After celebrating the 20th anniversary of Come Out With Pride last year, event organizers say Orlando’s massive celebration of LGBTQ+ culture will be even bigger this year, representing a chance for the community to unite.
During a year of continued attacks against people in the LGBTQ+ community, more than 200,000 people are expected to gather Saturday at Lake Eola Park in a show of solidarity. Come Out With Pride Orlando, which lands a week after National Coming Out Day, hosts a full slate of festivities, including drag performances, a trans rally, the signature “Most Colorful Parade” and a firework finale.
“Our theme for this year is ‘We The People’ because the flag is ours too. We’re just as part of the fabric of the American experience,” said Tatiana Quiroga, executive director of Come Out With Pride, the nonprofit organization that hosts the annual celebration at Lake Eola Park. “It’s important for people to realize that we’re part of the community of Central Florida and we’re not going anywhere.”
As one of the largest Pride celebrations in the Southeast, the event draws visitors from far and wide, making an estimated $30 million economic impact on the region.
On Saturday, the festival opens at noon at Lake Eola Park with a marketplace full of vendors and two stages for entertainment.
The event footprint has dedicated spaces for members of the community with varying needs. The Sober Space is designed for individuals who don’t wish to drink, while the Family Spot is set up for young LGBTQ+ individuals and children of queer parents. A Trans Pride area, which moves closer to the main entrance this year, focuses on the transgender community.
Rainbow colors filled the streets during the Come Out With Pride Orlando Parade in 2024. (Orlando Sentinel file)
The pinnacle of the festival is the Most Colorful Parade, which features more groups than ever before. The route starts on Orange Avenue, continues on East Central Boulevard, turns onto North Rosalind Avenue and concludes on East Robinson Street.
“We have more participants in the parade than we did last year. Folks really feel the need to be part of the celebration,” Quiroga said. “I think this year is going to be the biggest one yet because people need it.”
That is especially true during a year that saw the cancellation of Pride Southwest Florida for this November and an announcement from Tampa Pride that it would take a “one-year hiatus,” meaning no 2026 event. Come Out With Pride has faced its own headwinds this year as corporate sponsorships have dipped; meanwhile, security concerns and costs have continued to rise.
“We walk a very fine line with wanting to make sure that people feel safe, but at the same time don’t feel intimidated,” Quiroga said, adding that it’s important for allies to show up this year. “We really need to show the representation in numbers. This is the largest event in Central Florida for a reason. It’s a representation of us as a community … It’s a celebration; it’s also a fight for our future.”
Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Mayor Buddy Dyer wave during the Pride Parade in 2023. (Orlando Sentinel file)
In the name of helping to celebrate the culture of LGBTQ+ pride, the event features appearances from local drag queen Angelica Sanchez, who will join RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Ts Madison to host the Diva Stage. Jorgeous, a former contestant on the show, is the evening’s headliner performing at 9 p.m. A full day of events will conclude with a colorful fireworks display over Lake Eola at 9:30 p.m.
Throughout the celebration, members of the LGBTQ+ community can find ways to feel included and a sense of belonging.
“There’s something so magical about being in a space that is affirming to who you are that most people don’t get every day,” Quiroga said. “At Pride, people can look around and see thousands of people that are there to celebrate themselves or celebrate you. It’s just incredible.”
If you go
Come Out With Pride Orlando is from noon-10 p.m. Oct. 18 at 512 E. Washington St. in Orlando. The event is free to attend; VIP tickets are available. The event has three entrances — on Rosiland Avenue, on East Central Boulevard and on Eola Drive — with metal detectors and security. WESH 2 will broadcast the parade. For more information, visit comeoutwithpride.org.