San Diego Pride celebrates Liberty and Justice for All from July 17 to 19, starting with the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party and ending with the last notes of the SD Pride Music Festival. Organizers expect attendance of 40,000.
Transportation
It’s a good idea to take public transportation, walk, or ride a bike if you’re in neighborhoods like the Marina District or East Village that are a little too far to walk. If you need to drive, leave plenty of time to navigate the traffic and park in the Old Naval Hospital or City College parking lots and take the free shuttle to the concert site. Shuttle buses will run from both lots to the festival on Saturday and Sunday.
Music Festival
The centerpiece of SD Pride is the Music Festival at Balboa Park, featuring 20 hours of entertainment over two days, beginning at 11am on July 18. More than 200 performers, including musicians, bands, comedians and dancers will appear on multiple stages. TV reality star Carmen Electra will introduce acts from the main stage.
SD Pride Music Festival weekend passes are $20 in advance ($25 at gate). Youth 15 and younger are admitted free. VIP passes for the weekend are available in advance for $120 ($150 at the gate) and include VIP restrooms, VIP lounge, VIP entrance, food and four hosted drinks each day. Ticket holders will have access to an art exhibit, cultural presentations and vendor booths.
Block Party
There will also be a 21-and-over block party on Friday, July 17th, featuring headliner DJ JES, who will help raise the Pride flag that will fly all weekend over Hillcrest. The party runs from 6pm to 11pm at the corner of Normal Street and University Avenue.
Parade
What is a Pride celebration without a parade? The SD Pride Parade begins at 11am on Saturday at the Hillcrest Pride Flag and takes a 1.1-mile route, ending at Balboa Drive and Quince. It will take about two hours for the participants to complete the route, giving the 100,000 fans along the way plenty of time to cheer the contingents as they pass by.
Other events include a rally and a 5K. Even if you aren’t planning on attending, residents in living in Downtown San Diego condos, lofts, or penthouse should keep in mind road closures and additional traffic in the area. ')}