Avenue North, heads to 30th Street and then Central Avenue. It ends on 21st Street.
• What not to bring – Alcohol, laser pointers, radios, inline skates, fireworks, weapons, pets, skateboards, scooters
• Bus service – PSTA will be running busses along 1st Avenues north and south parallel to events to make it easier for folks to leave their cars at home or park in outlying spots. The Central Avenue Trolley, Routes 7, 18, 20 and 52, along with some detoured routes, will be running to accommodate parade traffic. Those interested in riding the bus are asked to call 727-540-1900 or visit the PSTA Rider Alert webpage.

While the block party and parade are set for Saturday, the Pride Street Festival takes over on Sunday along Central Avenue. The free events runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more details, visit St. Pete Pride online.

Patch file photo