Fort Myers celebrated its 10th SWFL Pride event in 2018 as other communities are just getting started.
Pride-SWFL will takes place in October each year at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. Cape Coral will celebrate its first Pride in April and Naples will celebrate its third Pride in June.
“In the past few years there has been a huge momentum that has not only helped us grow but the area around us, as there will now be four annual Pride events within a 50 miles radius of SWFL,” said Mel Crawford, Pride-SWFL President.
“I can’t believe this October 5th will be SWFL’s 11th annual SWFL Pride,” she said. “It has truly been an honor to watch SWFL Pride and our community grow. What started out almost hidden in the back of a church parking lot with about 10 community organizations and maybe a hundred people has turned into an event that is in the heart of Fort Myers along the beautiful and historical McGregor Boulevard.”
Created in August of 2009, Pride-SWFL was a grass roots effort to put on a community festival to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City.
Crawford said the 10th annual pride last year exceeded 110 booths in the Vendor Market and more than 5,000 thousand people.
Pride-SWFL remains an all-volunteer organization planning the annual pride celebration in Fort Myers. It is dedicated to education, commemoration of LGBTQA heritage and celebration of LGBTQA culture and liberation.
SWFL Pride will include plenty of on-site and nearby free parking. SWFL Pride is a family friendly event, the vendor market will include service organizations, local and national community organizations, social organizations, area non-profits, supportive religious organizations, games & activities, shopping plus plenty of food and drinks.
“SWFL Pride thanks everyone for their help along the journey and we look forward to your continued support,” Crawford said.