4th Annual Manatee Pride Festival

LGBTQ Pride event, fundraiser for Prism Youth Initiative, to be held March 18th
at the Bradenton Riverwalk
(Bradenton, FL – Feb. 17, 2017) – The 4th Annual Manatee Pride Festival has grown through the years and this year, the event is growing even more. Fun for the whole family, this year’s event has been expanded by one hour and will have even more vendors, program events and performers.
Attendance at Manatee Pride Festival is free and will again be at the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion area on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from noon through 6 p.m. Manatee Pride is a fundraiser for Prism Youth Initiative, a private, non-profit community organization, that has been providing services and a safe and supportive center for LGBTQ Youth in Manatee County since 2010.
This year, the event is sponsored by Community AIDS Network. Other returning sponsors include Tropicana (a major Bradenton employer and subsidiary of PepsiCo), Macy’s, Wal-Mart, The Flamingo Resort and Entertainment Center, METV, The Bradenton Herald, Watermark and Watermark Online, Rainbow411.com, J&J Graphics, and Metro Wellness Centers. We are pleased to welcome, as a first year sponsor, Manatee’s premier craft brewer, Darwin Brewing Co. Their brew master has crafted, especially for our event, a light, crisp refreshing lager “Manatee Pride Beer” available exclusively at the Festival. Also new this year, we welcome ProSuzy.com and XTC. 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.
Community AIDS Network will be on site offering health screenings, and METV will record the fun for later broadcast. 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 and area businesses. The Festival will open this year with an interfaith service, led by clergy from our many local faith communities.
In addition to Darwin Brewing Co., returning food vendors include Riverside Rollin’ Smoke, Croz’s Surfshak, B’s Cool Treats, and Joey D’s.
Scheduled performers include The Hatley Band, Jami Gee, Moxie Moxie and Elaine Bolton; noted drag queens Beneva Fruitville, Felicity Liemont Roxxy, Jaeda Fuentes, KeKe Monroe & Ashlee T. Bangkx; two ensembles from The Players Centre for Performing Arts. DJ Lexx will spin and Big Daddy Ro will be the Master of Ceremonies. A special performance of the Time Warp will be led by Interchangeable Parts.
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