Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest held at Selby Five Points Park

By Ian Swaby
| 4:25 p.m. May 10, 2026

William Gensmer and Zaeta, of The Tilt, perform on stage.

Sarasota
Neighbors

After a return to Selby Five Points Park last year, the Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest was back for more.

Shannon Fortner, founder and executive director of the Fabulous Arts Foundation, said at the current time, it was "super powerful" to focus less on the bigger picture and instead, on people reconnecting in smaller communities.

"We love being in the heart of downtown," Fortner said. "We hope that it's a little bit more accessible, and just hopefully, it gets more folks out from downtown."

It was the 16th year of the event, with this year's featured LGBTQ+ artists including bands such as The Tilt and Sorry Barb, as well as headliner DJ Daliganga and performances by the Azara Ballet.

Started in 2010 as the Harvey Milk Festival, the event has now become a three-day celebration.

This year, the festival included the art exhibition "Still We Rise: Queer and Trans Defiance" on May 7 and the Tea4T Drag Open Stage on May 8, both held at the Fab LGBTQ+ Center recently opened at 925 N. Lime Ave., after a change of the organization's location.

Fortner said that night's event was specifically focused on joy, and said early on, people were invited on stage to answer the question "what brings you joy," with 10 to 12 individuals stepping up to share their thoughts.

They said the festival was "just trying to remind people that our community is really strong, as long as we stand together, and use our voices, and just trying to inspire folks, to remind them that our voice matters," Fortner said. "We're stronger together, and we're always going to be here."

Dani Henkel of Willow & Hitch talks with Fabulous Arts Foundation board member Andrew Ensign.

Sawyer Dobbs of The Tilt lets the guitar sound travel.

Jory Courtier and his friend Brad Blethen browse the vendor market.

Nora Jane Long works on some "poems on the spot."

Alexandra Urdaneta plays a guessing game.

Alex Oppy and Jacob Steele of Sorry Barb perform on stage.

Former college roommates Richa Uprety and Brinda Prothia try on jewelry at the Bead Mama booth.

Jamie Saunders and friend Liz Bates enjoy the park green.

Maya Hunter-Ceruti, 5, visits the kids makers' table which is being staffed by Max Silvious, 13, his mother Heather Silvious and sister Tulip Silvious, 11.

Lesa Silvermore of Lesa Silvermore Band performs on stage.

Emily Olsen brings some superhero style, standing alongside Percy Ray Ballard.

Amanda Dilliland and her daughter Yari Dilliland, 7, wave some ribbons on the park green.

David Curran of MeteorEYES performs on stage.

Joan Faucher, Richard Dilts, Valerie Fields and Sandi Armstrong of First Congregational United Church of Christ staff an event table.

Event emcee Travis Ray embraces the energy of the music.

Friends Penny Leary, Luke Right and Carlos Valdez sit with Leary's dog Daisy in the park.

Shannon Fortner, founder and executive director of Fabulous Arts Foundation, and a band member of MeteorEYES, performs on stage.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.