Stonewall Pride started off strong on Saturday, June 20. Sunny skies were above and long lines of people waited patiently to get in the festival on Wilton Drive. The parade staging area stretched from the DQ back to NE 16th St.

Then dark clouds moved in and opened up. People throughout the staging area tried to stay dry by huddling under trees, which itself was dangerous given the frequent lightning in the area.

SunServe rented a double decker bus for the parade and had more than 100 people ready to ride. CEO Tony Lima tried to stay optimistic. “The rain’s not gonna dampen our Pride. We’re all in pretty great spirits, given the rain.”

Up and down the festival route, people packed into the bars and restaurants. OutSFL has talked with several bar owners and managers who said they were packed. It appears the rain drove people into the bars and kept them there.

The exact opposite was true for street vendors. Nearly all exhibitor tables, which were under tents, were abandoned by 7 p.m. The parade wasn’t even scheduled to start until 8 p.m. While the rain was dreadful, it was the persistent presence of lightning that ultimately caused the parade to cancel.

Still, people made the best of a soggy situation. Mailynn Soulfree took the stage outside Tropics. While all the chairs were empty, the covered patio next to Tropics was packed and the crowd was showing love and appreciation.

Taking shelter inside Tropics, Mr. Stonewall 2026, Alex Amarosa discussed his rainy reign. “I’m moist, I’m happy. I’m proud. I don’t give a fuck. Ain’t nobody gonna rain on my parade.”

After the storm had passed, Kristine W took the stage in the Hunters parking lot and long lines to get into bars started to form.

Jameer Baptiste, President of Events/COO at Hotspots Happening Out, which producers of Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, told OutSFL “Despite the unfortunate cancellation of the parade, the Festival showed our community’s love for one another and Pride as many people stayed and enjoyed themselves until the end of the street festival at 11 p.m.”

This does not bode well for future Stonewall Prides. The last time the event was caught in a deluge, the organization lost a lot of money and Wilton Manors stepped up to be a title sponsor, giving $50,000 towards security costs and other in-kind donations. Florida’s new anti-DEI law could tie the hands of supportive cities.

Baptiste said it’s too soon to diagnose the economic/fiscal harm of Saturday’s storm.

Out South Florida was a media sponsor for this event.

Screenshot via Greater Wilton Manors, YouTube.