There’s so much happening during Pride that we’ve made a list of the top 40 things to do! We pride ourselves on celebrating love, compassion, and happiness within the community all week long.
Top 40
1. She Fest
Kick off our Pride celebration with She Fest, a 2SLGBTQ+ women and non-binary people centered event happening in the heart of Hillcrest complete with a full entertainment lineup, workshops, vendors, and activities!
Date & Time: Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 12 PM – 6 PM
2. Drag Is Not A Crime
Celebrate this year’s Community Grand Marshal with us at the Rally on Friday, July 14th and cheer them on as they lead the Parade on Saturday, July 15th! The drag community has long been the joy-bringers and protectors within the Queer Community, from the roots of the Queer Liberation movement to the historic Drag Balls.
3. Light Up the Cathedral with Pride
Join LGBTQ Faith Leaders and Faithful as we gather together, in person, to celebrate our faith and thrive. Join Dean Penny Bridges, LGBT Faith Leaders and Allied Faith Leaders for an Interfaith Pride Celebration at St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. After the service, the Cathedral will be lit in rainbow colors.
Date & Time: July 12, 2023, 7:00 PM
Location: St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 2728 6th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103. Enter on the 5th Avenue side.
4. Trans Pride Village
Come on down and check out Transtopia at Trans Pride Village 2023. Entertainment, information and resources for the Transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, and intersex community. Hosted by Project Trans at the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
5. VIP
Kick off Pride weekend in style with some VIP passes! San Diego Pride VIPs skip the long lines and enter through their own designated entrance, and have access to the furnished VIP Lounge in front of the main stage all weekend long where they enjoy upgraded VIP restrooms and catered bites from 1-7pm. Each VIP wristband comes with four (4) hosted drinks per day that are redeemable at any festival bar!
6. Spirit of Stonewall Rally
Join San Diego Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally and kick off the weekend festivities by hearing inspiring speeeches, and celebrating our 2023 Stonewall Awardees. Then cheer as we raise the giant Pride flag over Hillcrest!
Date & Time: Jul 14, 2023, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Hillcrest Pride Flag, 1600 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
7. Pride 5K
Don’t miss Pride’s annual 5K. Join Front Runners San Diego and run the route in your rainbow tutus before the parade and show off your gear!
Date & Time: Jul 15, 2023, 8:00 am
Location: University Avenue at Centre Street
8. Parking and Transportation
Take public transportation or use a ride share! Park the car at the Old Naval Hospital for free and catch the free shuttle service to the parade and festival! Free and secure bike parking available at the Festival thanks to BikeSD.
ADA accessible shuttle vans available!
9. Parade
Lead by our motorcycle contingent, the San Diego Drag community, and our Veterans. More than 250 individual contingents including elected officials, local businesses, religious groups and nonprofits. Watch the parade live-stream on CBS 8.
When: Saturday, July 15 at 10:00 am
Where: Hillcrest Pride Flag
1500 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
10. Motorcycle Contingent
The motorcycle contingent is an annual tradition that gets the crowd going as they rev their engines and kick off our parade! Join the women on bikes, followed by the men on bikes.
11. Sunday featured artists
Catch live performances from top billing acts and entertainment at the Stonewall stage. Legendary act Pussy Riot, The Scarlet Opera, David Archuleta, and headliner, Saucy Santana closing out the Pride festivities. Come Sunday Funday with us!
12. Volunteer
There’s still time to join the Pride family and register to volunteer. Help us put on San Diego’s biggest summer party! Fun times and meet great people. Pride wants you!
13. Pride Festival
From our Accessibility Center to the Zen Garden, We’ve got your Gay-B-Cs covered with 34 distinct areas and services throughout the two-day Pride Festival. Check out our map before you get here so you don’t get lost in all those rainbows!
14. Stay hydrated!
Dehydration is a huge concern! Water sales are located throughout the festival. Support our vendors, stay hydrated, and also enjoy one of our many beverage stations!
15. Sea Party
Brand new this year! Immerse yourself with your united pride community in our world under the sea at the architectural wonder that is The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.
Date & Time:
July 15, 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way
16. Cage free!
Bye bye, beverage gardens! Enjoy a refreshing cocktail or cool beer at one of our nine beverage service stations. This year our bars will feature cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and we are also featuring three local breweries – Karl Strauss Brewing, Abnormal Beer, and Second Chance Beer at all our bars!
17. Saturday featured artists
Take in the incredible artists performing at the Stonewall Stage. Featured artists include, Etari, Drew G, Jake Zyrus, The Illustrious Blacks, All Star Season 8 drag queens Darienne Lake, Naysha Lopez, and Jimbo, Ultra Music break through artist, Moore Kismet and Headliner, Princess Nokia!
18. Children's Garden
Come visit the Children’s garden for a day filled with entertainment for all ages like arts and crafts. This area is exclusively for families and hosted by Families @ the Center.
19. Sheruk / Asoonax Rainbow Tribal Village
Visit the Rainbow Tribal Village for information and resources for the Indigenous and two-spirit community. Hosted by Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition.
