Long Beach Pride will take over the downtown shoreline this month, inviting thousands of people to celebrate love, inclusivity and this year’s theme “Rhythm and Rainbows.”
The two-day festival will culminate with the 41st annual Long Beach Pride Parade, and accompanying events will take place around the festival throughout the weekend. Many traditions that surround the festival, which began in 1984, will continue this year while new faces and performances will grace the stages as well.
Whether you’re returning to the festival for the umpteenth time or it’s your first whirl down the rainbow road, this article will explain everything to know about the festival, parade and a few additional events celebrating Long Beach’s queer community.
Marie Cartier, a poet and professor of gender and women’s studies at Cal State Northridge, shares a poem called our abortion rights at the Dyke March at Bixby Park on July 8, 2022. Residents can read their own poetry at Bixby Park on Sept. 3, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Jorge Villa | Signal Tribune)
Long Beach Pride Festival – May 18-19
Headliners for this year’s festival include Ivy Queen, Saucy Santana, Valentina and many others. Over 20 artists and dancers will highlight a wide range of scenes and genres such as hip-hop, country and reggaeton.
The Rhythm of the Rainbow Ball will take place at the main stage of the festival on May 18 at 6 p.m. Participants can watch the ball for no extra charge, but those who wish to participate in one of the categories (face, runway or performance) must register at @houseoflongbeach on Instagram and pay the $200 registration fee.
The ballroom scene is a widely celebrated subculture created by the Black and Mexican LGBTQ community, with the first known example in 1869 in Harlem. The culture thrived in the ‘70s by creating a safe space for the Black and brown queer community to gather, celebrate their individuality and fully express themselves.
The Rhythm of the Rainbow Ball will be hosted by Princess Destiny Ninja, with Torie Balmain commentating and Sidney Perry DJing.
The festival will take place at 386 Shoreline Drive on May 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Attendees can purchase a single-day ticket for $45.10 or one of the VIP packages, with prices ranging up to $238.43.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia speaks with local women’s rights activist Zoe Nicholson during the first Disability Pride Rally that was held at Harvey Milk Promenade Park on July 26, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Honor Our LGBTQ Elders Day – May 16
The Cal State Long Beach gerontology program will host this workshop teaching how LGBTQ older adults have been affected by historical barriers. Elders will learn how to heal from trauma, caregiving and helpful networks.
Long Beach seniors in the LGBTQ community can attend this free forum and workshop event on May 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church at 2325 E Third St.
Liz sits on her pride-themed blanket while waiting for speakers to take the stage at the Queer Liberation Now event at Bixby Park in Long Beach on June 28, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Teen Pride – May 17
Teens and youth can gather for a free night of games, music, connections to resources, workshops, performances, food and more on the night before the Long Beach Pride Festival.
Attendees can enjoy arts and crafts, drag shows, resource and vendor booths, DJ performances and a talent show for free. Parents can attend with their child or drop them off at a designated drop-off zone on Shoreline Drive.
Teen Pride will take place in the parking lot of the Aquarium of the Pacific at 100 Aquarium Way on May 17 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kristine Diehl and Manitza Cotes walk towards the stage before the begining of the unveiling of the rebuilt pride themed lifeguard tower on June 10, 2021.(Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Long Beach Pride Run – May 19
This longstanding tradition invites the LGBTQ community to support each other’s goals and accomplishments at the 32nd annual Long Beach Pride Run. The run will take place on May 19 and begin at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue at 8 a.m.
The event requires a $50 registration either online or in-person at 6:30 a.m. the morning of the run. Participants can either enjoy a brisk 5K walk or a 10K race along the Long Beach shoreline. Each participant will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a medal for completing the route, and can enjoy an awards ceremony at 9 a.m. on the bluff at Junipero Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
Children can participate in the Pride sKIDaddle, a 200-foot dash beginning at 7:45 a.m. before the main races. Kids will receive crayons and bibs to color as well as finisher medals for running. Children can run free with a registered adult.
All participants should cross the finish line by 9:30 a.m. in order to accommodate the Long Beach Pride Parade beginning at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the run will go towards local nonprofits such as the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, the CARE Program at St. Mary’s Medical Center, the AIDS Food Store, Gay for Good, Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the South Bay LGBTQ Center.
Runners and volunteers will get to vote on how to divy up the funds for the various organizations.
For more course details on the Long Beach Pride Run and to register, visit www.lbpride.run.
Dancers wave to the crowd at the Long Beach Pride Parade on July 10, 2022. (Samantha Diaz | Signal Tribune)
Long Beach Pride Parade – May 19
The 41st annual Long Beach Pride Parade will continue the theme of Rhythm and Rainbows, inviting thousands of spectators and over 100 organizations to take over downtown and celebrate the LGBTQ community.
Residents can attend the parade from the sidewalk for free.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue then travel along Ocean Boulevard to Alamitos Avenue, finishing around noon. Parade participants will travel down the streets of downtown on parade floats or walk, sashay or dance their way down the road.
Road closures for the parade will begin as early as 5 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. Sunday.
There will be no parking from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. on:
Ocean Boulevard from Redondo to Atlantic Avenues.
Immediate side streets on the north and south sides of Ocean Boulevard from Redondo to Atlantic Avenues.
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic during designated times from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
6 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Ocean Boulevard between Redondo and Lindero Avenues, including side streets on the north and south side of Ocean Boulevard.
7 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Shoreline Drive between Ocean Boulevard and Shoreline Village Drive.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Ocean Boulevard between Lindero and Atlantic, including all side streets on the north and south side of Ocean Boulevard.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Alamitos Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and Broadway.
More information about the 2024 Long Beach Pride Parade is available at longbeach.gov/prideparade.
