PRIDE Cape Coral returns this weekend
A two-day event celebrating inclusion and being one’s true self hits the South Cape this weekend.
PRIDE Cape Coral returns this Saturday and Sunday, where members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies paint the town all colors of the rainbow. The event has a new location along Lafayette Street behind Nice Guys Pizza.
The weekend includes a festival on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., with a parade stepping off at 4 as well as a brunch on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The PRIDE Parade, which remains free and open to the public, will begin along Lafayette Street between Vincennes Street and Cape Coral Street, welcoming residents, and visitors to celebrate together.
“PRIDE Cape Coral is a very important event to our community because it does give people who may not always feel accepted or embraced within the community a day of celebration and can outwardly be who they are and not have to be worried or feel concerned,” said PRIDE Cape Coral Board Member Melissa Moore. “It’s a very safe environment for people to truly be themselves and be around other people that can relate to them.
“And it’s not only for just the LGBTQ+ community per se. This is an event to celebrate love and to be inclusive, and to be accepting of anybody for who they are in general. I think a lot of people by default do associate this with LGBTQ+ community for obvious reasons, but it really is just to celebrate being yourself and authentic.”
Before and after the parade, attendees are invited to enter the festival grounds at 1417 Lafayette Street, where a ticketed festival experience will feature live entertainment, local vendors, food, art, and community organizations. General admission tickets in advance are $10, and will be $15 at the gate. Guests seeking an enhanced experience may purchase the PRIDE Cape Coral VIP + Meet & Greet Experience for $125, which includes reserved seating in a dedicated VIP viewing area, complimentary food, a full open bar served in PRIDE VIP souvenir cups, exclusive entry, air-conditioned restrooms, and meet-and-greet access with entertainers.
Leading up to the parade from noon until 4, there will be “Parade Party” with vendors and food trucks on Lafayette Street outside of the gated festival, giving people the opportunity to celebrate PRIDE at no cost.
Organizers said the move to Lafayette Street allows for improved event flow, expanded programming, and a more structured festival layout designed to better support performers, vendors, sponsors, and attendees.
This year’s festival will be headlined by Crystal Waters, with additional performances by host Axle Andrews, Alyssa Lemay, Daniella Hunter, Daye Nada, Chloe Bone Cicconi, The Sweet Talkers, DJ Mad Mel and Keke Monroe.
Also in attendance and performing will be Miss Pride Cape Coral of 2026, Emma Rose.
“It’s going to be a great time,” Moore said. “First of all, the weather is showing to be beautiful, so we’re very, very excited about that. Also, it’s just continuing to support organizations like this and this community. It’s important that we continue to do it. We don’t let any noise cancel us because, you know, PRIDE is a movement and it’s something that’s not going to go away, and we need the community to come together to continue to support this organization to make sure that we can continue to have this event for years to come. It’s all about supporting the community.”
Moore said inclusion for all is incredibly important in Southwest Florida, and that PRIDE Cape Coral has grown to be an event for the LGBTQ+ community across the region.
“We want to remind people that it’s OK to be who you are,” she said. “And despite the political climate, we still need to continue to move forward with being progressive as a community and be accepting, and I think there’s no reason for people to feel the need to hide. I think that despite the fact that this community may appear to some to be more conservative, I do think it is a progressive community that, you know, still wants to move in a forward direction.”
On Sunday, brunch will be at Cruisers Lounge, with tickets at $45.
“Brunch is going to have most of the queens from the previous day,” Moore said. “It’s very intimate and interactive, and it’s just an experience that kind of raises the bar a little bit.”
To ensure a smooth and welcoming experience, the festival will include standard event screening and professional guest services commonly used at large-scale festivals. These measures are intended to support safety, comfort, and an enjoyable experience for all attendees.
For more information, a full lineup of entertainment, and to purchase general admission or VIP meet-and-greet tickets, as well as brunch tickets, visit pridecapecoral.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at Cruisers Lounge and Nice Guys Pizza.