Yes, the Long Beach Pride Parade is still on for Sunday
And there are still many events and specials at LGBTQ+ and ally businesses all weekend, despite the ticketed festival's cancelation.
Hours before it was set to kick off Long Beach’s 43rd Pride weekend, the ticketed festival was canceled via a statement from the city Friday. Saturday morning, social media commenters were confused by posts about Sunday’s parade: “So is it canceled or no?”
No, the Pride Parade is not canceled and will take over Ocean Boulevard between Lindero and Alamitos avenues beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, as planned.
But the ticketed event at Marina Green Park was canceled in the 11th hour over a permit dispute between the city and event organizers. According to a statement from the city, festival organizers failed to submit “sufficient information to safely permit the event.”
In a statement posted to social media Friday, Long Beach Pride, the nonprofit organization that has run the event for decades, said it's "disappointed" in the city’s decision to cancel the festival, but did not directly dispute the permitting issue.
Despite the cancelation, every gay bar in Long Beach is sure to be a party all weekend, with many featuring special drag performances, DJ sets, karaoke and more in honor of Pride:
- Broadway Bar (1100 E. Broadway)
- The Crest (5935 Cherry Ave.)
- WERK Nightclub (formerly Executive Suite) (3428 Pacific Coast Hwy.)
- The Falcon (1435 E. Broadway)
- Falcon North (2020 E. Artesia Blvd.)
- Hamburger Mary’s (330 Pine Ave.)
- The Hare (1800 E. Broadway)
- The Men’s Room (1744 E. Broadway)
- Mineshaft (1720 E. Broadway)
- The Silver Fox (411 Redondo Ave.)
- Sweetwater Saloon (1201 E. Broadway)
Other businesses are also hosting events, including the Long Beach Womxn’s Pride Party at At the Top (105 West Broadway, above Shannon’s) at 7 p.m. Saturday feature multiple DJs, dancers and VIP tables; free wieners (hot dogs) at Baby Gee Bar (1227 E. 4th St.) on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.; the Big Gay Picnic on the The Bluff at 12:30 Saturday; the HALO Dance Party at the Fairmont Breakers (210 E. Ocean Blvd.) on Sunday starting at 3 p.m.; and more.
Click here for details and other events compiled by Visit Long Beach.
In its statement regarding the festival cancellation, Long Beach Pride emphasized that the LGBTQ+ community is facing “escalating attacks from the current federal administration and from political forces across the country.”
“At a time when our community is being targeted and made vulnerable, Long Beach should be doing more to protect and uplift us, not taking away one of the most visible and meaningful expressions of inclusion our city has,” the statement reads. “Canceling Pride sends the wrong message.”
While one event has been canceled, many are pointing out that the spirit of Pride cannot be and are encouraging the community to come together.
“Just because the festival is canceled doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate,” one commenter wrote. “Let’s all get together at the beach, bixby park, gay bars, etc. and enjoy this weekend.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a typo in The Hare's name.
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