Key West’s Pridefest 2007 Celebrates ’The End of The Rainbow’
Long renowned as a favorite gay and lesbian vacation destination, Key West salutes diversity with PrideFest 2007, a weeklong series of events scheduled to take place from Saturday, June 2, through Sunday, June 10.
Organized by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West, PrideFest offers an opportunity for residents and visitors to celebrate the freedom and openness of the notoriously gay friendly island city. The festival, which incorporates more than 15 events, is themed "The End of the Rainbow" in recognition of Key West's atmosphere of acceptance and geographical location at the southernmost tip of the continental United States.
Pridefest festivities begin with a kickoff party scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2, in the Crystal Room at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St.
House tours are scheduled to follow at noon Sunday, offering tourists and residents alike an insider's look at some of the most talked about homes and gardens on the island, all of which are defined by Key West. Tropical chic, island style and d?cor, and lushly landscaped gardens..
Among the PrideFest schedule highlights are contests for the festival's male, female and drag queen "royalty."; the Mr. PrideFest contest, billed as the gay man's answer to Mr. Universe, which is set for 8 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at the popular gay watering hole, Bourbon St. Pub, located at 724 Duval St.; the Ms. PrideFest contest scheduled 9PM on Tuesday, June 5, at Aqua, 711 Duval St.; and the southernmost drag beauty pageant -- otherwise known as the battle for the Miss PrideFest crown, which will surely blow up a few skirts at 9 p.m. on Wednesday at La Te Da's Crystal Room.
PrideFest attendees can also expect to be entertained by the talent at the annual Pride Follies, to be staged at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, 5901 W. College Road on the campus of Florida Keys Community College on Thursday, June 7 at 8PM.
On Friday June 8, crowds also flock to Key West's legendary Duval Street, which is the location for the PrideFest Street Fair, which features live entertainment, arts, crafts, food and more.
The culmination of Key West's PrideFest 2007 is the "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" Pride Parade down Duval Street, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9. Everyone is invited to join the march -- whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight or transgendered -- in recognition of Key West's enthusiastic diversity.
The final event for PrideFest 2007 is a farewell tea dance on June 10 at 3 p.m. at La Te Da.
For a complete schedule of PrideFest 2007 events, visit www.pridefestkeywest.com or www.glcckeywest.org.