While St. Pete is bursting with color all June long, the weekend of the annual Pride Parade is when it all comes to a head, and one of the city’s most loved entertainment districts is joining the fun. The EDGE District has announced its inaugural Pridetopia after-parade party on Saturday, June 24, bringing a district-wide celebration to the area following downtown’s Pride parade.

As part of the festivities, which begin at 8 pm, EDGE District restaurants, bars and shops will be going all out for Pride with special offers, extended hours, live music, colorful decorations and much more. With 12 eateries, nine bars, five coffee/dessert locations, and a slew of great local shops, the EDGE District is primed for a celebration befitting the occasion.

Several establishments will be staying open beyond normal hours, operating until midnight or later. Enigma has a long list of specials, Intermezzo will be fully adorned, Grassroots Kava is hosting a massive party, and the newly opened Mint House is even holding a block of rooms for Pride-goers at a discounted rate. And those are just a few out of the dozens who will be participating.

Pridetopia is the brainchild of Roger Curlin, Executive Director of the EDGE Business District Association, who has been hosting Pride events for decades. Curlin took the Executive Director position in February, and immediately saw this weekend as an opportunity for the District to get involved in Pride. After all, downtown has the parade, and the Grand Central District has the street festival. The EDGE District, he thought should be involved, as well.

While this inaugural event isn’t an official part of St. Pete Pride (those events are organized and scheduled far in advance), Curlin expects this initial Pridetopia will showcase what The EDGE is all about, and he hopes for the event to become an official St. Pete Pride activity in future years.

“It’s really going to be a unique evening that the Edge District has never done before,” he said. “What’s really great about our pride community in St. Pete is it’s absolutely so diverse. There’s just this great variety of shades of the rainbow. What I know is, The Edge District is that way too. There’s all these different vibes and speeds at the hangout spots.”

“I wanted to bring a unique celebration and something that hasn’t been done before in the Edge District,” he continued. “To me, the word utopia says joy, says community, says togetherness. Those are the types of vibes and feelings that the Edge District has, and I wanted to pair those utopia emotions with Pride for that weekend.”

Curlin said locals and visitors alike are invited to shop and dine throughout The EDGE all weekend long, as many of the shops, bars and restaurants will have special merchandise, food, and drink throughout the entire experience. And in addition to Pride festivities, the Kansas City Royals will also be in town to plays the Tampa Bay Rays, meaning the entire district will be a hub of exuberance and activity all weekend long.

What to read next:

• Pride Month in St. Pete: A complete guide to 30 days of celebrations
• Inside Mint House, an apartment-style hotel now open in the EDGE District
• St. Pete launches “Letters of Love” campaign in honor of Pride Month
• Here’s the rooftop bar, coffee shop, and restaurant coming to EDGE District