About Alex Villafuerte
Alex Villafuerte is San Diego Pride's Marketing & Communication Manager. He oversees the marketing for all of Pride's events & programs. Outside of Pride, he has a love for the outdoors, the San Diego brew scene, and naps.
Accessibility to the Youth Zone!
San Diego Pride weekend is a time to celebrate our progress as a community while honoring our past. It’s a time to celebrate what makes us uniquely us and to be our most authentic selves surrounded by those whom we love and those who love us. With so many ways to celebrate, we’ve created the top 25 things to do during San Diego Pride weekend! Bring your family and friends as we come together as a community to be Allied in Action: United for Justice!
1. Honor those who served
Now a noted tradition at the San Diego Pride Parade, the military contingent, which includes active duty and veteran service members from all branches of the military, will be marching in the parade. Be sure to cheer them on when the contingent passes by!
When: Saturday, July 15 at 11 am
Where: San Diego Pride Parade
For more information, click here.
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
2. March to the beat!
What’s a parade without a marching band? Over 150 Southern California youth make up the Pride Youth Marching Band, which will perform down the San Diego Pride Parade route. You won’t believe how incredibly talented young LGBTQ musicians are!
When: Saturday, July 15 at 11 am
Where: San Diego Pride Parade
For more information, click here.
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
3. Rev your engines
It wouldn’t be a Pride parade without motorcycles—and lots of them! Listen for the revving of the engines and watch the Motorcycle Contingent cruise by. Ride a motorcycle and want to be a part of the contingent? Registration is just $25.
When: Saturday, July 15 at 11 am
Where: San Diego Pride Parade
For more information, click here.
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
4. Make a sign!
Take Pride in your message! This is an opportunity to share your message with 100,000+ supporters of the LGBTQ community! Everyone’s got something to say, so show off yours with Pride! Rainbows and glitter are highly encouraged.
5. Honor our origins!
Pride celebrations everywhere trace their heritage to the Stonewall Riots. San Diego Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally is a time to recognize and honor leaders who are working hard to preserve our gains and meet the many challenges still facing our community. Come join us on Friday, July 14, as cheering crowds and energetic speakers kick off San Diego Pride Weekend!
When: Friday, July 14 at 6 pm
Where: Hillcrest Pride Flag, Normal St & University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
For more information, click here.
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
6. Dance under the pride flag
The Pride of Hillcrest Block Party kicks off Pride weekend in the heart of Hillcrest! This event for those 21 years and older includes food, drinks, carnival rides, and lots of DJs, go-gos, and dancing!
When: Friday, July 15th from 6 pm – 11 pm
Where: Hillcrest Pride Flag, Normal St & University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
For more information, click here.
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
7. It’s all online!
Everything you need to make Pride weekend a success can be found on our website: our full entertainment and parade lineup, event maps, parking and shuttle info, social media connections, and more. Take a look around!
Buy tickets here.
Entertainment lineup here.
Listen to our artists here.
Check out the Festival map and attractions here!
8. Upgrade your experience!
The best way to experience the San Diego Pride Music Festival is to do it VIP style! This year’s festival has a VIP ticket option, which includes a weekend pass, VIP entrance, VIP lounge, VIP restrooms, catered food, and 4 hosted drinks each day. Tickets and VIP passes are sold here.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
9. Run for it!
The annual Pride 5K is a healthy way to start Pride weekend. The 5K race starts and finishes at University Avenue and Centre Street and features gear check, after-race snacks, high-quality tech t-shirts, ChronoTrack disposable UHF RFID tags to record your time, a fast, flat course along the parade, and a USAT-sanctioned and -certified 5K course.
When: Saturday, July 15 at 9:30 am
Race Start and Finish: University Avenue at Centre Street
For more information, click here.
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
10. Follow the rainbow!
It’s tradition to close out the San Diego Pride Parade with the 300 foot giant rainbow flag! As always, everyone is welcome to join in and help carry the flag to the San Diego Pride Music Festival. Bring your friends, family, and signs of support and join in!
