The Long Beach Pride Festival & Parade is just a few days away — and there’s a lot to know about the annual LGBTQ celebration.
For one thing, its one of the largest Pride parades and festivals in the state. For another, this year marks a milestone anniversary for the Long Beach Pride nonprofit that founded the annual celebration.
The Pride festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5-6. The parade will take place Sunday morning. A Teen Pride Festival will take place Friday afternoon.
Here are five things you need to know about this year’s Long Beach Pride.
1. Long Beach Pride’s ruby birthday
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Long Beach Pride nonprofit. To celebrate the milestone, this year’s festival will have more entertainment from members of the community, games, giveaways and much more.
The Long Beach Pride nonprofit will also deck out its float for the parade with an anniversary theme and will feature drag and trans performers, according to co-President Elsa Martinez.
2. The grand marshals are …
The parade’s grand marshals will come from different parts of the Long Beach community, including the Mary Jane Girls, the Harvey Milk Park Equity Plaza Selection Committee, Councilmember Mary Zendejas, Justin Rudd and Mayor Rex Richardson, among others.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be honored as Community Grand Marshals. The Celebrity Grand Marshal is drag queen Valentina.
The Robert Garcia Youth Grand Marshal is Lotus Laguardia, a young, Filipino American who worked at the wellness center at Renaissance High School and continues to support youth in the community.
3. Drag Dome, family and senior fun
You’ll want to check out the new Drag Dome, presented by Hamburger Mary’s, where you can enjoy the shows featuring television’s most fabulous draf superstars.
“This is a new feature,” Martinez said, “that highlights our commitment to our very diverse community.”
The festival grounds will also feature a Family Fun Zone, which will have activities that youngsters and their parents can enjoy.
The Senior Fun Zone, meanwhile, will offer LGBTQ folks over 65 some fun of their own, including games and karaoke.
4. Taking public transportation is recommended
Organizers highly recommend that those planning to attend the parade and festival take public transportation.
Long Beach Pride will have a Long Beach Yellow Cab Pride Festival Taxi Service. And attendees can also use Long Beach Transit or other ride-share services.
5. A new mural will make its debut
In honor of Long Beach Pride, LA vs Hate, a nonprofit advocacy organization, will unveil a new LGBTQ mural on Saturday as part of its ongoing “Summer of Solidarity.”
The mural, in Bixby Park, “evokes a tableau of people, movements and issues important to the LGBTQ+ community,” LA vs Hate said in an email.
The mural was designed by queer Mexican-American artist Myisha Arrellano.
The mural unveiling celebration will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave.
Source: Orange County Register
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