Last weekend, hundreds of thousands of queer Californios gathered in San Diego for a Pride celebration chock full of fabulous fun and outstanding entertainment.
San Diego’s annual Pride celebration is one of the largest in the US, attracting over 250k cheering spectators, elected officials, community groups, military service members, and first responders from all over Southern California. It’s considered the best-attended and largest single-day event in the county.
After a long hiatus due to COVID-19, San Diego turned up! It was estimated that nearly 55k attended last weekend’s Festival and almost 300k showed their support for San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community at the Parade.
Fernando López, executive director of San Diego Pride, tells a local newspaper “I’m sooo happy. We’re back!” with tears in their eyes.
San Diego Pride Festival included multiple stages of entertainment, more than 100 musicians, bands, and dance performers, over 100 participating exhibitors, cultural presentations, and local food vendors.
For the first time ever, attendees could enjoy a drink anywhere within the festival. In previous years, Pride had fenced-in beer gardens, though recent COVID-related alcohol law revisions have done away with that. Without being corralled in one area, people were able to roam freely, take their time, stay longer, and eat more food.
Over the course of the weekend, the five stages within the festival – Stonewall Mainstage, Mundo Latino, The Movement Hip-Hop, Euphoria, and Pan-Asian Night Market – hosted a total of 381 entertainers and 88 acts.
San Diego Pride’s most popular event, the Parade, began its route at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Avenue & Normal Street. It then proceeded west on University Avenue, turning south on 6th Avenue, left on Balboa Drive, and ending on Laurel Street.
This marks the return of much-needed and sorely missed community celebrations in San Diego. A few folks showed off their favorite queer cosplays in anticipation of San Diego Comic-Con, taking place the following weekend July 21 – 24, 2022.
UP NEXT – PHOTOS: Queer royalty reigns over Pride March in Los Angeles
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