Get ready to dress to impress for a ball unlike any other—an enchanting winter wonderland filled with immersive experiences and endless excitement, all in celebration of our cherished community. Indulge in a dazzling array of gourmet cuisine from our curated food stations, sip on expertly crafted cocktails, and take a thrilling shot from the winter ice luge. Be captivated by exotic entertainment and engage in one-of-a-kind interactive activities that will surprise and delight. Dance the night away with your special someone, surrounded by a breathtaking winter-inspired setting, all while supporting a great cause. This is more than a ball—it’s an unforgettable evening of food, art, philanthropy, and thrilling moments, set in a magical winter atmosphere you won’t want to miss!
Emmy Award winning TV personality, style expert, fashion designer, interior designer and New York Times best-selling author are some of the credits of the multi-talented and unforgettable Carson Kressley.
Carson started his career as an independent stylist and became invaluable to major designers such as Ralph Lauren. He took a leap into television & became a breakout star on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which won a primetime Emmy and gained a worldwide following for Carson. In collaborations with Oprah Winfrey, Carson revolutionized America’s personal fashion sense of style. He’s hosted multiple TV shows including Lifetime’s How to Look Good Naked, & ABC’s True Beauty, appeared as a fashion critic & commentator on shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show & Good Morning America. Carson has competed on several reality shows including NBC’s hit show Celebrity Apprentice, Food Network’s Celebrity Cupcake Wars, ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud, and the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars where he was a fan favorite raising awareness & donations for several charities. Another fan favorite was his interior design show, Get A Room with Carson & Thom, which reunited Carson with his co-star from Queer Eye, the celebrated interior designer Thom Filicia.
At present, Carson continues to be a key judge on the groundbreaking TV series, RuPaul’s Drag Race, which continues to win multiple Emmy's-the show has had 48 nominations and 24 wins making it the most awarded reality show in history. The show is currently in its 16th season. Carson won an Emmy last year for his part on the show and is nominated again this year.
Additionally, Carson won “America’s Favorite Houseguest” when he competed on Celebrity Big Brother. He also hosted Live with Kelly and Ryan along with Ryan Seacrest in Kelly’s absence and he was their fashion commentator for the 2022 Academy Awards and continues to be a favorite guest on Live with Kelly and Mark. He also co-hosted The Wendy Williams Show for a week along with Vivica A. Fox. Carson is a favorite guest on many game shows each year including 25 Words or Less and Pictionary and will soon be seen on a new version of Hollywood Squares.
Amongst being a strong supporter of many philanthropic causes, when Kressley is not starring on stage or screen, he can be found astride one of his American Saddle-bred show horses, with which he has achieved World Champion status. Carson also is seen each year at the annual New Year’s Rosebowl Parade riding for Scripts Miramar. He is very involved with the American Humane Society and is on the Board of Directors for Cyndi Lauper’s Charity “True Colors United” which helps homeless LGBT youth.
Throughout the evening of Winter Pride Pelican Ball, two renowned local artists will bring their creative vision to life by live painting our iconic Pelican Statues, infusing each one with their unique artistic flair. Guests will have the rare opportunity to witness the artistic process up close, as these masterpieces come to life in real-time. Once completed, the stunningly transformed pelicans will be auctioned off to the highest bidders, offering the chance to take home a one-of-a-kind work of art. All proceeds from the auction will go directly to support LGBTQ+ charities, making this a celebration of both creativity and community.
Chad Mize is a multimedia artist, designer and muralist residing in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1974, and then moved to Tampa Bay Florida, where he spent most of his childhood. An early interest in art resulted in his earning a BFA in Visual Communications at the University of Mississippi. With a love for past and contemporary culture, he takes a humorous, tongue-in-cheek approach to his designs, which include playful doodles, colorful patterns, political art and graphics with text.
Cristi Lopez is an artist, mental health advocate, and first-generation American of Dominican, Spanish, and Cuban descent. She graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2016 with a BFA in Illustration. Her work illustrates the often invisible journeys of navigating mental illness, femininity, and faith. She aim to remind others that their unique, complex journeys deserve to be acknowledged without judgment.
General admission gets you in to the ball and all the fun. Get ready to eat amazing food, sip on incredible cocktails, see some amazing entertainment and celebrate with your closest friends. Your General Admission includes open bar and complimentary parking!
Want to upgrade to a VIP experience? This ticket get you everything the General Admission includes plus, preferred up front seating, front door valet parking, cocktail server for your seats, PRIVATE VIP Only Craft Cocktail Bar and Menu and access to the pre-ball VIP reception.
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