Parade, check. Queens, check. Rising out country star, check.
Palm Beach Pride will feature it all this year. The annual festival, hosted by Compass, takes place this weekend noon to 6 p.m. on March 23 and 24 in Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach. The event attracts 30,000 attendees each year.
“Pride weekend gives us an opportunity to sing, dance and celebrate living our authentic lives in a free society with some of the best talent we've ever had,” said Michael Riordan, Director of Media and Communication at Compass.
This year’s theme is Painting Our Future. There will be several opportunities for attendees to create their own art at the festival and share it with others.
For Riordan, she’s most excited about the talent.
“All of this year's performers show the world the talent that exists in South Florida,” she said. “Every entertainer performing at Palm Beach Pride this year has either lived, worked or been raised in South Florida.”
This year’s headliner will be out country star Brooke Eden, who is scheduled to perform Sunday at 4 p.m. Eden, who now lives in Nashville with her wife, grew up in West Palm Beach. Other entertainers include Daniel Franzese (“Mean Girls,” “Looking”) and the Synergy Twins. Local drag stars Melissa St. John and Velvet Lenore will also perform.
The parade takes place Sunday at 11 a.m. on Lake Avenue in Downtown Lake Worth Beach and will be led by members of the Compass Youth Program and the 2024 Grand Marshal, Chris Rhoades.
“Pride grand marshals play a crucial role in promoting equality, understanding, and acceptance; Chris Rhoades embodies that spirit in his everyday life and throughout the entire year,” Julie Seaver, Compass’ CEO, said in a press release announcing the event. “Whether it's marching to Tallahassee, or organizing new talent in the drag community, Chris' efforts have helped shape more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people to socialize and connect with others all over South Florida, and we are so proud to have him leading this year’s parade.”
Rhoades is a local event producer and president of Next Level Talent PB LLC.
This year’s festival comes on the heels of Fort Lauderdale Pride being canceled this year, making Palm Beach Pride the first major Pride event of the 2024 in South Florida.
“Palm Beach Pride showcases our destination as a welcoming place for all, and has a positive impact on our residents, businesses and tourism industry,” said Erika Constantine, vice president of Marketing for Discover The Palm Beaches, in a press release announcing the event. “The Palm Beaches are built on a spirit of genuine hospitality as a way of life, and vibrant events such as Pride help to foster that spirit.”
Beyond the entertainment, the festival will feature food, beverages, and dozens of vendors.
Beyond the festival, several Lake Worth Beach businesses will also host Pride related events. Mad Hatter Lounge will host a kick-off party Thursday night and wrap up party featuring a free buffet on Sunday at 5 p.m. Lilo’s Streetfood & Bar will host “Epic Under the Stars,” a drag show on Saturday night at 9 p.m. Finally, Propaganda will host the Rhinestone Rave showcasing drag, live music and art vendors from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets to Pride Palm Beach are $10 presale or $12 at the gate. Anyone under 18 years old is admitted for free. Proceeds from the event support Compass. For more information, visit CompassLGBTQ.com.
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