For Wendy O’Donnell, Pride Month gives her a sense of inclusion.
“I first experienced Pride in San Diego around 1980,” said the founder of the Rainbow Family and Friends of The Villages. “Before then as a young women, I always felt isolated and alone. That was the first time I felt like I belonged and there were people I could connect with.”
O’Donnell, with the help of her wife, Peggy Garvin, started the club in 2007 after moving to The Villages and wanted to connect with other LGBTQ+ people. With the recent passing of Garvin eight months ago, O’Donnell said she is still dedicated to providing a safe space for people to connect and have community.
The club is hosting Pride Day to give others the chance to make new connections or revive old ones from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 10 at the Belle Grande Country Club, 446 Moyer Loop in The Villages.
Enjoy dancing to live music from Suzie Casta as you wear your rainbow “colors with pride.” Learn more about the club at rainbowfamilyvillagesfl.com.
Find more of the Pride festivals popping up from Pensacola to Key West promoting equality for Pride Month.
Save the Date for “Sumter Pride Participate in the 3rd annual “Sumter Pride” event hosted by the LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus of the Nature Coast Region to hear from Florida Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith about work in the state legislative session to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
The free educational community event will be hosted from 1 to 3 p.m. on June 29 at the Sumter County Democrats Headquarters, 300 S Main St, Wildwood.
To register for the event, which is required, visit sumterfldemocrats.com
Orlando | Orlando Pulse RemembranceIn a somber yet united moment, the Central Florida community will acknowledge the 9th anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting that endangered nearly 300 people and caused the loss of 49 lives.
During the 2025 Pulse Remembrance Ceremony, the memory of those lost and of what was once a safe space for LGBTQ+ in Orlando will be honored by survivors of the attack and family members of those lost at 5:30 p.m. on June 12 at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 East Jackson Street. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
The free event will be live streamed on the event page website for those unable to attend. For more information about the memorializing event, visit pulseorlando.org/Home.
Melbourne | Pride Rainbow Run 5kWhether you prefer to sprint or sashay across the finish line, the 2025 Rainbow Run/Walk 5K is a unique way to celebrate Pride Month.
With over 600 participants in 2024, you may want to arrive early to get the best position ahead of the race start time of 7:30 a.m. on June 21 at Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Dr, Melbourne.
Along with a boost in pride and bragging rights, those who run the race will receive a shirt, awards and other swag. Those who aren’t interested in running, can participate in the Rainbow Celebrations with entertainment, vendors and food trucks.
Fees for the event include $35 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under until June 20. The price increases by $5 for both ages on the day of the race.
For more information, or to purchase your tickets, visit spacecoastpride.org.
St. PetersburgThe theme “My Pride is Rooted” will be carried through the events leading up to the St. Petersburg 2025 Pride Parade Day.
Enjoy the live entertainment, vendors and artists be from 2 to 10 p.m. on June 28 at the North Staub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg.
For more information about the free event, visit stpetepride.org.
West Palm Beach | Pride on the BlockThe 6th annual Pride on the Block fundraising festival will bring dancing to downtown West Palm Beach.
Celebrating pride with a purpose, the block party will consist of speakers, DJ’s, vendors and prizes from 1 to 11 p.m. on June 7 at The Peach, 3950 Georgia Ave, West Palm Beach.
Suzie Toot from season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race will headline the event, with Priince Triilla hosting alongside co-hosts Ground Zero and Sarah Needleman.
Funds for the event will go to Transpire Help, a South Florida non-profit that helps provide housing, healthcare and other assistance of LGBTQ+ individuals.
To help keep the event safe, there will be private security on the premises. For more information about the celebration, visit prideontheblock.com.
Naples | Naples Pride FestEveryone is welcome to the 7th annual Naples Pride Fest that echos “Hate Has No Home Here” as the theme.
From the Drag Extravaganza on the Main Stage to other live performances, the full-day celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 7 at Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave S, Naples.
Drag Queens and LGBTQ+ icons are set to hit the stage during the event including TP Lords, Alyssa Lemay, Mya Valentine, Nikki Adams, Tiffany Fantasia and Daye Nada.
There will also be food and drink vendors, along with multiple business vendors to shop from. Kids can also enjoy the family-friendly event with include bounce houses, face painting and games.
The festival is being hosted by Naples Pride, a nonprofit supporting equality while advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Southwest Florida by offering support services, social groups and education.
With funds from the event benefiting the nonprofit, general admission is $10 and kids under 12 are free.
The event has a clear or small bag policy, with only clear 12” by 6” or non-clear 4.5” by 6.4” bags being admitted in the festival. For more information about the event, visit naplespride.org/pride-2025.
Wilton Manors | Stonewall PrideThe streets of Wilton Manor will glow and overflow with pride for the celebration of progress for LGBTQ+ human rights and the historic Stonewall Riots, the series of protests in 1969 advocating for gay rights.
Celebrating 25 years of Pride in Wilton Manors, Florida, the Block Party Festival will be from 3 to 11 p.m. on June 14 on Wilton Manors, 2435 N Dixie Highway.
There will also be vendors, food trucks, drink stations and non-profits participating in parade and street festival.
Later in the night, the streets of Wilton Manor will light up with Pride floats and walking groups participating in the 8 p.m. Glow Night Parade.
General admission for the Pride event is $10 for pre-sale and $13 at the door. For more information of the stonewallpride.lgbt.
Pensacola | PensaPride FestivalThe PensaPride Festival will bring a creative colorful spin to Pride with artist, musicians, dancers and poets gathering to show their work.
Vendors selling goods will be set up 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 28 at the Pensacola Interstate Fair Expo Hall, 6655 Mobile Highway, Pensacola.
General admission for the community event is $3 per person, with individuals who are 10 and under getting in free.
To purchase tickets or learn more information, visit pensapride.org.
Key West | Gay Key WestRainbows and smiles will take over the streets of Key West during the week-long Key West Pride from June 22-29.
The theme “Still Rising” will be carried throughout the week along with activities from karaoke to a mocktail bartendering competition.
Along with a special screening of “Stonewall Uprising,” a PBS documentary about the Stonewall Riots, the The Stonewall Uprising: The Start of a Movement exhibition will be on display at the Key West Museum of Art & History. Tickets for the screening are $25.
To learn more information and see the full schedule for the festival, visit gaykeywestfl.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
