Palm Beach County Prepares for Pride
Thousands of people will descend on Lake Worth noon to 6 p.m. March 29 and 30 for the 15th annual Pride Festival of the Palm Beaches organized by Compass, the gay and lesbian community center of the Palm Beaches. The event will take place at Bryant Park, 30 South Golfview Road in Lake Worth. Tickets are $7.
The festival will feature more than 150 local gay owned and friendly businesses, churches, non-profits groups, government agencies and entertainers. About 12,000 people attended last year.
One of the major highlights of the festival, the annual parade, starts at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 30 in downtown Lake Worth. The parade has been revamped and expanded this year and will feature street entertainers such as fire eaters.
Mike Zewe, capital campaign manager of Compass, promises the parade will be "very festive" and "very Mardi Gras." At least 50 groups have signed up and Zewe estimates 12 floats will participate.
Ms. Cleo, best known for her late night infomercials for the Psychic Readers Network, will be emceeing the event. Since coming out in an article in the Advocate in 2006, Cleo has become active in the gay community, Zewe said. This year's headliner is singer Jennifer Carbonell, who takes the stage 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30.
The official after party at 6p.m. Sunday will take place at The Cottage in Lake Worth, at 522 Lucerne Avenue.
Other pride related events lined up for the week include a pride interfaith service, where eight houses of worship will converge 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 at New Hope First Community Church, 2929A Seacrest Boulevard, Boynton Beach.
An art show "Just the Neighbors" which will feature the work of six gay and lesbian artists starts Tuesday, March 25 at the Meyerhoefer Gallery, 608 Lucerne Ave. On Thursday, March 27 a reception with the artists will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., will be hosting a fundraiser 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 in honor of the Pride Festival. The "Send in the Queens" drag show benefit concert will feature selections from Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Dreamgirls, Sunset Bouleveard, and Gypsy.
The show will pay tribute to icons such as Jennifer Hudson, Liza Minelli, Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner and Carol Channing. Tickets are $35. Call 561-586-6410 for more information. Ticket prices include a pre-show cocktail party 7 p.m. at the Playhouse and a "Meet the Cast After Party" at The Cottage restaurant.
On Sunday, March 30 Dolche, 3097 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach, will hold its own after party from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. There's no door charge and all ages are welcome. There's an open bar from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Mad Hatter Lounge at 1532 N Dixie Hwy., in Lake Worth will be offering free chicken wings from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. both days of the festival.
H.G. Roosters, 823 Belvedere Road, in West Palm Beach will host its weekly free barbeque at 5 p.m., strippers at 6:30 p.m. and Karaoke at 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.
Les Beans Coffee House, 410 Second Ave. North, will be hosting two after parties from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. both nights after the festival. On Saturday D.J. Wes will be at the coffee house and on Sunday there will be live music with reggae artist Dymin.
Compass is a non-profit organization that educates and emboldens youth and delivers high quality health related services and is the largest GLBT community center in the Southeast U.S. Later this year they will be moving the center from West Palm Beach to Lake Worth.
Visit www.compassglcc.com for more information about Pride Fest.