We love a great Pride celebration — in fact, any Pride celebration — as much as anyone.
But the first-ever Pride of the Americas festival coming in April 2020 is going to be off the charts by any measure. Instead of involving just one city, it will host people from 35 countries in North and South America. You can think of it as the biggest 2020 party in the Western Hemisphere.
And there couldn’t be a more fitting locale for it than Fort Lauderdale, home to the largest and most diverse LGBTQ+ population in Florida.
In fact, Broward County, which encompasses the Greater Fort Lauderdale metro area, is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in America, with residents from all over Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean. (It’s also got more same-sex family households than anywhere else in Florida.)
Among locals who hail from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Haiti, be prepared to hear a variety of languages — Portuguese, Spanish, Creole — alongside the French spoken by many visitors from Quebec, and maybe even a sprinkling of Dutch from South American countries like Suriname.
The Pride of the Americas events schedule reflects this mixing of cultures and identities. There’s an art festival, fashion shows featuring designers from Project Runway, the first-ever Business of the Americas Conference and job fair, a transgender summit, and a health and wellness conference.
And of course, there will be parties. And more parties. The Pride of the Americas Beach Party & Parade, which takes place Saturday, April 25, will lead into a long night of events in Greater Fort Lauderdale’s popular bars and clubs – many of them located in the gayborhood of Wilton Manors.
In between festival events, you can explore all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer. See and be seen famous brunch spot Rosie’s, have a romantic date at the cozy wine bar Naked Grape, and dance all night at The Manor.
Then a break from the festivities along miles of white sand beaches. At night (or in the wee hours, if you prefer), rest your head at some of the state’s best hotels, from the four-star Ritz-Carlton to the many guesthouses catering to the LGBTQ+ crowd.
But don’t stay in your hotel too long: Friends from all over the world are waiting right outside your door.
The first ever Pride of the Americas takes place in Greater Fort Lauderdale April 21-26, 2020. Make sure to book travel now to this epic six-day festival of love, diversity. and inclusion. Because you are worth celebrating.
