Orlando Pride

Whether you live in Florida, another southern state or anywhere else in the country, you won't want to miss all the excitement of the Orlando Pride festivities. Finding information on this event is sometimes hard because the soccer team in the city uses the same name, but once you learn about all the fun you can have at Orlando Pride, you'll want to add the date to your calendar. This is the main festival in Florida for the LGBTQ community, and one of the oldest pride events in the south.

The Metropolitan Business Association (MBA) saw the need for a pride festival in Orlando. Leaders working for that organization, which consists of LGBTQ business leaders, created Come Out With Pride, Inc. (COWP) as a nonprofit group that would offer opportunities for gays and lesbians in the area. COWP would later establish the Orlando Pride Parade and all the other fun events that take place in the early part of October. The group chose the first weekend in October because it was close to National Coming Out Day, and would encourage recent additions to the community to come out and have fun too.

Though the festival itself only takes place over the weekend, there are plenty of events to occupy your time earlier in the week. Past events included screenings of LGBTQ films and a drag race that raised money for charity. Come Out With Pride hosts a parade that runs around Lake Eola and along the promenade. You'll also find a late afternoon recovery party, which is the perfect place to relax and recuperate before you head back home. If you only attend one pride event in Florida, you'll want to make it the celebration in Orlando.

For full details on Orlando Pride 2023, be sure to check out the official event program. Happy Pride!