20. Mundo Latino / Latine Pride Resource Area
Welcome to “Mundo Latino”, a space dedicated to the Latine community. Step into a vibrant environment where culture, diversity, and LGBTQ+ pride converge. Immerse yourself in Latin rhythms or indulge in the delicious flavors of Latin cuisine. Stop by our Latine Coalition resource area to find opportunities to plug into the Queer Latine Community.
21. Movement Stage / Black Pride Resource Area
Get ready to slay at the Movement stage, a space specifically dedicated to the Black LGBTQ+ community. Come and enjoy a full weekend of music and artist spotlight performances from San Diego Music Awards and Grammy Nominees. Stop by the Black Coalition resource area to find opportunities to tap into being involved with the Black LGBTQ Community.
22. Pan Asian Night Market
Over the weekend enjoy live performances from song to dance crews and other multicultural performances. This area is dedicated to celebrating the diversity in Asian and Pacific culture in recognizing the beauty of tapestry of the various cultures and traditions of the community.
23. Euphoria Stage
Immersive yourself in the sounds of electronic music and relentless energy of dance music from house music to techno to bass music and beyond. Welcome to Euphoria.
24. Recovery Village
LGBTQ recovery organizations come together to provide information, resources, support and 12-Step meetings. Hosted by San Diego Pride.
25. Youth Marching Band
Make sure to watch out for the youth marching band and cheer them on! This crowd favorite is composed of LGBTQIA youth from throughout the region!
26. Lit Cafe
Visit the Lit Cafe Library resources, drag queen stories, queer authors, and special edition Pride library cards! Stop by Lit Cafe activity tent to join in the Library festivities.
27. Block Party
Pride of Hillcrest Block Party returns to Pride Plaza! This all-ages event celebrates the culture, history, diversity and LGBTQ+ community that lives, works and plays in San Diego’s most colorful and vibrant community.
28. Art of Pride
Join us as we celebrate and showcase the works of local LGBTQ+ artists and creators at the Pride Festival! This year, we will be hosting a sensory mural created by Revision San Diego and will also be showcasing the works of four local Queer Latine Artists whose art will be on display in front of the Mundo Latino stage!
29. Seniors at Pride
Take part in our senior programming happening throughout the weekend. Reserved, shaded parade seating. Discount Festival tickets on site. Free entry before 1:00 pm Sunday July 16. Visit the Senior Cool Zone and Resource area at the Festival.
30. Youth Zone (Gays! In! SPACE!)
Welcome to “Queer Quarters” a space for middle and high school-aged students at San Diego Pride! Step into a captivating world where imagination knows no bounds and community reigns supreme. This celestial space celebrates LGBTQ+ youth with an intergalactic twist, inviting young people to relax, have fun, and create life-long memories.
31. Take Action With Pride! + Register to Vote!
Look for our Civic Action Team members at She Fest, the Rally, the Parade, and the Festival – take action with us to protect LGBTQIA+ equality and work for our liberation. We’ll also have voter registration forms for folks to update their registration or register for the first time.
32. Get Tested // Shots! Shots! Shots!
Know your status. Take the time to get tested. Knowing your status is a great preventative method of transmitting STIs. There are always free STI testing sites at the festival, so make sure you get a chance to stop by and get tested.
Get your Mpox vaccine outside the Pride festival on Saturday, July 15th brought to you by the County of San Diego and Champions for Health. Look for the LiveWell San Diego bus on the corner of El Prado and Balboa Drive.
33. Pride Merch!
Look cute and serve looks with official San Diego Pride and general pride merchandise from Twisted Egos. Sport the official Thrive logo!
34. Health & Wellness Area
Visit the Pride Health & Wellness area hosted by Family Health Centers of San Diego. Find an LGBT competent healthcare provider. Information and resources on mental health information, health screenings, aging and smoking cessation. Check out the Zen Garden with free meditation and Yoga classes.
35. Lambda Archives
Visit Lambda Archives of San Diego’s booth at the Festival to take a look back at our community’s LGBTQ+ history and learn how you can be involved in collecting, preserving, and sharing our Queer History!
36. Celebrate Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month! Celebrate Disability Pride Month with us at any of our Pride Week events! Click here to learn more about accessibility for all our events and visit our Accessibility Resource Area at the Pride Festival!
37. Military contingent + Marine Corps Marching Band
Serving with Pride – LGBT Active Duty and Veterans will march behind their military service banner. The Military contingent includes the San Diego LGBT Community Center Veterans Wall of Honor, California National Guard, Veterans for Peace and the VA. Back by popular demand the San Diego Marine Corps Marching Band.
38. Spotify Playlist
Get in the Pride mood and San Diego Pride’s Official Spotify playlist.
39. Donate to Pride!
Join us in advancing equality and empowering the LGBTQ+ community by making a donation to San Diego Pride. Your support will help us provide important programs and services that uplift and celebrate the diversity of our community. Together, we can create a world free of prejudice and bias.
Donate at the link below or look for our TipTap to Give stations along the parade route and in the festival!
40. The Leather Realm 💙
The Leather Realm is open to anyone over the age of 18 to provide visibility and awareness of the BDSM, leather, and fetish communities. Resources and workshops available.