ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A celebration of love and unity is coming to downtown St. Petersburg as the 2025 St. Pete Pride Parade and Festival takes place on Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29. The event draws in a crowd of over 300,000 attendees and is one of the largest Pride events nationwide.
If you’re heading to the festivities, here are some tips on parking, transportation, safety, and how to prepare for the weekend.
The Parade and Festival 🥁🎶🎉
The events kick off on Saturday at North Straub and South Straub Parks at 2 p.m. North
Straub Park will have a variety of local vendors, food trucks, a DJ, and a beer garden. North and South Straub Parks will host the main entertainment stages. These events are free and open to the public.
A Trans March will begin in Vinoy Park at 5:15 p.m., followed by the St. Pete Pride Parade, which starts at 6 p.m. from Albert Whitted Park north to Vinoy Park along Bayshore Drive.
The St. Pete Pride Grand Central Street Fair is happening Sunday from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Grand Central District. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, hundreds of vendors, food, interactive carnival games and street performers with community partners. This event is also free and open to the public.
Road Closures ⚠️🚧⛔
Saturday
Bayshore Drive, from Albert Whitted Park north to 5th Avenue NE, will be closed at 1 p.m. until the parade concludes.
Bayshore Drive, from Central Avenue to 5th Avenue NE will remain closed until 11 p.m. when activities end in North and South Straub Parks.
Sunday
Central Avenue and all cross streets between 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South will be closed starting at 20th Street and ending at 31st Street from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. All side streets will be blocked at the alleys.
Transportation 🚕🚋🚲
PSTA is offering free Park & Ride options.
Saturday
Sunday
SunRunner: Stops east and westbound at 22nd Street on 1st Avenue South and 1st Avenue North.
Central Avenue Trolley: Will be free to use, but will be impacted by road closures. The Central Avenue Trolley will run on 1st Avenue North and South in the closed section of the road.
Full fare will go into effect on all PSTA routes on June 29. Get additional information on PSTA’s website.
Parking 🚗🛣️
Saturday
Parking garages at Southcore and Sundial are closest to the parade route.
Sunday
Consider downtown parking lots and garages. Please be considerate of residential property if parking on neighborhood streets. A secondary parking option will be along 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South.
The St. Pete Pier will be open for business, but closed to vehicular traffic and parking from 4p.m. – 9 p.m. If you decide to park at the Pier, your car will be there until it reopens that evening at 9:30 p.m. Doc Fords will be closed on Saturday, June 28.
The city of St. Petersburg recommends ride sharing for the events. Officials said North Straub Park or Vinoy Park will be good drop-off/pick-up points. City officials also suggested taking a bike or scooter, but some downtown scooter and bike hubs will be closed due to the festivities. Get city guidelines on scooters and bikes.
Security 🚨👮🆘
There will be handheld metal detectors scanning attendees for guns or knives at event entrances. St. Pete Pride officials said the event has a zero-tolerance policy for hate, discrimination, or threatening behavior, and reserve the right to refuse entry or remove anyone who jeopardizes the safety or well-being of others. If you see any safety concerns, report them to event staff or security immediately.
Extra things to know💡💭
Hydrate! This weekend is going to be a hot and humid one, with highs reaching the 90s. City officials said there will be water refill stations set up around the park. Fans and cooling bandanas/towels are also encouraged.
Plan ahead for the weather. According to our Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologists, There is a 50% chance of rain, so you may want to bring a poncho or umbrella. Track the weather with Klystron 9 by downloading our Spectrum News app.
Attendees can bring coolers and chairs, but be mindful of obstructing someone else’s view.
Establish meeting places. Cell phone service may be limited due to the number of people at the park, or if you and your group split up on wanting to do different activities, it’s important to have a place where you can all meet back up at afterward.
Pets are welcome at the event, but must remain on a leash at all times. Officials said the asphalt on the streets can become dangerously hot and may cause serious harm to your pet’s paws. To prevent painful burns and injury, ensure your pet has proper paw protection.
Get additional details on all the Pride events by visiting the St. Pete Pride website.