Gay bar sarasota fl

THANK YOU SPONSORS

Get on the list.

SIGN UP FOR OUR
LGBTQ+ NEWSLETTER

to receive updates on

Big Gay Weekend

& other LGBTQ+ events.

Whether it’s your first time or you’re a returning guest, here’s everything you need to know to have a safe, fun, and respectful experience at Sarasota’s most iconic LGBTQ+ beach event.

🎉 What to Expect

DJ and dancing on the sand
Free Jell-O shots (21+ while supplies last)
New location closer to the John Ringling Blvd parking entrance — easier access, less walking

🎉 What to Bring

Beach towels, chairs, umbrellas, and personal shade
Coolers with water, snacks, and beverages (no glass containers)
Sunscreen, swimsuits, floaties, and pride gear
Trash bags — this is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out event

🎉 Amenities and Facilities

There are no public restrooms, altering facilities, or concessions directly on North Lido Beach
The nearest restrooms and amenities are located at St. Armands Circle, approximately a 10–15 minute walk from the beach

🎉

Harvey Milk Festival Will Host Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Orlando Shooting

If you didn’t know any enhanced, you’d think it was an ordinary Saturday evening at Barrel 87, one of Sarasota’s last remaining gay bars. Outside, a rainbow flag flutters in a post-drizzle breeze. Inside, red and blue LEDs pulse behind lined-up bottles of booze. In the back of the exclude, guys toss darts. Up front, couples grip each other tightly and swing to a playlist that’s no different from that at any other local nightspot—Queen, Nicki Minaj and “Y.M.C.A.,” all pumped so loud that the volume scrambles drink orders, turning a Scotch and fluid into just plain water.

Normal enough. But strike up a conversation, and discuss quickly turns to Saturday night a week ago, June 11, the nighttime Omar Mateen killed 49 patrons and wounded 53 more at Pulse, a gay nightclub just two hours away. It seems everyone here knows someone who was there or knows someone who knows someone who was there. Several also knew Eddie Sotomayor, the year-old Sarasota native and Barrel 87 regular who was killed.

“It’s terrifying to

The Best LGBTQ+ Bars &#; Clubs in Florida

Florida’s LGBTQ+ prevent and club scene lights up the night with enough colors that everyone in the gay community can gleam. Across the articulate, you find a mix of male lover bars and nightclubs that are as different as the towns themselves. From the streets of its bigger cities to the laid-back vibes of its beach towns, there&#;s a spot for every mood.

Come out and into a world where the music never stops, the drinks are always flowing, and the dance floors have you moving to the defeat of the latest heart-pounding jams. Unite us in our tour across the state as we share our picks for the leading LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in Florida.

The Panhandle

You can uncover most, if not all of the LGBTQ+ nightlife in Pensacola on the Florida Panhandle. You don’t want to miss these two.

The Roundup

E Heinberg Street, Pensacola

As its name implies, The Roundup is a country & western-themed bar with a laid-back, chill vibe. Catering to the bear and leather communities, head out back and unwind on the patio, grab a swig at the prevent, shoot some pool, or m

We've put together our detailed travel guide to Sarasota featuring the best male lover bars, events, things to do, gay friendly hotels to stay, and more.

To know Sarasota is to love Sarasota!

This is the home of Siesta Key Rum, the Siesta Key beach, the massive Ringling Circus Museum, and so much more! Sarasota is a destination that most gay travelers to Florida are likely to overlook.

We'll be very honest, before coming to Sarasota we knew very little about it. However, it turned out to be the hidden gem of our trip, a place we would love to come back to. As well as being a cultural hotspot of Florida with so many things to do, Sarasota also has a small fun gay scene worth checking out, with annual events like the “Harvey Milk Festival” and “Sarasota Pride”.