Brilliant colors, captivating costumes, and music to make you move and groove; Caribbean vibes and pride are hitting Wilton Manors this weekend.
PrideFête returns to Richardson Park at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. The fourth iteration will feature a costume contest, a parade through the park, delicious food, and music to make you shake it island-style.
“One of my favorite things is people coming on stage dancing with me. It’s a part of Caribbean culture. We love to move our bodies,” host Octavia Yearwood said.
This is the event’s fourth year. She’s back to host a fourth time and says this event is special to her.
“PrideFête and spaces for Caribbean people are very important because we need to know we are here for each other and we need to celebrate that.”
While attendees have always dressed colorfully for the party, this year marks the start of an official costume contest with a $1,000 cash prize.
“Being Haitian and Trinidadian, it was customary to see carnival costumes at all the Caribbean carnivals. It is part of the fabric of any carnival event. So, I wanted to invent a way to celebrate that part of the culture in our festival,” said Hotspots Happening Out Event Division President Jameer Baptiste. “It’s a perfect union! The sexiness of carnival costumes intertwined with the uninhibited self-expression of the LGBTQ+ community, two worlds that rarely ever get infused into one.”
“Drop the inhibitions and come with the vibe. Wear your colors. Rep your set,” Yearwood added. “That’s the beauty of being celebrated for who you are in this space.”
The contest is at 6:30 and contestants need to arrive by 6:20. It’s judged by applause, so bring friends to cheer you on.
Being LGBTQ is still shunned in many corners of Caribbean culture, which adds an extra layer of importance to an event that’s become a staple on South Florida’s community calendar.
“Every year the community builds. You can see people engaging with each other,” Yearwood said. “There’s that familiarity. People get more comfortable with who they are.”
And it’s community that drives her passion for helping lead the party. “I love people. I love my people; Caribbean people, black people. There is nothing that brings me more joy than being able to facilitate that joy.”
Admission is cashless and is $7 in advance and $10 day of. VIP is $55 in advance, $75 day of. To buy tickets, register for the costume contest, and get more information, visit PrideFete.LGBT.
PrideFête 2024. Photo by JR Davis.
