San Diego Pride

San Diego Pride is one of the largest gay prides and parades in the USA. Also known as San Diego LGBT Pride, it’s a nonprofit organization which sponsors the annual three-day celebration in San Diego, every July. The event usually features the Pride Parade on a Saturday, preceded by a block party in the Hillcrest gay neighborhood the night before, and followed by a two-day Pride Festival on Saturday and Sunday in Balboa Park. Pride Weekend is believed to be the largest civic event in the city of San Diego. The parade has more than 200 floats and entries, and is viewed by a crowd of nearly 200,000 people.

The Center for Social Services produced the first Lesbian and Gay Parade in San Diego in June 1974, to celebrate the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion on New York’s Christopher Street. This first gay pride event included a yard sale and potluck dinner at the center as well as an informal parade to Balboa Park and back. In 1991, the event was moved from June to July. In 1993, the parade was moved to its current route from Hillcrest along University Avenue and 6th Avenue to Balboa Park. 

The following is the event program of a past pride edition. Stay tuned for the 2021 program. 

In 2019, Pride celebrations everywhere will trace their heritage to the evening of June 28, 1969 when patrons of the Stonewall Inn in New York City said “No more!” to police harassment. Recognizing 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising, San Diego Pride will be adopting the theme: Stonewall 50: Legacy of Liberation. To celebrate that heritage, San Diego Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally on July 13 will be a time to recognize and honor leaders who work hard to preserve the community’s gains, and meet the many challenges they continue to face.

The San Diego Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region, and is among the largest prides in the United States. It attracts over 250,000 people cheering on colorful floats and parade participants, who are celebrating and honoring the LGBTQ community. For 2019, it will be taking place on Saturday, July 13, and will kick off from the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Ave. and Normal St at 10am.

On July 13-14, the San Diego Pride Festival is the time to be OUT and PROUD, San Diego style! Taking place in Balboa Park, you can enjoy the city’s biggest celebration with thousands of your closest friends, while dancing to live entertainment from over 100 entertainers at four phenomenal stages. Tickets are already on sale for the event, and headline acts include Melissa Etheride, and RuPaul Queens Asia O'Hara and Aquaria. 

The Front Runners & Walkers Pride 5K Run and Walk on July 13 at 8am is a race starting at University Ave. It’s a great way to kick off the LGBTQ Pride Parade with a healthy activity and a lot of fun – and do some good for our charity partners while you’re at it!

With a strong theme, a lively festival, and one large parade to boot, you have no excuse to not be adding Gay Pride San Diego to your gay calendar this year - fun will be a given after all!