PrideFête is coming back to Wilton Manors, and the LGBTQ+ festival is bringing its Caribbean-themed music, dance and food with it.
The event will be Saturday, Aug.10, from 6 to 11 p.m. at Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve.
This will be the third year the festival has been organized by HOTspots Happening Out, a multi-media alliance of nonprofit organizations benefitting South Florida’s LGBTQ+ community, probably best-known for HOTspots! magazine.
“In a world of intolerance, PrideFête exists as a LGBTQ+ Caribbean safe haven — the only one currently in Florida,” explains HOTspots event division director Jameer Baptiste, a Haitian-Trinidadian American. “Caribbean culture is the essence of the festival while self-expression and freedom to be oneself is the cornerstone.”
In addition to food trucks and kiosks with Caribbean cuisine, there will be vendors, performers, singers and a fire dancer. Fitness couple Kerry and Pierre will emcee and artist/author/speaker Octavia Yearwood will be the official host.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to wear carnival costumes and join in on the promenade with the masqueraders and drummers that will take place at 8:30 p.m.
In addition to the actual PrideFête Festival, the Caribbean experience will also extend to another division within HOTspots media group. Throughout August, the HOTspots Happening Out Art Gallery with Dennis Dean will feature works by Caribbean artists. The exhibit will debut with an Opening Reception on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 6-9 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The gallery is at 2401 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors.
Previously called Caribbean PrideFest, the event was produced from 2015 to 2018 by the Fort Lauderdale-based SunServe social services agency and then by Pride Fort Lauderdale in 2019. There were no festivals in 2020 and 2021.
IF YOU GO INFO
WHEN: 6-11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug.10.
WHERE: Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve, 1937 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.
COST:
- Presale general admission tickets are $7 (up to the day before the festival).
- Tickets on the day of the event will be $10.
- Presale VIP tickets are $55 and $75 the day of the event (includes indoor air conditioning, five comped drinks and light bites by Ronnie’s Bake Shop).
- All PrideFête tickets are cashless, from pre-sale to at-the-gate purchases.
INFORMATION:
HOTspots Happening Out
Festivalgoers are encouraged to come dressed in their best carnival costume at PrideFête to join in on the walk with the masqueraders and drummers that takes place at 8:30 p.m. (HOTspots Happening Out/Courtesy)
Originally Published: