Pride by the Beach: Where to Celebrate Pride in Oceanside
BY JENNY ADAMS
Happy Pride! June is Pride month across the country, which means it’s time to unroll your rainbow flags and make your way to celebrate Pride in Oceanside.
PRIDE BY THE BEACH
Balloon archways stretch between palm trees, bands strike up on the sidewalk, and colorful tents offer face painting, handmade jewelry, sweet treats, and tasty drinks.
Everywhere you look, there will be joyful moments on June 11 as Oceanside celebrates the 15th annual Pride by the Beach. Running from noon to 6 p.m. just a few blocks away from Mission Pacific, the festival is organized and executed by the North County LGTBQ Resource Center, which has a mission to empower, serve, and advocate for the region.
Bring the whole family (including pets!) for the all-day fun with more vendors, food trucks, and an entire second stage for even more entertainment, like musical headliners Holy Rainbow Club and Boi Band. The incomparable Paris Sukomi Max is this year’s drag headliner and emcee and will perform a Disney-themed show like no other, focused on classics like The Little Mermaid and Moana.
Beat the heat with Mahalo Shaved Ice Company, grab a Pride by the Beach t-shirt, and enter your pup in the inaugural Pet Contest! For more dining and drinking perks, pick up Pride & Brew card online or onsite. The card gives you discounts on beer, cocktails, wine, and food at participating restaurants.
MORE PRIDE IN OCEANSIDE
If you can’t make it to Oceanside on June 11, don’t worry. The first weekend of June, North County LGTBQ Resource Center will also host a calorie-busting Zumba class, a Light Up Pride Interfaith celebration at the Methodist Church, and a Flag Raising for the community. October is also a popular time for Pride events in Oceanside, with the resource center’s Drag Takeover at Belly Up fundraiser and annual Gala, both bringing in hundreds of participants.
SAN DIEGO PRIDE
San Diego is famous for fostering an incredible LGTBQ+ community, and its Pride celebrations throughout the summer draw hundreds of thousands. While there are events throughout June, including the second annual Black Pride on June 25-26, the bulk of San Diego Pride activities happens in July.
From a rally to a 5K Run, from She Fest — a full day celebrating powerful women — to a cathedral lighting ceremony, the month is packed with events, with the main Pride weekend on June 15-17. One of the largest Pride parades in the U.S., drawing in more than 250,000 spectators, the San Diego Pride Parade on July 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will end at the entrance to the San Diego Pride Festival, running from 11 a.m. on July 16 to 10:00 p.m. on July 17. Oceanside’s North County LGTBQ Resource Center will be on-site, from a tent promoting advocacy and volunteer efforts to marching in the parade, waving one of the largest transgender flags in the U.S.
Happy Pride!
