25 Floats Already Confirmed for Vallarta Pride 2013: Homage to Frida Kahlo Daniel Gomez - Mijo!Brands
April 19, 2013

The Vallarta Pride organizing committee headed up by Bill Hevener, Daniel Gomez and Armando Sanchez is pleased to announce the successful launch of the inaugural fundraising and float sponsorship effort.

The "Vallarta Pride 2013: Homage to Frida Kahlo" celebration to be held during the May 24 - 26 Weekend coincides with the gastronomic extravaganza Restaurant Week, the city's anniversary Parties Fiestas De Mayo and catches the tail end of the Bougainvillea Festival.
 
The committee confirms the participation and sponsorship of more than 20 floats and sponsors 3 days into the awareness raising and sponsorship drive, while organizers confirm they are aiming for a minimum of 75 floats to equal the participation at Mardi Gras 2012.
 
Armando Sanchez is confident the event will generate participation of over 50 floats while he confirmed that the organizing committee welcomed an estimated 45 local business and community leaders at its informational night at SETAC this past Wednesday.

"The community came out in force," he confirmed with a wry smile. "We got a lot of feedback from the local community, mostly positive but we encouraged to continue to make the event completely inclusive, which has been one of the principal aims of the committee since the beginning."

To that note, organizers are planning several cultural events for those not interested in the nightly event being planned during the 3-day cultural celebration. "We are close to confirming an art exhibition and film festival as well as a beach volley ball competition," explained Sanchez. "One organizer is also trying to create a 5 & 10 K AIDS Walk and run during the festival to raise funds for local children born with the virus."

Organizers are in talks with the Botanical Gardens to create an event to promote Vallarta's flora and fauna diversity.
 
Corporate Floats are being charged a nominal fee of 200 to 300 pesos to participate in the parade with all money being used to promote the event, the destination and help with the event planning, entertainment and clean up after the event.

All not-for-profit organizations will have right of participation at no cost, while individuals will also be able to participate without incurring any fees.
 
Confirmed sponsors and participants at time of writing: Almar Resorts, Hotel Mercurio, Encuentros Pizza Pasta Bar Lounge, Divas Bar, Reinas,Frida Bar, FridasKitchen, Tom Salmon, Quality Painting and Electric, The Pitt Grill, Diana's Tours, La Noche, SETAC, Blue Chairs, Lido Beach Club and Restaurant, Buen Flex Clothing Company, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry, Gold's Gym, Dubois PV, Mijo! Brands, GayPV, A Page in the Sun Café and Bookstore.

To sponsor or participate in the parade, please call (322) 222-9696 or email at info@vallartapride.com. For more information, contact dgomez@gaypv.mx or visit Facebook.