Pride Festival moves to Downtown Fort Myers, energizes attendees

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—The Southwest Florida Pride Festival returns with a new location after being canceled in 2025. 

The festival moved from the Alliance for the Arts off McGregor to the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers. 

Organizers set up tents and banners for the event, which starts at 2 p.m. Saturday. 

"We just wanted to bring new energy to it," said Alex Cahill, an organizer with Visuality. 

Cahill said the move puts the festival in the center of the city's entertainment district. Safety is a priority for this year's event. 

"We have barricades at every street entrance. There will be police cars parked there, so no cars will be able to drive in. We will have a buffer zone behind all of those in case something does happen," Cahill said.

The City of Fort Myers says it will close down parts of Lee and First streets from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. 

The Fort Myers Police Department tells WINK News there will be an increased police presence during the event. 

"Hopefully everyone just wants to come and have a good time and doesn't want to come and create chaos," said Taylor Gorry, who lives in downtown Fort Myers. 

While some people who didn't want to go on camera said they don't support the festival, others welcomed the move to downtown. 

Bruce Parker, who lives in Fort Myers part-time, said the location offers convenience and accessibility. "It's a very convenient location. It's easy to get around, plenty of shops and stores, and it offers a lot of welcoming activities," Parker said. 

Gorry said the downtown location makes sense for the festival. "They have the art and the music walk, so why not bring Pride down here?" Gorry said. 

Cahill said organizers are excited to celebrate with a new look as they prepare performances and decorations. 

"Just come down, it's going to be a great celebration of love and joy and just acceptance," Cahill said.

For more information on the event, click here.