The second annual Winter Pride Festival weeklong celebration kicks off Sunday (Feb. 15) with a street festival from noon to 5 p.m. on St. Pete’s Central Avenue. Organizers are hopeful the event could top 100,000 visitors – but they also hope it will showcase St. Petersburg’s character as a welcoming, inclusive place.

“We’re at a moment in time where people want to be part of something bigger than themselves,” said Rob Hall, Winter-Pride’s co-founder and executive director.

Describing it as “a powerful reminder of our LGBTQ+ community’s contributions and impact,” City of St. Petersburg LGBTQ Coordinator Nathan Bruemmer added, “The full week of events will not only bring joy, it will also deliver an economic boost to local restaurants, shops, and small businesses, fueling both community spirit and local growth.”

Hall launched Winter Pride in 2023 with Gabe Alves, and David Fischer, known to St. Petersburg as the owner and proprietor of a number of St. Pete’s signature establishments including Grand Central’s Cocktail bar.

The three were inspired by traveling to places which, like St. Petersburg, had a welcoming and inclusive LGBTQ+ presence. The city’s annual Pride Festival and parade takes place in June.

“‘We love Pride in the summertime, but wouldn’t it be great to do something in the winter?’” Hall remembered the group asking each other.

The trio started planning for the initial event in 2024. Despite the chaos resulting from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the challenges faced by Pride organizers across the state after the 2024 election, the 2025 Winter Pride event was a resounding success. Organizers welcomed almost 60,000 attendees from Florida and beyond across 11 events in February 2025, a number they expect to significantly exceed this year.

“Not only did it go better than planned – but we were just like, this is amazing! There’s really a need and a desire for this,” said Hall.

“We started back in September this year to promote every weekend, because we are a new organization. It’s so important for us to be out in the community teaching people who we are and what we do.”

Sunday’s street festival will feature more than 125 vendors along Central Avenue between 22nd and 25th Streets, with a stage across the street from Cocktail.

Daily events will include:

A brand new multi-media drag performance, Prismatic, created by artist Daphne Ferraro specifically for Winter Pride and hosted at freefall Theatre;
The 2026 Pelican Ball, “Winter Nights in Monte Carlo,” to benefit Winter Pride, featuring artists Chad Mize and Rhys Meatyard;
Events dedicated specifically to queer men, women, the trans community and communities of color.

“Programming is to incorporate all aspects of the LGBTQIA+ community and make them all feel special,” said Hall.

Winter Pride will conclude the following Sunday, with a “Drag Race” that organizers describe as “the most fabulous race of the year.” Teams of amateur drag queens will race soapbox cars around an obstacle course for charity, with the winners receiving $5,000 to the cause of their choice.

“I’m super excited for Winter Pride,” said City Council Vice-Chair Richie Floyd. “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate our city’s LGBTQ community without all the heat, and its growth is great for our city’s economy.”

Agreed Councilmember Gina Driscoll: “Winter Pride is a perfect way to share our light and celebrate the beautiful diversity that our city is built on.”

Business owners shared the enthusiasm for the influx of both community and traffic that comes with Winter Pride. Greg Mikurak, owner of Thirsty First at 515 Central Avenue, will host the “Dripping in Diamonds” Circuit Party. Mikurak was excited to become a Winter Pride host in his first year in a new location. “Thirsty First has always been a great partner and ally for Pride,” he said.

The culmination of Winter Pride will be “The Global Rainbow,” a laser art installation that will be mounted on the roof of the Marijean Hotel beginning Thursday, Feb. 19. Displayed in cities across the globe, including Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and San Francisco, the laser will be lit at dusk and shine all the way to South Pasadena. Organizers expect it to be visible from up to 60 miles away.

For Hall, and for and Pride organizers, it is a statement of resilience – and defiance.

“This is our pushback to our crosswalk, murals being taken away, and all the pressure the LGBTQIA+ community has been under,” Hall declared.

“If we can’t have the streets, we’ll take our rainbow to the sky.”

Sunday’s opening street festival, 12-5 p.m., takes place on Central Avenue between 22nd and 25th Avenues. Find information about performers and amenities here.

For a full schedule of this week’s events, visit this link.