ORLANDO, Fla. – The city of Orlando hosted more than 200,000 people at the 21st annual Come Out With Pride celebration on Saturday.
The event, recognized as one of the largest Pride festivals in the Southeastern U.S., generated an estimated $30 million economic impact in 2024.
Come Out With Pride features all-day entertainment and begins Friday at noon in Lake Eola Park.
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Parts of Orange Avenue, Central Boulevard, Rosalind Avenue and Robinson Street will be closed during “The Most Colorful Parade,” which starts at 4 p.m.
The festival will conclude with a fireworks finale at 9:30 p.m.
Organizers of the celebration said its goal is to change hearts and minds — and make it possible for everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies to live authentically.
Come Out With Pride will also take place less than two months after the Florida Department of Transportation repainted the Pulse memorial crosswalk to comply with new state and federal guidelines.
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Christine Hanavan was outside Pulse on Thursday and said she’s been frustrated by the state’s actions.
“The point of it seems to be, they don’t want this message,” Hanavan said. “No matter how many times you try to wash away symbols, water brings rainbows.”
Hanavan said she plans to attend Come Out With Pride and hopes it will serve as a gathering of unity and support.
“We need to be standing together as a community and staying strong,” she said. “We have to remember the roots of pride are that we’re fighting for our community and for justice.”
For more details about Come Out With Pride, visit https://comeoutwithpride.org/
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