Styx Drummer and Co-Founder Chuck Panozzo to Serve as Grand Marshal for the 19th Annual Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade & Festival

WILTON MANORS, Fla., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of pride and inclusion, more than 35,000 individuals from all across the state, country and globe, will come together in Wilton Manors for the 19th Annual Stonewall Pride Parade & Festival, and Chuck Panozzo will lead the festivities. The event will take place on Saturday, June 16, 2018 on Wilton Drive with the parade beginning at 5 p.m. With numerous opportunities for individuals, businesses, nonprofits and elected officials to participate in the celebration, this year's Festival promises to be the best one yet!

"We are thrilled to have Chuck Panozzo, a Wilton Manors resident and activist for AIDS awareness, serve as this year's grand marshal," said Mayor Resnick. "Over the years this festival has grown into a destination event that brings people from all different places and backgrounds together to celebrate the milestone achievements of the LGBT community."

This year's Grand Marshal, Chuck Panozzo, is the drummer and cofounder of rock band Styx. Panozzo is an activist for AIDS awareness and gay rights and has lived in Wilton Manors for 10 years. He came out and announced he was living with HIV in 2001.

To complement the 19^th Annual Stonewall Pride Parade & Festival, Our Night OUT will be held on Friday, June 15, 2018 at The Manor Complex (2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305). This event will pay tribute LGBTQ arts and culture through unexpected visual arts, music and theatrical performances. The evening will be capped off by an incredible performance reminiscent of a Cirque du Soleil-style show that includes all of the organizations headlined by a special guest star and produced by world renowned director Jonathan Hawkins. All proceeds will benefit the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida, Stonewall Museum & Archives, and Island City Stage. This event sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Community Foundation of Broward. VIP tickets are $50 include 7 p.m. event entry, complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. General admission tickets are $10 with event entry at 8 p.m.

The 2018 Wilton Manors Stonewall Festival will kick off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 16 when the marketplace opens featuring various vendors and exhibitors. Then at 5 p.m. the much-anticipated Stonewall Pride Parade will travel down the north side of Wilton Drive. Following the parade there will be a host of live performances until 11 p.m.

Groups or individuals can register as vendors for the street festival or sign up to participate in the parade. Spaces are limited and based on availability, so early registration is encouraged. Early bird pricing is available through May 31, 2018. Registration is now open and can be completed at http://bit.ly/stonewall2018 or by calling (754) 257-2989.

Sponsorships to support the event are also available and start at $1,000 for the Diamond Partnership Package. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to sign up as a sponsor, contact the VP for Development, WMEG at [email protected] or (754) 200-2979 ext. 603.

The Wilton Manors Entertainment Group, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partnership between the City of Wilton Manors and the Wilton Manors Development Alliance, Inc., to provide resources, guidance, and continuity for city-sponsored cultural, social, and educational events, with all funds dedicated to its mission; to benefit the community of Wilton Manors.

The festival is held in honor of the Stonewall Riots, a series of violent demonstrations staged by New York City's gay community on June 27, 1969, after they had grown tired of harassment from the New York Police Department. Each year, the City of Wilton Manors joins communities across the country to hold events that commemorate these riots.

ABOUT THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS
Wilton Manors was laid out in 1925 by Edward John "Ned" Willingham, a land developer from Georgia, as an upscale residential community. It was recognized as a Village in 1947 and incorporated as a City in 1953. Today, the City of Wilton Manors offers all the benefits of a big city from shopping, to hip restaurants and bars, a burgeoning arts community and tons of community events, yet still maintains a cozy, community-feeling offering miles of natural waterways perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding and other outdoor activities. Recently named the "Second Gayest City" in the United States, the City of Wilton Manors celebrates a diverse population of approximately 12,000 residents. To learn more about the live, work and play opportunities in Wilton Manors call (954) 390-2100 or visit www.wiltonmanors.com.

CONTACT: Laurie Menekou, (954) 732-0754 (or) [email protected]

SOURCE Wilton Manors

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