Part of the Gay Fort Lauderdale Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305Let people know you're going, see who else is attending, and share the event with friends.
Catch your city's vibe or the global LGBTQ+ scene.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
The complete LGBTQ+ guide to Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors — America's gayborhood by the sea with 30+ venues on Wilton Drive, Sebastian Beach, and year-round events.
Robbie S.Wilton Manors is greater Fort Lauderdale's gay city — a walkable island where Wilton Drive packs 15+ bars, clubs, and cabarets end to end, plus drag brunch, guesthouses, and one of the country's densest LGBTQ+ communities. Here's the local's guide.
Robbie S.Everything you need for Pig Week 2026 — Fort Lauderdale's 10-day gay men's fetish and kink festival. Ramrod, the pool parties, the Dirty Dozen anniversary, Mr. Pig Week, the best leather bars, and where to stay.
Robbie S.Everything you need for South Florida Black Pride 2026 — the Black LGBTQ+ celebration across Fort Lauderdale and Miami over Columbus Day weekend. The Unity Block Party, the parties, the best Wilton Manors bars, and where to stay.
Robbie S.Stonewall Pride in Wilton Manors is the biggest LGBTQ+ event in the Fort Lauderdale metro — a street festival and parade that shuts down six blocks of Wilton Drive and draws 50,000 people to America's gayborhood by the sea. Named in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, it's grown from a small neighborhood parade into an internationally recognized Pride celebration with 8+ stages, 100+ vendors, 15 bars within the festival footprint, and the signature Glow Night Parade lighting up The Drive after dark.
The 2026 edition marks the 26th year. Whether you're a Fort Lauderdale local or flying in for the weekend, this guide covers everything — from the festival layout to the best viewing spots, Pride Week events, where to stay, and how to survive June heat in South Florida.
Most Pride events happen in a park or convention center with a parade route through a city's streets. Stonewall Pride happens inside the gayborhood itself. Wilton Drive — the heart of Wilton Manors' LGBTQ+ scene — shuts down entirely, and the festival wraps around the 15+ bars and clubs that line The Drive. That means you're not just attending a festival next to the nightlife — you're in it. The bars are open, the stages are between them, and when the festival ends at 11 PM, the party continues inside.
The Glow Night Parade at 8 PM is the signature moment: illuminated floats, vehicles, and walking groups light up Wilton Drive as the sun sets. It's smaller and more intimate than mega-city parades — you're watching from 10 feet away, not behind barricades a block deep.
Pro Tip
Stonewall Pride is cashless only — at the gates, VIP areas, and all official festival vendors. Have your phone or credit card ready. Buy tickets in advance online for a $3+ discount and access to the fast entry line.
Pride in Fort Lauderdale isn't a single day — it's a full week of events building up to the main festival. Here are the key dates:
FLoatarama deserves its own section because it's become one of the most unique Pride events in the country. Born during COVID lockdown in 2020 when a handful of boats spontaneously paraded down the New River as a socially distanced Pride celebration, it's grown into the nation's largest LGBTQ+ Pride-on-Water event.
The 2026 edition features a decorated flotilla cruising Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway, a yacht party on a 130-foot vessel, and a waterfront T-Dance at Bokamper's Sports Bar & Grill (3115 NE 32nd Avenue). All proceeds benefit the FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund, which has awarded over $410,000 in grants to organizations including SunServe, Sunshine Pride House, and the South Florida Pride Youth Band.
How to participate: Buy a ticket for the yacht party. Boarding starts at 10:30 AM, departure at 11 AM sharp.
How to watch from shore: Several waterfront venues offer viewing — The House on the River (brunch), Masa & More (Flotilla Brunch Buffet with unlimited mimosas), The Historic Downtowner (dock-side tables), and The Boathouse (veranda seating). Book ahead — these spots fill up.
Pro Tip
FLoatarama has grown from 20 boats in 2020 to a record-breaking event raising $110,000+ in 2024. It's the feel-good start to Pride Week — boats decorated in rainbow, cruising past Fort Lauderdale's waterfront mansions, all for LGBTQ+ youth scholarships. Don't skip it.
