PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — For the first time, Pasco County held a pride festival. Hundreds came out to the inaugural event in downtown New Port Richey.
- Pasco County's first pride fest was held on Saturday
- Organizers say there was a huge turnout
- Group looking to make this an annual event
The scene there felt similar to pride events in Tampa and St Petersburg.
That's exactly what Pasco Pride founder and president Denise Johnson was trying to accomplish.
“Why did we not have this before? That was my mission. I saw these things happening south of us and was like why is nothing going on here?” Johnson said.
Hundreds came out to Sims Park for the inaugural Pasco Pride Festival. The location gave many their first chance to attend a pride festival.
“Very first pride event. It’s local. This is our hometown,” one attendee said.
Like other pride festivals in the Bay Area, it had its share of protesters and police on hand keeping watch. But organizers say the huge turnout is the real story.
“I think things have changed. I think Pasco County is becoming much more accepting of diversity,” Johnson said.
Organizers hope that Pasco Pride can be an annual event and destination like similar events in Tampa and St. Petersburg.