Rainbows are the official color of June as Greater Fort Lauderdale celebrates Pride. The month honors the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. Greater Fort Lauderdale marks the occasion with beach parties, river parades, family-friendly activities, and support for small LGBTQ businesses.
As a destination that prides (no pun intended) itself on being a place for everyone under the sun, the LGBTQ+ community, and allies are invited to enjoy the festivities to celebrate diversity, acceptance, and inclusion.
Discover Vibrant Communities
Affectionately called the “gayborhood,” Wilton Manors is an Island City that has grown into an LGBTQ mecca. Wilton Drive is lined with LGBTQ-owned restaurants, bars, boutiques, and other small businesses proudly displaying equality and rainbow signage. The city also hosts the annual Stonewall Pride Festival and Parade on Saturday, June 15.
Nearby in Fort Lauderdale is the World AIDS Museum, the first museum devoted to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and housed within ArtServe. On the same campus is the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library, boasting more than 6 million pages of materials in its archives, as well as photographs, placards, clothing, books, newspapers, and other ephemera.
Be a Beach Bum
Fort Lauderdale Beach has its own stretch of gay beach — Sebastian Street Beach, named the "Hottest U.S. Gay Beach" by Out Traveler. There’s also Stonewall Beach on Pompano Beach, south of the Fisher Family Pier, and unofficially dedicated by locals in the summer of 2020.
Check-In to Chill-Out
Unwind and check in to The Worthington Resorts, the largest, clothing-optional resort for gay men in the country, or Wilton Manors' luxury gay guest house, Casa Hèrmes.
Shop til you Drop
Support the LGBT+ community by shopping at local businesses, like the old-school candy shop To the Moon in Wilton Manors or the national thrift store Out of the Closet, which donates 96 cents from every dollar to help fund AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s services. Greater Fort Lauderdale has two locations, one in Wilton Manors and another in Fort Lauderdale. Take part in Wilton Manors’ art walk every third Saturday to visit local vendors and creators.
Make Every Meal Memorable
Whether you’re “Brunchin’ With the Queens” at The Well, or treating yourself to an all-inclusive brunch and drag show at LIPS, get ready to discover a new menu of dining and drag. Rosie's Bar & Grill, a local dining icon known for its vibrant patio and fun and flavorful drinks, is another must-visit, as are Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar (one of South Florida’s longest-running gay restaurants & bars), and Scandal's Saloon, where you can line-dance the night away with the help of country music and some bourbon.
Pride Month Events
Get in On the Fun
Stonewall “INN” STONEWALL
June 1-30
The Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library’s exhibit will recreate what the Stonewall Inn in New York City would have looked like before the riots that forever changed the equality movement in the United States. On June 29, there will be a first-ever reenactment of the Stonewall Uprising.
Take PRIDE!
June 1-30
History Fort Lauderdale presents a month-long exhibit at the Galleria shopping mall to showcase a 100-year retrospective of LGBTQ+ milestones, including the Miss Florida F.I. Pageant Wall of Fame. This year’s Take Pride honoree is Robert Boo, the executive director of the Pride Center at Equality Park. An opening reception will be on May 30.
FLoatarama
June 2, 6, 7 and 8
It wouldn’t be an event in Greater Fort Lauderdale without boats. The annual soiree of the seas on June 8 is a parade of more than 30 vessels decorated for Pride. Leading the group is the 130-foot Yacht Catalina with Grand Marshal Sam Lantz, host FayWhat?!, DJ Bumi, and 450 of your closest friends as the yacht snakes its way down the New River and the Intracoastal waterway.
The FLoatarama fun begins with a Garden Party on June 2 at The House on the River with music by DJ Ronnie Minutella; a Captain’s Party at Hunters Nightclub on June 6; and a “Fur Friday” happy hour welcome party at Hunters on June 7. The events benefit the Floatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund.
Women’s Press Play Weekend
June 14-16
The Stonewall Pride festival includes special events for the ladies. It begins with Lez Chic at The Well in Wilton Manors on June 14; the Curaleaf Women’s Stage and Women’s Lounge at the festival and parade on June 15, followed by the Pandora Women’s Dance Party in Wilton Manors; and Pandora Women’s Brunch Party on June 17.
The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival
June 15
The parade and festival take over Wilton Manors, drawing a crowd of tens of thousands of people from all walks of life. From 3 to 11 p.m., the Block Party Festival includes six stages with entertainers and a Festival Marketplace. Local bars and restaurants on Wilton Drive also host their own parties to ring in Pride. At 8 p.m., the Glow Night Parade begins, with onlookers and parade walkers decked out in glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark patin, and lights for a unique Pride parade.
FlockFest SPLASH Rainbow Edition
June 16
Put on your bathing suit for FlockFest’s Pride pool party t-dance on the ninth-floor rooftop pool at The Easton. A 21-and-older event, tunes will be provided by DJ Cesar Hernandz.
Being Black & Gay
June 27
Hunters Nightclub hosts a musical event that spotlights the unique journey of being LGBTQ and Black, featuring Terry Dyer with an accompaniment by Christopher Hamblin. A portion of proceeds benefit youth programming at Pridelines.
Sixth Annual Family Pride Celebration
June 29
The Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale invites families to celebrate Pride. The festivities include rainbow and Pride-themed science activities, Pride storytime, and a Pride KaBoom! Show, and rainbow tie-dyed t-shirts. From 10 a.m. to noon, bring your little ones for Baby’s First Pride.
Pride: Then, Now and Forever
June 29
The Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida returns to The Parker for a performance weaving together different generations of LGBTQ+ people. Songs include old favorites like “It’s Raining Men” and “Dancing Queen” to “Don’t Say Gay” and the world premiere of “We’ve Come Through the Storm.”
July 5-7
Just because June has come and gone doesn’t mean Pride has, too. The ninth annual party begins with Flock the Block on June 5; the Beach Party on Fort Lauderdale beach fit with cabanas, plenty of flamingo floaties, and music by DJ Deanne on June 6; and the FlockFest SPLASH Flamingo Edition pool party at The Easton on June 7.