A Symphony of Spells: South Florida Pride Bands Conjure a Halloween Spectacle of Sound, Spirit, and LGBTQ+ Pride at The Parker.

October 26th, 2025

Presented by South Florida Pride Bands in collaboration with The Bears of South Florida, this Halloween spectacular turned The Parker into a cauldron of sound, sparkle, and sheer symphonic power on Sunday, October 26.

Imagine three full concert bands totaling nearly 300 musicians conjuring a storm of sound big enough to wake the spirits of Broadway itself. Under the inspired leadership of Dan Bassett, artistic director, and Sara Cowley, assistant artistic director, the evening was both a musical marvel and a proud celebration of LGBTQ + artistry. Guest conductors from across the country added their own magic wands to the mix, making the performance a truly national showcase of talent and community.

Brett Hufziger Photography

The audience was treated to a journey through the shadowy corners of the musical imagination from the eerie elegance of The Witches of Eastwick, to a delightfully twisted romp through A Nightmare Before Christmas. The end of the first act featured selections from Wicked, complete with guest singer Abbey Adler that could melt even the iciest witch’s heart with her rendition of “Defying Gravity”. The audience responded with a standing ovation before heading to the lobby for intermission where they were greeted by the South Florida Pride Steel Band providing energetic, rhythmic renditions of songs such as “Shake Senora” and “Ghost Busters”.

The second act continued to spellbind the audience with the power of Phantom of the Opera and whirling chaos of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, rendered here with hair-raising precision and cinematic flair. But what truly set this concert apart were the two world premieres — commissioned works by celebrated composers Julie Giroux and Kelijah Dunton. Both pieces embodied the spirit of the event: bold, haunting, and unapologetically expressive. These new compositions, “Avernus” by Kelijah Dunton and “Ogres and Goblins and Trolls, Oh My!” By Julia Giroux, stood shoulder to shoulder with the familiar show tunes.

Beyond the music, Something Wicked was the glittering capstone of the 2025 Pride Bands Alliance Conference, which brought together more than 300 LGBTQ musicians from across North America and beyond. The air buzzed with camaraderie and a sense of shared purpose — a fitting tribute to South Florida Pride Bands’ remarkable 40-year history as Florida’s oldest LGBTQ arts organization. Adding prestige to the weekend was keynote speaker Gary Burton, the legendary seven-time Grammy-winning jazz marimbaist and longtime Pride Bands Board Member, whose presence underscored the conference’s theme of excellence through diversity.

Brett Hufziger Photography

As the final notes faded and the audience rose to its feet, it was clear that Something Wicked had achieved something rare — a concert that was as theatrical as it was musical, as moving as it was mischievous. A delight for the ears, and a meaningful musical celebration of the season of Halloween and the spirit of LGBTQ+ Pride.

Brett Hufziger Photography

Tickets for future performances and more info: southfloridapridebands.org