The Long Beach Pride Festival is expected to have thousands of participants come out and celebrate the local gay, lesbian and transgender community.
In the past 27, years Long Beach Pride Festival and Parade has become the third largest gay pride celebration in the country. Visitors come out to Long Beach for the two-day celebration. More than 117 marching groups and floats participating in the parade, from various religious, human service, governmental and social organizations that want to raise awareness and celebrate the gay, lesbian and transgender community, according to the Long Beach Pride website.
The Long Beach Pride Festival is put on every year with the help of Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc. Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc. has also used these events to donate over a half million dollars in the past five years to several charities. The main project of LBLGP, Inc. is the annual parade and festival but they operate year-round and sponsor other philanthropic projects.
The Parade Celebration will begin at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue and will end at Ocean Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue on Saturday morning. The Parade Central is on Ocean Boulevard between Cherry and Junipero where the festival will be held.
The Parade Celebration begins at 10:15 a.m. but early arrivers could receive giveaways such as free admission to the festival and exclusive Long Beach Pride merchandise. DJ iPaz will kick off the Parade pre-party at 9:30 a.m. Parade hotspots will start celebrating on Cherry Avenue and Ocean Boulevard at Bixby Park.
The Festival goes on from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. along East Shoreline Drive. There will be several large dance areas, including a main stage, as well as vendors and information booths.
The main stage will feature musical guests A Flock of Seagulls and Divine Brown on Saturday and “American Idol” finalist Allison Iraheta and the “Diva Dynasty” of Martha Wash, Crystal Waters, and Linda Clifford on Sunday.
Vendors will be selling apparel, jewelry, music, and Long Beach Pride merchandise. Food courts will be serving a variety of specialties such as ethnic offerings like Mexican, Thai, African, and Caribbean cuisines.
Tickets are $20 per person each day. Tickets and parking passes are available online at longbeachpride.com. “Handicap Access” parking passes are also available through the website.
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