Palm Beach Florida prepares for pride
PrideFest of the Palm Beaches is back again for the sixteenth time and "home" is its theme this year - "There's no place like home" to be exact. The two-day event takes place noon to 6 p.m. March 28 and 29 at Bryant Park, 30 S. Golfview Road in Lake Worth. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the gate.
Compass, the LGBT community center of the Palm Beaches and organizer of PrideFest, chose "There's no place like home" because they found a new home this year in downtown Lake Worth at the former Mid-County Senior Center.
"We have been in a partnership producing PrideFest with the City of Lake Worth for nine years," said CEO of Compass Tony Plakas, "Now we're providing this state-of-the-art community center and that's the reason so many of our supporters think of Lake Worth as home."
Its new location opened up to the public earlier this month. The festival will feature more than 150 gay owned and/or friendly businesses, churches, non-profits groups, government agencies and entertainers. Between 10,000 and 12,000 people are expected to attend.
One of the major highlights of the two-day event will be Sunday's parade that starts at 11:30 a.m. at South L Street and Lucerne Ave., and will make its way down Lake Avenue and marshaled down to Bryant Park.
This year's headliner is dance/pop artist Jenna Drey who will perform Sunday. Saturday's performers include Karmic Flo, Tony Cruz, Shelina, Bev McClelland and Teri Catlin.
Sunday's entertainment line-up includes Miami Beach's DJ Oren Nizri, Julian, Velvet Lenore and REBAR dancers.
"We wanted to celebrate pride week at the playhouse. Last year we had a sold out performance so we added a second show this year." said Lisa Bankert, marketing director for the playhouse. "They're trying to outdo last year's show so it should be a little more dazzling and dynamic."
Other events include a Pride Interfaith Service 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton, 2601 St. Andrews Blvd.
Visit www.compassglcc.com for more information about PrideFest.