Congratulations to a very successful St. Pete PRIDE Weekend. Eric Skain, St. Pete Pride executive board director, St Pete Pride’s Board of Directors and all the hundred of PRIDE volunteers get a high community foot stomping, “SUPER Kudos.”

    The NEW additions and changes to this years PRIDE event worked out well. First the Saturday afternoon Pre PRIDE Parade Party was contagiously strong and super fun. Entertainment in the fenced in area around Georgie’s Alibi had thousands revving up for the forth coming night parade with high libatious energy.

    The total parade was a gracious change with another PRIDE first

    St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman led the parade, another St. Pete PRIDE first. Also 2 St Petersburg City Council GLBT members were also in the parade. Councilwomen Amy Foster and Darden Rice.  Past St. Pete mayors- Rick Baker & Bill Foster, both refused to be in the very profitable city event in the past 10 years. Last year in 2013, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn walked in the rainy PRIDE parade.

    The 2014 Grand Marshals Jay Aller, Councilwoman Darden Rice and Organization PFLAG directors John & Nancy Desmond started the parade right after the 100’s of Dykes on Bikes.

    A very special guest in the PRIDE parade was Grandma Ruth, 97 years old owner of the Pro Shop in Clearwater. She has been in the past St. Pete Pride parades. There were over 300 parade entries from political candidates, organizations, walking drill teams- STP & ROTC, businesses, bank & life insurance call centers and of course Wells Fargo’s team of horse and stagecoach in this years PRIDE parade.

    The estimated crowd was over 185,00 for the beautiful night parade and the new Sunday PRIDE Vender Show on Central Ave. attracted another 50,000 commented St Pete Pride officials.

     That estimated to an bottom line profit for St Petersburg of $12 – $14 million dollars positive impact dollars for the city from this PRIDE weekend.

    All in all the long Gay PRIDE weekend went without a hitch. Great rain free skies, plenty of cooler night air and a ‘Proudness’  from old to young GLBTA revelers and the many diversities in and around our GLBT community.