Another first for Eustis and for Lake County Pride: the organization’s first-ever public Pride Fest will take place from noon to 8 p.m. April 26 at Ferran Park in downtown Eustis.
Billed as a free, family-friendly event, Lake County Pride Fest will feature live music, a local artisan market, food trucks, community resource booths and activities for all ages.
Performances at 2 and 5 p.m. will bring a lineup of entertainers to the bandshell stage, including Crystal Vahzz, Billy Mick, the Orlando Gay Chorus, Tight Strings Bated Breath, Karl Withakay, Twisted T, Nova Celeste, Russell Infiniti, Kelly Jarrard and others.
Kirk T. Da’Vinci will serve as MC, with Miss Florida Rabiosa Santlorans and DJ Johnty also scheduled to make appearances.
“Our goal is to celebrate, honor, and support the LGBTQIA+ community here in Lake County, Florida, especially during this challenging time in our country’s history, and to support and stand beside all marginalized and underrepresented groups,” Lake County Pride President Danielle Olivani told the Daily Commercial.
Olivani said the organization chose Ferran Park because it is centrally located, accessible to people with disabilities and provides a beautiful place for the community to gather.
The independent publication Orlando Shine announced the event on Nextdoor, drawing mixed reactions. One commenter recommended that Eustis “shut it down” and complained that the event singled out the LGBTQIA community and discriminated against others.
One response to that comment read: “‘Shut it down?’ For what — people gathering peacefully in a public park? That’s not a moral stance; that’s just intolerance with a louder voice.”
Olivani emphasized the positive, celebratory nature of Pride Fest and its intention to bring the broader community together.
“Our slogan is WE CHOOSE JOY,” Olivani emphasized in all-caps.
“It’s one way we show resistance and a way for Lake County Pride to give back. Everyone needs to feel the love, joy, collaboration, and acceptance we cultivate in our community. None of what we have accomplished thus far would be possible without the grassroots support we have received, and we want to show our appreciation.”
Conservative leadership across the U.S., particularly in Florida, has denounced public displays of “Pride.”
In 2025, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration called for the removal of Pride-themed murals and rainbow-painted crosswalks across the state.
The Daily Commercial contacted Eustis government officials for comment, but none responded. Olivani said she was not concerned by the silence and attributed the lack of a statement or endorsement to broader state-level legislative pressure, specifically Florida HB 1001/SB 1134, which prohibits local governments from “promoting or adopting” programs that reference gender identity or sexual orientation.
Unlike Eustis, neighboring Leesburg did sign a Pride proclamation in June 2025 for the third consecutive year. Olivani said the group chose to hold the event in Eustis because the application there was the most comprehensive and easiest to complete within the short time frame provided. She also praised Ferran Park’s scenic beauty and bandshell, adding that Lake County Pride remains thankful for and appreciative of the city of Leesburg’s support of the LGBTQIA+ community and its Pride proclamations.
If funding can be raised and the event goes well, Olivani said the organization is considering Leesburg for next year’s Pride Fest, citing its “lovely” parks, such as Venetian Gardens.
“With funding cuts or eliminations affecting organizations like ours, the flagrant attacks on the Trans community —particularly youth, women of color, who face extreme transphobia, hate, bias, and violence — require advocacy now more than ever. It’s important to stand up and speak out against this bigotry, especially for those who are too afraid or unable to do so themselves,” Olivani insisted.
“We want to change the narrative about the LGBTQIA+ community; no more debating our existence,” added Olivani. “We hope that young, old, and everyone in between is inspired, in a small way, to live out loud and proudly, knowing they have a real community and solid support system in Lake County Pride!”
Vendors and sponsors interested in participating can email danielle.olivani@gmail.com or tricia.lcpfl@gmail.com, or call 352-360-5835. Volunteers can sign up at volunteersignup.org/XF83P.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Lake County Pride Fest coming to Eustis. Here are all the details.
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
