NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Pasco Pride held its annual festival this weekend in downtown New Port Richey, marking a strong show of community resilience.

Instead of the usual park setting, organizers worked with local businesses and volunteers to host events across multiple venues, from drag shows at the historic Richey Suncoast Theatre to live music at downtown hotspots.

The backstory:

The nonprofit was forced to cancel its 2023 event after Hurricane Helene swept through the region just days before it was scheduled. This year, with fewer paid sponsors than ever before, leaders leaned heavily on grassroots efforts.

"We actually, for the first time ever, had to close the volunteer form early because we had so many sign ups," said Executive Director Diana Shanks.

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