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There are events planned this weekend for Pride on the Drive -- but does the festival still exist?

- Christiana Lilly, Editor

Feature

Pride on the Drive Takes Place This Weekend, But Does the Event Exist?

By John Hayden

When Thunderpuss takes the stage at Hunters Nightclub Feb. 9, the thousands of people packing the parking lot will assume they’re at a Pride On the Drive event.

They will be wrong. 

That’s because even though Pride on the Drive is this weekend, it also doesn’t exist. That show, plus Kristine W on Saturday, are Hunters events, and Pride Fort Lauderdale advertises a VIP area. But like so many things connected to Pride Fort Lauderdale, details are sketchy, fuzzy, and often feature incomprehensible, circular reasoning. 

Pride on the Drive came into the public consciousness a year ago, when Pride Fort Lauderdale failed to produce any Pride events on Friday night plans down by the beach. The idea became a collective rescue to help Pride Fort Lauderdale save face and give people a fun night. 

Wilton Manors Business Association and Hunters booked in DJ legend Thunderpuss, reuniting for the first time in nearly 20 years. Originally scheduled for Thursday of Pride 2023, it moved to Friday when Pride Fort Lauderdale bailed on the beach. Pride Fort Lauderdale was allowed to slap their logo on promotional materials, but sources close to the 2023 event tell OutSFL that Pride’s financial contribution, if any, was minimal. 

In 2024, Pride Fort Lauderdale canceled its signature events (which were set for this weekend), the parade and Pride party near Fort Lauderdale Beach. Pride on the Drive expanded to two nights to help businesses which count on the big weekend for sales. Hunters’ and Alibi’s parking lots will be the center of attention. 

But the events are, technically, just parking lot parties.

News

‘Schartt$ Creek’: No Honeymoon in Wilton Manors

"It runs 75 minutes without intermission, but it feels like two hours. If only the script was as witty as his titles. But there is barely a laugh in this tedious slog-fest." 

OutSFL's Most Eligible LGBTQ Singles of 2024

South Florida is home LGBTQ folks looking for love – sometimes in all the wrong places. We decided for this Valentine’s Day to let our readers nominate themselves, or others, so we could choose and highlight a few.

ICYMI

Ceremony Welcomes 'Thunderbunny' to The Drive

He’s big, blue, and the perfect symbol of Wilton Manors’ commitment to public art. "Thunderbunny," the art installation in Justin Flippen Park, is here to stay. On Jan. 25, the city officially held a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome "Thunderbunny" to Wilton Drive.

Weekly Events

TODAY: Soul Fest

Oakland Park celebrates Black History Month with the family-friendly Soul Fest with live music, food trucks, and a children's activity area.


SAT: Community Sing-Along

The sing-along was so popular the first time, the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida and the Bears of South Florida is bringing it back to Hunters Nightclub.


SUN: "Which Way to the Stage"

It's closing night for this play at Island City Stage, where two Broadway-obsessed friends' relationship is at odds when a sex stranger enters the scene.

Job Opportunities

Customer Service Representative -- Wilton Manors

U-Haul is in search of friendly, motivated people for the position of customer service representative to be the face of the company's exceptional service and ensuring that customers get all the help they need on their journeys by inspecting and maintaining equipment as well as assisting customers, using up-to-date technology to dispatch and return equipment. 


Assistant Manager/Co-Manager -- Wilton Manors

Apparel brand Rainbow is hiring an assistant manager who will be responsible to understand all aspects of store operations, including visual merchandising, asset protection, and expense control, as well as ensuring everything is done with client top of mind. Two years previous management experience in a women's apparel specialty store is required.

Friday's Furry Friend

Super friendly Larry wants to go home with you. This guy has gorgeous gray and black striped markings, but it's his personality that sets him apart. Larry loves to be held and purrs the whole time. He is outgoing and fearless and curious about the world around him. Larry is very active and loves to play, and especially enjoys chasing feathers on a wand with you.

     

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