Everyone will be part of the party at Sarasota Pride 2011. The Oct. 22 celebration returns to J.B. Hamil Park in downtown Sarasota, but organizers emphasize that this year no one will be separated from the action.
Last year's festival attracted nearly 2,000 people, but several attendees and vendors expressed concerns about having to cross Main Street to get from the vendor booths to the entertainment. That won't be a problem this year, according to Cindy Barnes, the organizer of the celebration.
“Everyone will be in the park,” Barnes said. “There's no more having to cross a street.”
Besides moving everything to the park, vendors should be pleased with additional changes. This year, every booth will be on the grass and under a tent”so no more hot asphalt or sunburns.
“I think we'll have 60 vendors, easily,” Barnes said. “That's what we had last year, and I had to turn some away because we ran out of space. This year we have plenty of space, so we can welcome as many as we want.”
The Sarasota Pride Street Festival begins on Saturday at noon and runs until 6 p.m. Several local luminaries are expected to attend, including Mayor-At-Large Suzanne Atwell, who has volunteered to be in the popular dunking booth.
“The City of Sarasota has been amazingly supportive,” Barnes said. “Each department has been extremely helpful in directing me to the next step of planning. The city wants events like this downtown. It's good for the city and it's good for our community.”
Barnes said she wouldn't be surprised if the festival isn't swarmed by local politicians, considering 2012 is a huge election year.
“I think that says a lot for Sarasota and for the community here,” Barnes said. “It's exciting.”
Several acts have been booked to entertain on Saturday, including Karmic Tattoo, Diversity and Halcyon. The local LGBT community has been supportive of Sarasota Pride throughout the year, Barnes said, adding that fundraising efforts have been successful.
“The people I work with are amazed by what we've received,” Barnes said. “I got $10,000 from Tropicana, and $5,000 from other sponsors.”
Barnes also noted that the recent Butchlesque drag fundraiser made $3,000.
“Budweiser told me how impressed they were because they've seen so many events cancelled due to the economy,” Barnes said. “But for Pride, I just have to ask and things happen. Everything we've done so far has made money, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.”
And there are several Sarasota Pride events scheduled throughout October for those who can't wait for the 22nd to show their colors. They include a Walk for Equality and Unity on Saturday over the Ringling Bridge at 10 a.m. on Oct. 1. Laugh Out Sarasota on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. at the Golden Apple Dinner Theater will feature local favorites Dennis Maley, Poppy Chaplin and Brian Bradley.
“Last year we held an event every night of the week leading up to the street festival,” Barnes said. “That was too much and we were exhausted the day of Pride. This year we're stretching it out over every weekend of the month. That makes the events more accessible to everyone and easier on us.”
For a full schedule of events leading up to Sarasota Pride 2011, visit SarasotaPride.org.
The Oct. 22 festival is free. Those interested in becoming sponsors, volunteers or vendors can sign up at the web site.
