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St. Pete Pride fest is doing itself proud

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published June 22, 2006

[Times photos (2005): Lara Cerri]

Thousands sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the 2005 St. Pete Pride festival, among them, front, left to right, Debbie Richard of Sarasota, Dean McCallum of Tampa and Karen Warts of North Port.

	The street festival that follows Saturday’s St. Pete Pride parade offers entertainment, browsing and shopping from 200 vendors.

St. Pete Pride, which drew about 35,000 last year for the parade and street festival, is billed as the largest pride celebration in Florida.

Saturday is the finale of this year's celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their families and friends.

Here are the highlights. For more information, call (727) 214-4102 or see www.stpetepride.com.

TODAY

* Family Values Portrait Project, reception and photo exhibit, 6-9 p.m., the Arts Center, 719 Central Ave. $35.

FRIDAY

* Fundraiser showing of Meet Me in St. Louis, with Margaret O'Brien, who played Tootie in the film and won a special Academy Award for outstanding child actress of 1944, 7 p.m., Hospice Of Pinellas, 3050 First Ave. S. $35.

* Pride Night at the Trop, Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:15 p.m., Tropicana Field. Tickets start at $10.

SATURDAY

* Promenade, begins 10 a.m. at the Metro Center, 3170 Third Ave. N, then east to 30th Street, south to Central Avenue and east to 22nd Street.

* Street Festival, follows parade, with emcees Erica Andrews and Maya Douglas and 200 vendors, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grand Central Business District, Central Avenue between 22nd and 28th streets. Free.

Entertainment schedule:

11:30 a.m.: No More Silence

11:50 a.m.: Crescendo

12:10 p.m.: Maya & Erica

12:30 p.m.: Una Voce

12:50 p.m.: Troy Palantonio

1:05 p.m.: Ricki Wilcox

1:30 p.m.: Ricc Rollins (speaker)

1:40 p.m.: Proclamation Reading

1:50 p.m.: Kelly Neff

2:15 p.m.: Suncoast Squares

2:40 p.m.: Phil Garris

3:06 p.m.: Billie & Patti

3:30 p.m.: The Troupe Amani

3:55 p.m.: Drag Kings

[Last modified June 21, 2006, 10:00:15]