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
When: Saturday, July 15 at 11 am
Where: San Diego Pride Parade
11. Fun for the whole family!
Family Services at The Center will host The Children’s Garden. Bring the kids and have a fun day at the park! Enjoy entertainment for parents and kids from infants to preteens, including a toddler play area, face painting, hat making, a balloon artist, a playhouse giveaway, arts & crafts, and more throughout the weekend. Come enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, and other snacks in a private, family-only shaded oasis with tables, chairs, and restrooms.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
12. Gay hair don’t care (rainbow hair styles)
Get creative! Show off your Pride with a rainbow hairstyle or whatever other colorful ideas you have. Pride is a celebration of our uniqueness, so show it off!
13. Cheers to your health
The Pride Festival is more than just a party. There are a ton of health and human services located throughout the event: four HIV and STI screening locations, ongoing AA and NA meetings, a rainbow health and wellness zone, senior services and more!
Check out our community partners here.
Look for them on the map here.
14. Eat all the things!
With all the celebrating that will go on throughout the weekend, one has to eat! 50 different food vendors will be serving up deliciously diverse fabulous flavors. Whatever your tastes are we’re sure to have something you’ll enjoy. Who knows, maybe you’ll get adventurous and try something new.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
15. Baila!
It’s musica Latina en español with some of the best emerging artists in live rock, folkloric dancing, y más. Enjoy the musical flavors with a Latin flair. Be a part of the Latino community at Mundo Latino!
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
16. Bounce hip-hop area
Celebrate diversity under San Diego’s amazing sky at five phenomenal stages over two days with more than 100 entertainers and thousands of your closest friends. Here at The Movement Hip-Hop Stage, our top notch DJs will be spinning the hottest sounds from Hip-Hop, Soul and R&B. With its own dance floor and beverage garden, this stage will keep you moving and in the zone!
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
17. Wave your flag
There are so many different versions of the Pride flag and all are welcome at the event! Whether you’re at the Rally, Parade, or Festival, we welcome you to wave the flag that best represents you!
18. Up close and personal
Pride gives you the opportunity to meet some of your favorite artists! Meet and greet tickets grant you a 1-on-1 meeting and photo op and come with VIP access! These tickets are very limited, so don’t wait!
19. Burritos for Pride
Make eating a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support San Diego LGBT Pride! Just come into ANY SAN DIEGO CHIPOTLE on Tuesday, July 11th, from 10:30 AM to close and mention this fundraiser. 50% of your purchase will go to Pride’s programs.
When: Tuesday, July 11, 10:30 am – 10 pm
Where: Any San Diego Chipotle
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
20. For youth, by youth
The Youth Zone at the Pride Music Festival is a fun space for young, queer, middle school through high school youth and their allies to celebrate pride! Youth 14 and under get in free!
Learn more about our Youth Programs here!
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
21. Win the “Ultimate Bud Light Party” experience
San Diego Pride is excited to offer the “Ultimate Bud Light Party” experience at San Diego Pride this year! You and a friend will be able to celebrate equality like a true ULTRA VIP at the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade and Festival. To enter the sweepstakes and get more info click here.
22. What the kink?
The San Diego Leather Realm is a large, age-restricted area of The San Diego Pride Music Festival. The Leather Realm opens its doors for education and fun to provide visibility, awareness and communication of Safe, Sane and Consensual play, Leather, BDSM, Fetish, and Kink Life Styles through hands-on demonstration areas, workshops, community organizations, and alternative-lifestyle friendly businesses.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16, 2017
Time: Saturday noon – 10 pm; Sunday 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Marston Pt., Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.)
Invite your friends on Facebook here!
23. Interfaith
As LGBTQ equal protections are coming under attack across the country with so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, we as the LGBTQ community know that supporting religious freedom and LGBTQ equality is not inherently contradictory. At the start of this year’s Parade, LGBTQ open and affirming faith leaders will march together and show their support for LGBTQ equality and justice.
Faith leader are welcome to sign up to participate here!
24. Selfie pride #SDPRIDE
Feel free to be selfie-ish throughout the weekend to show everyone what an amazing time you’re having at San Diego Pride! Be sure to use the hashtag #SDPRIDE for all your social media posts. Your Prideful picture may even earn you VIP access or a meet and greet!
Facebook: Click here
Twitter: @SanDiegoPride
Instagram: @sandiegopride
Snapchat: sdpride365
25. Be PROUD
