Gulfcoast Pride Festival brings celebration, community and fun to Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District is getting ready for a celebration of community, diversity and inclusion as the 2026 Gulfcoast Pride Festival and Street Party returns Saturday, Oct. 24.Hosted by Project Pride SRQ, this year’s festival will run from 4 to 11 p.m., featuring live entertainment, local vendors, family-friendly activities and even a special place for four-legged friends.This year’s theme, “Carry Pride Forward,” encourages attendees to celebrate pride and inclusion beyond the festival itself.“Carry Pride Forward is an opportunity to engage our stakeholders, to engage the community, to think about pride outside of just the month of June and October,” said Justyn Hunter-Ceruti, Executive Director of Project Pride SRQ.Hunter-Ceruti joined ABC7 to preview the festivities alongside Fred Metzler from Dog Bar Sarasota and a very special guest, Bruce, a Great Dane sporting a colorful mohawk.A bigger celebration in the Rosemary DistrictThis year’s festiva