Official City of Long Beach Statement Regarding Updates About Pride Weekend

~ The City of Long Beach is gearing up for a weekend full of Pride celebrations, with various events and activities planned for the entire community. The city, along with numerous organizations, businesses, and community partners, have come together to host a range of Pride-themed events that can be found on VisitLongBeach.com.

However, amidst all the excitement and preparations, there has been a recent development regarding the highly anticipated Long Beach Pride Festival. Yesterday, on May 15 at 5:25 p.m., the City released a statement announcing that the festival would not be able to take place this year due to missing critical information from the event organizers.

According to city regulations, completed applications for festivals of this size are required to be submitted 65 days in advance. However, event organizers have the option to request an expedited review within 14 days. Despite this flexibility, city staff continued to work tirelessly in the days leading up to the festival to receive all necessary documentation and provide feedback.

Unfortunately, even on the day before and just hours before the scheduled start of the event, important information was still missing from the submitted plans. The City received additional festival site plans around 7 p.m. on May 15; however, they were incomplete and did not include crucial details needed for safety and permitting review.

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As of this morning on May 16, several key elements were still missing from the submitted plans. These included approved stamped structural plans for the stage and trusses, approved electrical plans, detailed security plans with specific locations for security personnel, and sufficient detail in the site plan regarding critical infrastructure.

Despite these setbacks and time constraints, City leadership and Convention Center officials met with Long Beach Pride last night to offer two alternative venue options. These included using either the Long Beach Terrace Theater and plaza or Bixby Park bandshell as potential locations for a community gathering. However, due to city regulations and limited time available for planning, these events could not be fenced off or serve alcohol. Mayor Rex Richardson even offered to privately fundraise up to $50,000 to support either event. However, Long Beach Pride declined these options.

The City wants to ensure transparency in this situation and reaffirm that their main goal has always been to provide a safe and inclusive space for the community to celebrate Pride Weekend. In light of the festival cancellation, the City has taken additional measures to support locals and visitors attending other Pride-related activities in Long Beach this weekend. This includes adding 11 extra Circuit microtransit vehicles, activating more Long Beach Transit buses, and setting up additional restroom facilities on Broadway.

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Furthermore, a permit operation has been opened this weekend to assist bars and restaurants with any questions they may have about accommodating visitors. Additionally, the Bixby Park bandshell will be activated on Sunday from noon to 7 p.m., featuring live music and a free drag show hosted by Jewels of Long Beach. More information about this event and other transit options can be found on VisitLongBeach.com.

Despite the disappointment of the festival cancellation, there is still much excitement surrounding the annual Long Beach Pride Parade taking place on Sunday at 10 a.m. This beloved tradition has been a source of joy for both residents and visitors alike.

It is worth noting that in 2024 when Long Beach Pride was unable to continue organizing the parade, the City stepped in to take over financial and operational responsibilities for the event. What was initially intended as a one-time commitment has now continued for three consecutive years, with the City investing time, resources, and care into ensuring its success.

In light of recent events, there has been an outpouring of positivity on social media regarding the parade and other Pride-related activities happening this weekend. The City is looking forward to celebrating together with everyone and honoring Long Beach's vibrant LGBTQ+ community – an integral part of the city's identity, culture, and overall fabulousness.

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