The street festival runs from 3 PM to 11 PM across six blocks of Wilton Drive, from NE 20th Street south to Five Points. The road closes to traffic at 4 AM and doesn't reopen until 6 AM Sunday — so the whole strip becomes a pedestrian Pride village.
The festival divides into three sections, each with its own personality:
North Section (NE 11th Ave to NE 8th Terrace): Home to The Manor Stage and the Women's Stage. The Manor Complex anchors this zone — expect high-energy DJ sets and performances spilling between the club and the outdoor stage.
Center Section (NE 8th Terrace to NE 6th Ave): The busiest zone. This is where the crowd is densest, the energy is highest, and you'll find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with 50,000 of your closest friends. Multiple vendor rows, food trucks, and drink stations.
South Section (NE 6th Ave to NE 21st Court): The main stage sits at NE 6th Avenue. Hunters Stage is nearby. The south entrance is here — if you're arriving later in the day, this is your best bet for shorter entry lines.
The festival includes 8+ stages, 100+ vendors and exhibitors, food trucks, drink stations, and nonprofit organizations. All 15+ bars along Wilton Drive are open and operating within the festival footprint — your wristband gets you in and out.
Pro Tip
Three entrances: near Tulio's (north), near Bona Italian (center), and at the main stage by NE 6th Avenue (south). The south entrance typically has shorter lines later in the day. All entrances have walk-through metal detectors — arrive 15-20 minutes before you want to be inside.
This is an outdoor street festival in South Florida in June — which means heat, humidity, and the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms. But the festival starts at 3 PM (past the worst of the afternoon rain window), and the vibe shifts dramatically as the sun goes down and the Glow Night Parade begins.
Vendors and food: 100+ vendor booths line both sides of Wilton Drive — local businesses, nonprofits, and national sponsors. Food trucks cluster at key intersections. Drink stations serve cocktails and beer throughout the footprint.
Music: 8+ stages running simultaneously with DJs, live performers, and drag shows. The main stage at NE 6th Avenue books the headline acts. The Manor Stage and Hunters Stage keep the dance music going until close.
The Glow Night Parade is the signature moment of Stonewall Pride — and it's what sets this apart from daytime-only Pride parades. As the sun sets on Wilton Drive, illuminated floats, decorated vehicles, and walking groups light up The Drive in a spectacle of color. The parade flows through the heart of the festival, with spectators lining both sides of the street just feet away from the action.
Parade start: 8 PM sharp. Participants must be in line by 7:30 PM.
Best viewing: Anywhere along Wilton Drive between the north and south sections. The intimacy is the point — unlike mega-city parades with barricade-deep crowds, you're watching from 10 feet away. Stake out your spot by 7:30 PM along the main stage area for the best combination of parade viewing and stage entertainment.
After the parade: The festival continues until 11 PM, and then the party moves inside — every bar on Wilton Drive runs late-night events through 2 AM and beyond.
Pro Tip
The Glow Night Parade format means you don't have to wake up at dawn to get a spot. Arrive for the 3 PM festival opening, explore, eat, drink, and then settle in for the 8 PM parade — the whole night builds to it.
What makes Stonewall Pride weekend unique is that the bars aren't separate from the festival — they're embedded in it. Here are the spots that go biggest for Pride:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Plan Your Pride Weekend in Fort Lauderdale
Find all Pride events, bar specials, and parties across Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors on Out x Out.
Wilton Manors has limited accommodations and Pride is the biggest event of the year — book well in advance, especially the gay guesthouses.
The best option if you want to walk to the festival and stumble home after. Gay guesthouses in Wilton Manors book out months ahead for Pride weekend.
If Wilton Manors is booked or you want the beach-and-Pride combo, the Fort Lauderdale Beach area puts you near Sebastian Beach (the gay beach) with a quick Uber to The Drive.
Pro Tip
Gay guesthouses in Wilton Manors sell out months before Pride — book as early as February for a June stay. If you can't get a room on The Drive, the beach resorts (Grand Resort, Pineapple Point) are only a $10-15 rideshare away. Mainstream hotels like the Hyatt Centric and W Fort Lauderdale often have availability later.
Browse Fort Lauderdale hotels on Expedia →
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is just 6 miles from Wilton Manors — a 15-to-20-minute rideshare. Book flights into FLL, not MIA, unless you're combining with a Miami trip.
