Your insider guide to the events and festivities of the annual Come Out With Pride Festival.
Updated Oct. 2, 2025
Orlando is for everyone. That’s why we’ve earned the highest possible score 10 years in a row from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, which measures the LGBTQ+ inclusiveness of cities’ laws, policies and services. We’ve also been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ tourism since 1991, starting with the original GayDayS® and expanding to other high-profile events.
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One of our most beloved annual celebrations is Orlando’s Come Out With Pride Festival, hosted at Lake Eola Park on October 18, 2025. It’s organized by Come Out With Pride, a volunteer-led non-profit that provides LGBTQ+ events and support all year long. We spoke with Executive Director Tatiana Quiroga about the upcoming festivities — and why you won’t want to miss a moment of this unforgettable celebration of community, love and the freedom to just be yourself.
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Every fall, Orlando stands with its LGBTQ+ community during the Come Out With Pride Festival. This year’s celebration promises to be better than ever, with a dazzling parade, special events, electrifying musical acts and more colorful fun for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
“One of the main goals of the organization is to create experiences that are open, accepting and welcoming to all members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” says Quiroga. “Last year we had over 230,000 people join us. To me those numbers are a reflection of our community. We know that’s inclusive of our allies, our families and our friends. It’s a celebration that’s open for everyone to come and participate.”
Enjoy official Come Out With Pride events in the week leading up to the big day, then head to Lake Eola Park from 12 – 10 p.m for pride rallies, fireworks, live entertainment and more. Get a sneak peek of the fun in store here, then stay tuned for additional 2025 events and details as they are announced.
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The Most Colorful Parade
The centerpiece of Come Out With Pride is The Most Colorful Parade, a vibrant celebration featuring parades, performers and more colorful fun. This year’s parade will kick off at 4 p.m. at Washington Street and Orange Avenue, travel through downtown Orlando, and end at Lake Eola Park in Thornton Park.
Discover: Things to Do in Thornton Park
“One of the things we love about Orlando is that our folks are very loyal,” says Quiroga, pointing out that many repeat visitors have favorite spots along the parade route. Join them in making this year’s celebration bigger than ever, and don’t miss full-day festivities at Lake Eola Park before and after the main event.
Live Entertainment
Get ready to make some noise with live entertainment across two stages. Catch local talent and national headliners at the Divas Stage (Walt Disney Amphitheater) as well as the Club Pride stage across the lake. Jorgeous (of RuPaul's Drag Race fame) will strut her stuff alongside divas and drag queens on the main stage. And DJ Tracy will headline the new Sonic Bloom Field, an all-day dance and music experience. You can even score a meet and greet with a headliners with the purchase of a Platinum VIP ticket (separate reservation required).
Come Out With Pride Orlando
Pride Rallies
Pride is a celebration, but it’s also a rallying cry and a reminder of all the progress that’s been made for LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms. “We don’t ever want to get too far from our roots to realize and recognize that Pride started as a protest over 50 years ago,” says Quiroga.
Musing on Come Out With Pride’s 20+ years in Orlando, she adds: “It’s nice to see why it started and now 20 years later, the progress that we’ve had and the resiliency and the energy to keep going. We’ve been fighting this good fight for 20 years and we definitely made some progress, but obviously the battle is still there.”
Pride Rally: Hear from elected officials and more allied local voices during the Pride Rally.
Trans Rally: Members of the trans and non-binary community are also welcome to be themselves with a dedicated Trans Pride area, celebratory activities and more ways to lift your voice. “We do a trans march and rally,” says Quiroga. “It’s an opportunity to highlight current leaders, talk about issues that are coming up, and do a call to action.” Members of the trans and non-binary community are also welcome to march as part of the larger parade. This year's trans march and rally kicks off at 1 p.m.
Rainbow Ranch
“One of the things we’re most proud of is our Rainbow Ranch,” says Quiroga, who’s taken her own children to celebrate Pride since her firstborn was just two weeks old. The kid-friendly zone offers a variety of activities that families can enjoy together throughout the afternoon.
“It’s not only a fun time,” adds Quiroga. Regardless of how parents or their children identify, the family aspects of Pride represent “something that kids can see as an example of what it looks like when people are just simply themselves and have the freedom to do so.”
Youth Pride Zone
Another key component of this philosophy is the Youth Pride Zone. Per Quiroga, “We definitely wanted our youth in the community to feel like they were very intentionally included in Pride.” Kids and teens can find their place within the community and engage through age-appropriate activities.
Pride Marketplace
Explore Florida’s mouthwatering culinary scene and collaborative community spirit at the Pride Marketplace, which will feature hundreds of vendors and festival flavors for every palate. Visit Orlando will be there as well, so come say hello as we celebrate Pride with you!
Sober Space
The Sober Space presented by Pineapple Health will feature mocktails and more fun surprises welcoming to those living in sobriety. “We wanted to make sure that we’re creating those accepting and inclusive spaces for all members of LGBTQIA+ community,” says Quiroga, pointing out that there are higher levels of addictions within this community.
Optional VIP Experience
Go all out this year with the official Pride VIP experience. “This is an opportunity for folks to elevate their Pride experience,” explains Quiroga. Enjoy exclusive access to a VIP area near the stage where you’ll enjoy catered food, air conditioning, private bathrooms, drink tickets and other goodies. “We’ll also be including a meet and greet with headliner entertainment,” says Quiroga, so don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate with the stars.
Fireworks
End the night on a high note with celebratory fireworks over Lake Eola. It’s an unforgettable finale, but the party continues long after Come Out With Pride at ends.
Official 2025 Come Out With Pride Festival Events
Keep the magic going with official pre- and post-festival events. Past years have included drag performances, concerts, parades and afterparties galore. Stay tuned as additional events are added in the leadup to Come Out With Pride Orlando 2025.
Discover: Gay Nightlife & Dining
The Official Come Out With Pride Kickoff Party (Oct. 17, 2025)
Whether you’re local or visiting, Anthem Orlando will help you settle into the weekend with the Official Come Out With Pride Kickoff Party. The brand-new gay bar in downtown Orlando will host an unforgettable celebration complete with rainbow lighting, state-of-the-art sound and high-energy tunes from DJ Scott Robert. Best of all, it’s free!
The Official Come Out With Pride Block Party (Oct. 18, 2025)
Take the afterparty to the streets during the official Come Out With Pride Block Party, hosted in partnership with One Magical Weekend, Anthem Orlando, Elixir, Yaz and Bear Jamboree. Thornton Park will come alive with multiple DJs, drag performers, outdoor bars and food trucks, plus more fun inside participating bars.
Official Come Out With Pride Orlando Drag Brunch Hosted by Darcel Stevens (Oct. 19, 2025)
Rise and shine for a fierce Come Out With Pride Drag Brunch featuring the legendary Darcel Stevens. The lively celebration will feature nonstop fashion, wit and fun paired with mouthwatering bites at Anthem Orlando.
The Official Come Out With Pride Closing Party (Oct. 19, 2025)
Finally, Anthem Orlando will wrap up the weekend with the Official Come Out With Pride Closing Party. The festivities begin at 2 p.m. and continue all night with multiple DJs, pulse-pounding beats and an electrifying energy you’ll only find in Orlando.
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