The third annual Bunnell Pride Festival is scheduled for this Sunday at the 2K Ranch, marking the event’s second year as the sole LGBTQ+-friendly festival in Flagler County. Organized by Amber Embers, the owner of the “Cosmic Hippie” wellness shop, the four-hour gathering is designed as a family-friendly celebration of equality, music, and local community connection. Despite the event’s stated purpose of fostering inclusivity and neighborhood solidarity, the spirit of the occasion has been significantly overshadowed by an influx of aggressive online rhetoric and escalating safety concerns.
The festival has become a target for misinformation, primarily fueled by social media pages like “St. Augustine News Uncensored,” which labeled the event a “groomer alert” and falsely accused organizers of planning an illegal drag show for children. While Embers confirmed that a drag performance was initially considered—consistent with the positive reception it received last year—she explicitly removed the segment from the program as legal uncertainties regarding Florida’s public performance laws evolved. Despite these proactive updates to social media and printed materials, critics have continued to circulate outdated screenshots to manufacture controversy and outrage.
Exacerbating these tensions, the local radio station WNZF recently aired a report featuring an unnamed member of the Proud Boys—a group labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate organization—who claimed his group intended to protest the festival due to its all-ages policy. By presenting the Proud Boys’ participation as merely another perspective without context regarding the group’s history of extremist activism, the report provided a mainstream platform for intimidation. This coverage has deepened the organizers’ fears, with some participants expressing profound anxiety that the inflammatory rhetoric could escalate into real-world violence.
In response to the threats, event organizers engaged in dialogue with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to increase security. Although officials stated there are no “credible threats” of violence at this time, they confirmed they will provide increased patrols in the area throughout the event. While organizers initially reached out to hire off-duty deputies, the financial burden of $600 proved prohibitive for a grassroots, self-funded event that keeps vendor fees low to support small local businesses. Embers emphasized that she has remained in constant contact with law enforcement to ensure the safety of attendees while navigating these difficult circumstances.
The controversy surrounding the Bunnell Pride Festival mirrors a broader, politically charged atmosphere in Florida, where drag performances have become a lightning rod for conservative backlash. While proponents view these performances as artistic expression, they have been increasingly criminalized and stigmatized through legislation. The legal battle over these restrictions reached the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month, where judges appeared divided on the constitutionality of bans that critics argue are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the art form, intentionally sexualizing what is intended to be community entertainment.
Despite the atmospheric pressure and the looming presence of protesters, the Bunnell Pride Festival remains committed to its original vision of public celebration. Admission remains free and open to all ages, with organizers insisting that the event is more necessary than ever to combat the current climate of disconnection and intolerance. As the community prepares for Sunday’s gathering at the 2K Ranch, the focus remains on the foundational tenets of the Pride movement: fostering kindness, supporting local voices, and asserting the right to celebrate love and identity in a safe, communal space.