Brightline high-speed rail connects Fort Lauderdale to Miami (35 minutes), West Palm Beach, and Orlando. The Fort Lauderdale Brightline station is downtown — the official Stonewall Pride recommendation for visitors coming from other South Florida cities. An airport connector shuttle runs from FLL to the Brightline station ($12/person).
Rideshare is the move. Wilton Drive is fully closed to traffic from 4 AM Saturday to 6 AM Sunday. There is no free parking anywhere in Wilton Manors during the event.
Pro Tip
Skip driving entirely if you can. Rideshare prices surge after the festival ends at 11 PM — consider scheduling a return ride in advance or plan to stay out at the bars until the surge dies down around midnight.
Stonewall Pride has weathered more than most Pride events. In 2021, a tragic accident before the parade killed one man and seriously injured another when an elderly driver's vehicle accelerated into the staging area — an accident, not an attack, but one that shook the community deeply. The festival returned in 2022 with doubled security spending and a renewed commitment to safety.
In 2023, Florida's SB 1438 forced all drag performances off outdoor stages — performers could ride floats but couldn't perform outside. The community pushed back, attendance dipped, but the event went on. By 2024, drag returned to outdoor stages and the festival drew its largest crowds since the pandemic. In 2025, newly installed metal detectors intercepted an armed man at the entrance — the security upgrade worked.
The 25th anniversary in 2025, presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, brought the Glow Night Parade format back bigger than ever with 8+ stages and record participation. Through tragedy, legislation, and a pandemic, Stonewall Pride has kept going — and that resilience is part of what makes it matter.
Wilton Drive stays busy year-round: Wicked Manors draws tens of thousands for Halloween, Pig Week brings the fetish crowd, and South Florida Black Pride celebrates Black queer life.
Stonewall Pride isn't the only Pride in town. Here's what else happens:
General admission is approximately $10 advance / $13 at the gate / $20 at the gate with credit card. VIP Tent is ~$125 and VIP Private Club is ~$250. The festival is cashless only — no cash accepted at gates or inside. Buy tickets in advance at stonewallpride.lgbt for a discount and fast-entry access.
The Glow Night Parade starts at 8 PM on Saturday, June 20, 2026. It's an illuminated evening parade through Wilton Drive — one of the only nighttime Pride parades in the country. Stake out your spot by 7:30 PM.
No. Stonewall Pride has a strict no bags, backpacks, or purses policy. Walk-through metal detectors are at all three entrances. Leave your bag at the hotel and carry only your phone, credit card, and sunscreen.
FLoatarama is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ Pride-on-Water event — a decorated boat flotilla on Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway that kicks off Pride Week on June 13. All proceeds benefit LGBTQ+ youth scholarships. You can join the yacht party or watch from waterfront restaurants.
Light, breathable clothing — it's South Florida in June (85°F+, high humidity). Comfortable shoes for standing and walking on pavement for 8 hours. Sunscreen is essential even though the festival starts at 3 PM. Many people bring a change of shirt because the humidity will soak through the first one. Skip the bag (not allowed) and carry essentials in your pockets.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) is the best option — Wilton Drive is closed to traffic all day. FLL airport is 15–20 minutes away. If driving, expect to pay $10–30 for parking in private and city lots. Brightline train from Miami, West Palm Beach, or Orlando connects to downtown Fort Lauderdale (then a 10-minute rideshare to Wilton Manors).
The festival is held on flat, paved streets (Wilton Drive). ADA-accessible entrances and viewing areas are available. Contact the festival organizers through stonewallpride.lgbt for specific accessibility needs.
Hot and humid — average highs of 85–86°F with 74% humidity. June is the wettest month with a 50%+ chance of afternoon thunderstorms, but they usually pass quickly. The festival starts at 3 PM (after the typical afternoon rain window) and the evening is more comfortable. Bring sunscreen, stay hydrated, and embrace the tropical energy.
See all upcoming events in Fort Lauderdale on Out x Out →
Read our complete LGBTQ+ Guide to Fort Lauderdale & Wilton Manors →
Explore Fort Lauderdale's LGBTQ+ Scene
Find events, venues, and connect with the community on Out x Out.
