Come Out With Pride Orlando 2026 runs Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18, with the parade and main festival day landing Saturday, October 17 at Lake Eola Park. Over 235,000 people attended in 2025, and this year is on track to be bigger. This guide walks you through the full weekend — the parade, the festival, the official parties, the unofficial parties, and where Anthem Orlando (a five-minute walk from Lake Eola) is programming across all four nights.
Come Out With Pride 2026 at a glance
- Dates: Thursday, October 15 – Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Main festival day: Saturday, October 17 at Lake Eola Park, 12 PM – 10 PM
- Parade: Saturday 4 PM, stepping off at Washington St + Orange Ave, ending at Lake Eola
- Fireworks: Saturday evening over Lake Eola
- Admission to the festival: Free
- Official info: comeoutwithpride.org
Thursday, October 15 — Opening Night
Pride weekend starts soft on Thursday with local kickoff events across downtown. Anthem opens the weekend with our Pride Weekend Kickoff — extended programming that eases into the four-day marathon. Doors 9 PM. Special-guest DJ + drag showcase featuring the Anthem regular cast plus a rotating national guest queen.
Friday, October 16 — Trans Rally + Pride Awards
Friday programs include the official Come Out With Pride Trans Rally and Pride Awards presentation — check comeoutwithpride.org for exact times and locations. Anthem programs an evening event that folds into a proper Friday circuit night — full production, extended hours, and a room built for the crowds arriving from out of town.
Saturday, October 17 — Main Festival + Parade + Afterparty
Festival at Lake Eola
Lake Eola opens for the main festival at noon. Hundreds of vendors, food trucks, community organizations, entertainment stages, and the Pride Marketplace fill the park perimeter. Bring water, wear sunscreen, plan for October Florida heat — mid-80s and sun exposure through mid-afternoon.
Parade route
The parade traditionally kicks off at 4 PM at Washington Street and Orange Avenue — that’s a two-minute walk from Anthem’s front door. It travels through downtown and ends at Lake Eola. Best viewing spots are along Orange Ave and along the Rosalind Ave stretch. Anthem’s rooftop and adjacent sidewalk are prime viewing territory — arrive around 3:30 PM to claim a spot.
Afterparty at Anthem
Our Pride Parade Afterparty starts when the parade ends and runs until 2:30 AM. Five-minute walk from the parade endpoint at Lake Eola to our door. Circuit DJ, extended production, drag headliners, and the biggest crowd of our year. Tickets go on sale in early September — sign up for our newsletter for early access.
Fireworks
Fireworks over Lake Eola typically land around 8:30–9 PM Saturday. Best viewed from the Lake Eola amphitheater or the west-side park path. From Anthem’s rooftop deck you can catch the top half of the show.
Sunday, October 18 — Pride Recovery + T-Dance
Sunday closes the weekend with an unofficial T-Dance vibe across downtown. Anthem runs our Pride Recovery Sunday — extended ABS drag brunch service (see the ABS page) followed by afternoon-into-evening lounge programming with a chill-forward playlist. The room stays open later than a normal Sunday to give people who traveled in a proper send-off.
The five-minute walk from Lake Eola to Anthem’s front door is the shortest afterparty commute of anywhere on the route. If you’re planning your Pride Saturday around the parade, use us as your landing pad.
Practical planning
- Where to stay: Downtown hotels sell out early for Pride weekend. AC Hotel Orlando Downtown, Aloft Orlando Downtown, and the Grand Bohemian are all within a 10-minute walk of Anthem and Lake Eola.
- Parking: Downtown garages fill Saturday afternoon. Rideshare from any peripheral neighborhood is your friend after 2 PM.
- Weather: Mid-October in Orlando runs 75–85°F, high humidity, occasional rain. Bring water, sunscreen, and a light rain layer.
- Accessibility: Come Out With Pride festival includes accessible seating and mobility access along the parade route — check comeoutwithpride.org for details.
Anthem’s full Pride weekend calendar
- Thu Oct 15: Pride Weekend Kickoff — doors 9 PM
- Fri Oct 16: Pride Friday Circuit Night — doors 9 PM
- Sat Oct 17: Pride Parade Afterparty — doors post-parade, till 2:30 AM
- Sun Oct 18: Pride Recovery Sunday — ABS brunch 11:30 AM, lounge programming through evening
Individual event tickets and the four-night bundle drop early September on our events calendar. See you downtown.
