Undeterred by the shocking, last-minute cancellation of the city’s annual Pride Festival, Long Beach’s Pride Parade roared forward Sunday.
The event marched on along Ocean Blvd — kicking off at 10 a.m. as planned under this year’s “Fearless and Free” theme, celebrating resilience, authenticity, and equality — despite city officials pulling the plug on the 43rd annual Long Beach Pride Festival on Friday because of missing paperwork and inspection failures.
In response, city leaders sprang into action, transforming Bixby Park into a vibrant event with live music and a free drag show by Jewels of Long Beach to keep the Pride spirit alive from noon until evening.
Xavier Becerra, who is currently campaigning to be the next Governor of California, walked in Sunday’s parade. “As Attorney General, I fought to protect LGBTQ+ Californians from discrimination and attacks on trans youth and families … And as Governor, I’ll keep standing up for equality, dignity, and the freedom for everyone to live openly and with pride,” he posted on X.
“To accommodate those coming into town,” officials said, Long Beach added extra transit options linking downtown to Bixby Park while also encouraging visitors to support local bars, restaurants, and businesses.
The 3-day-long festival typically draws up to 80,000 attendees.
“We are especially excited for the Long Beach Pride Parade,” city officials said. “This cherished tradition brings joy to residents and visitors alike.”
Since 2024, the city has taken the reins of the parade from the volunteer-run Long Beach Pride group, which continues to oversee the festival and now faces growing scrutiny following the dramatic permit debacle.
Officials recounted working late into Friday night and through the early hours of Saturday, racing against the clock to secure new venues after permit deadlines passed.
“Although the timeframe had passed to issue permits for the festival as it was originally envisioned,” the city said, efforts continued to help organizers host “a meaningful community gathering.”
Organizers say they’ll be back with a full festival next year.
