So many ambitious events, so little time.
Pride Fort Lauderdale (PFL) is making a comeback. An annual music festival in Wilton Manors is expanding and rebranding. And they’re both happening on the same weekend.
The events are unrelated, one is in Fort Lauderdale the other Wilton Manors, but both strive to serve the LGBTQ community.
People are trying to understand how something like this could happen.
Rock the Block, now called Authenticity Music Festival (AMF), has established itself as a Presidents’ Day weekend event in Wilton Manors and filed for its 2026 permit in February.
PFL’s last event was in 2023. New ownership/leadership took over in January. They spent months working with the city of Fort Lauderdale to find a date and an event space in an already crowded calendar. Events like this are generally planned well over a year in advance.
PFL President Jeff Sterling says they only had two dates to choose from: early January or mid-February. They didn’t announce their date until late April.
So while no one believes this is optimal, PFL believes it is workable.
“Scheduling with a city is complicated,” Sterling said. “The best thing we can do is make both events successful. We want the best for our community.”
After canceling in 2024 and 2025, PFL prioritized having an event in 2026. They expect to have more date and location options in 2027.
When & Where
AMF will be Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15 on Wilton Drive. Organizers point out that, despite being in the heart of the gayborhood, this is not an LGBTQ event. Rather, it is a celebration of people who live authentic lives.
PFL will happen in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 14, with a parade down 2nd Ave. and a Pride party by Revolution.
Neither group has announced any performers/headliners.
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