February 26, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Valerie Fisher (941) 357-0111

5th Annual Manatee Pride Festival

LGBTQ Pride event, fundraiser for Prism Youth Initiative, to be held March 17th at the Bradenton Riverwalk

(Bradenton, FL – February 26, 2018) – The Annual Manatee Pride Festival has grown through the years and this year, the event will have the largest number of live entertainers, and more vendors than ever, providing fun for the whole family.

Attendance at Manatee Pride Festival is free and will again be at the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion area on Saturday, March 17, 2018 from noon through 5 p.m.  Manatee Pride is a fundraiser for Prism Youth Initiative, a private, non-profit community organization, that has provided services and a safe and supportive center for LGBTQ Youth in Manatee County since 2010.

Our returning event sponsor, CAN Community Health will be on site to offer free health screens. Other returning sponsors include Tropicana (a major Bradenton employer and subsidiary of PepsiCo), Wal-Mart, METV, The Bradenton Herald, Watermark and Watermark Online, Rainbow411.com, GSH Radio, J&J Graphics, and Metro Wellness  Centers. We are pleased announce that  Manatee’s premier craft brewer, Darwin Brewing Co. has once again, especially for our event, brewed up a batch of “Manatee Pride Beer” a light, crisp refreshing lager available exclusively at the Festival.  New this year, we welcome sponsors ProSisters,  Bradenton Marauders, Church of the Trinity, Get Me Justice and Aloha Nail and Hair Spa.  Sponsorships from $2500 to $250 are still available.

Manatee Pride organizers have been working closely with the City of Bradenton to make this event another success.  “We very much appreciate the City’s approval of and support for this event,” said Valerie Fisher, board president of Prism Youth Initiative, the event’s host.

Many of the sponsors will have a visible on-site presence during the event, along with invited public officials, local media, and vendors that include additional community and faith-based organizations, artisans, crafters, and area businesses.  The Festival will open again this year with an interfaith service, led by clergy from our local faith communities.

In addition to Darwin Brewing Co., food vendors include B’s Cool Treats, Joey D’s, B&R Lemonade and Bar-b-cue, TK Grill, and Starbuck’s.

Scheduled live performers include Craig Singleton, Divine AF; noted drag queens (and king) Beneva Fruitville, Johnny Sparks, Anita Liemont, Lexx DE Le Mar, Jocelyn Summers and more; and an ensemble from The Players Centre for Performing Arts.  DJ Lexx will spin and Big Daddy Ro will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Public parking for the event is available along the Riverwalk, with overflow parking available in public parking areas in adjacent downtown Bradenton.

More information about the event is available at www.manateepride.com

Manatee Pride w c/o Prism Youth Initiative  w P.O. Box 11204, Bradenton, FL 34282