Space Coast Pride festival, parade happening this weekend. Here are the details

• Space Coast Pride Fest will take place this weekend in downtown Melbourne.
• The event begins with a parade at 11 a.m., followed by a festival from noon to 6 p.m.
• Last year's festival drew an estimated crowd of more than 25,000 people.

Space Coast Pride Fest, an LGBTQ+ focused event, will be held this weekend in Melbourne.

The free festivities will kickoff with a parade through downtown Melbourne beginning at 11 a.m. It will start at Strawbridge Ave. and head east on E. New Haven Ave.

Following the parade will be the festival, which is expected to run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will take place on E. New Haven Ave. between Livingston St. and Depot Drive.

This is the fourth year the event will be held in downtown Melbourne. Organizers estimated last year’s festival was attended by more than 25,000 people.

Where to park for Space Coast Pride Fest

Here are free parking options.

• Parking garage and parking lot next to City Hall.
• Parking lot on Strawbridge Avenue east of City Hall abutting the railroad tracks.
• Parking lot on Vernon Place, south of New Haven Avenue.
• Parking lot in front of the Henegar Center across the street from the Post Office on New Haven Avenue east of McQuaid Street and west of Livingston Street.
• Parking lot behind (south) of the Henegar Center. 

Controversy surrounding Space Coast Pride

At the Melbourne City Council meeting Sept. 25 several residents spoke during public comment to express their disappointment in city officials allowing this weekend’s Space Coast Pride events to take place.

One speaker stated Space Coast Pride “centers on sexual expression” and questioned why the city was promoting it as a “family event.”

“On the surface it appears similar to a walk for cause, however, what is not shown is the actual activities that take place at this event,” she said. “Videos on social media present a different story. Drag queen performances with extremely provocative dancing and revealing outfits take place just feet away from children… Their minds are still developing and this innocence should be protected."

In previous years, the Space Coast Pride Fest faced some backlash from politicians and suffered sponsorship and funding loses.

In 2023 State Rep. Randy Fine pressured the Brevard County government not to fund a grant for Space Coast Pride Fest. County commissioners took a vote to undo all cultural grant funding for all events, including the LGBTQ parade and festival.

Fine also made comments decrying L3Harris for sponsoring the event in the past. L3Harris pulled its sponsorship of the event in 2023.  

Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].