{"id":292093,"date":"2026-06-01T19:04:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T19:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/292093\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T19:04:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T19:04:29","slug":"photos-st-pete-pride-2026-kicks-off-across-st-petersburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/292093\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: St Pete Pride 2026 kicks off across St. Petersburg"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mx St Pete Pride 2026 Kenzi D. Lavish performs at St Pete Pride\u2019s kickoff. (Photo by Ryan Williams-Jent)<\/p>\n

ST. PETERSBURG | St Pete Pride<\/a> 2026 officially kicked off May 29-31 with an expanded weekend of festivities<\/a> in the\u00a0Grand Central District<\/a>\u00a0and at SkyBeach Resort.<\/p>\n

The kickoff began May 29 from 5-10 p.m. along Central Ave., which featured several blocks of local vendors. The evening\u2019s entertainment was concentrated in front of Cocktail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The LGBTQ+ hotspot hosted St Pete Pride\u2019s 2026 Royal Court<\/a> and headliner Apocalypse Noir, featuring Jan Sport from \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race.\u201d<\/a> Crowds kept the celebration going well into the evening in and outside the venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t wait for June, so we got the celebration started early!\u201d St Pete Pride shared afterwards:<\/p>\n

Festivities continued May 30-31 at SkyBeach Resort. Pridegoers participated in a pickleball tournament, beach party and drag brunch featuring \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d alum Miss Vanjie.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistory was made this morning as players hit the courts for St Pete Pride\u2019s inaugural pickleball tournament during our Kickoff Weekend,\u201d organizers shared after the games. They also noted the evening was \u201cmore than a beach party. It was a celebration of community, visibility, and the joy that makes St Pete Pride so special.\u201d<\/p>\n

St Pete Pride festivities continue through June. Learn more in the official guide, available at all official events and publishing from Watermark Out News June 4. View our photos from the kickoff in Grand Central District below.<\/p>\n

Photos by Ryan Williams-Jent.<\/p>\n

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Sign up for the Watermark Out News eNewsletter<\/a> \u00a0and follow us for more:
BlueSky<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | LinkedIn<\/a> | TikTok<\/a> | Threads<\/a> | YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

Tags: Adriana Sparkle<\/a>, apocalypse noir<\/a>, Ashton Opulence<\/a>, bior guigni<\/a>, cocktail<\/a>, Equality Florida<\/a>, grand central district<\/a>, Imani L. Valentino<\/a>, Jan Sport<\/a>, Kenzi D. Lavish<\/a>, RuPaul’s Drag Race<\/a>, skybeach resort<\/a>, St. Pete Pride<\/a>
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