The annual OC LGBT Pride Festival and Parade is making a move to the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, allowing the celebration to be even bigger this year, organizers said.
The Pride event has taken place in downtown Santa Ana for many years, however, officials said this move will ensure better safety, financial stability and growth. The event will also move from June to October.
“We’re able to expand the entertainment lineup, extend hours, and improve accessibility measures we’ve created to really make it more inclusive and a welcoming environment for all attendees,” Manny Muro, vice-president at OC Pride, said. “In downtown Santa Ana there was a lot of construction, parking challenges and we really wanted to ensure that everyone was able to fully participate and enjoy the festivities.”
The parade through downtown Santa Ana was followed by performances, speaker series and a festival that reached into the night.
“This move represents now a really exciting opportunity to align OC Pride with the larger Southern California Pride festivals, further amplifying the message of love, acceptance and inclusivity,” Muro said, adding it is part of a commitment to providing a larger platform to showcase the LGBTQ+ community.
At its new location, OC Pride will be able to expand the activities, while reducing costs. With the money saved, the organization can also look at enhancing other community services it can offer the LGBTQIA+ community in Orange County year round, its leaders said.
“At the end of the day, we are a community-driven nonprofit dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ accomplishments and culture,” said Bryan Terry, executive director. “This move will help us accomplish that.”
The 2024 OC LGBT Pride event has been scheduled for Oct. 5. For more information, visit prideoc.com.
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