The annual Miami Beach Gay Pride kicked off with a pride-rainbow-flag-raising ceremony at City Hall in Miami Beach. The event, which runs all week until April 8, 2018, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the city, with several events throughout each day to celebrate gay pride.
The Pride Lights the Night event on Monday is a tribute to Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub shooting victims. Buildings throughout Miami-Dade County will light up in rainbow flag colors to show their solidarity—these include the Freedom Tower, Lincoln Road Mall, and many others. Pulse Nightclub survivor Laura Vargas will have the honor of flipping the switch to illuminate 1111 Lincoln Road in rainbow colors.
The event will shortly be followed by the Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride Pageant taking place at the Faena Theatre. The newly crowned queen will receive $1,000 in cash, among other coveted prizes, and perform at the Main Stage on Pride Day (Sunday, April 8th). Pageant categories will include evening gown and Q&A, swimwear, and a talent performance.
The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is throwing a Spotlight Mega-Mixer—a networking event with over 200 Chamber members, guests, and members of the community. The celebration will take place on Tuesday, April 3rd from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Shore Club. Pre-register tickets are $10 for members, $20 for others, and at the door, they are $15 for members, $25 for others.
On Wednesday, the Miami HEAT and AmericanAirlines Arena will host their second annual Loud and Proud Dance Party. The event will feature music, entertainment, bites, special guest appearances by representatives of the LGBTQ community, and the Miami HEAT basketball team. The event is free and open to the public (must be at least 18 years of age to attend). Guests must RSVP in advance here.
The Pérez Art Museum Miami will host a pride celebration with live music, pride-themed cocktails and drag performances on its waterfront terrace. The event, which is part of the PAMM Free Community Night, will offer free admission but requires guests to RSVP. PAMM Pride night will take place on Thursday, April 5th from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Basement Pride Kick Off Party on Friday, April 6th at 11 pm. The party held at the Edition Hotel will feature a nightclub, bowling alley, and a skating rink, kicking off pride weekend. Presale tickets start at $20.
Pop star Betty Who will headline the Miami Beach Gay Pride’s Saturday Beach Party Festival on April 7th at 9 pm at Lummus Park.
The week-long events will then culminate in the 10th Anniversary Pride Parade on Sunday, April 8th from 12 pm to 2 pm. Glittering floats and caravans will parade through Ocean Drive in Miami Beach from 5th to 15th Streets. The Pride Festival will follow the parade with an expo, performances, vendor booths, food and drinks, and a fireworks display over the beach, all taking place from noon to 10 pm that day.
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