LONG BEACH \u2013 Organizers and others are expressing disappointment after the city\u2019s last-minute cancellation of the long planned Long Beach Pride Festival \u2014 which was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Marina Green Park on Shoreline Drive \u2014 due to concerns about permits and public safety planning.<\/p>\n
The ticketed event \u201crequires the submission of detailed operational, construction and public safety plans in order to be permitted to ensure safety of the attendees,\u201d Special Events officials said in a statement on the city\u2019s website. \u201cUnfortunately \u2026 the Long Beach Pride Festival will not be able to take place this year as sufficient information to safely permit the event has not been made available by the event organizers.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement on the festival\u2019s website, organizers did not directly respond to the permit allegations but instead cited current challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community and Long Beach\u2019s long history as one of the nation\u2019s best cities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer inclusion as cited by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation\u2019s Municipal Equality Index.<\/p>\n
\u201cLong Beach Pride is deeply disappointed by the City\u2019s decision to cancel the Long Beach Pride Festival, a long-standing community institution built by volunteers, sustained by love, and rooted in the belief that every person deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity,\u201d said the statement from organization President Tonya Martin. \u201cThis decision comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ people are facing escalating attacks from the current federal administration and from political forces across the country. At a time when our community is being targeted and made vulnerable, Long Beach should be doing more to protect and uplift us, not taking away one of the most visible and meaningful expressions of inclusion our city has.<\/p>\n
\u201cCanceling Pride sends the wrong message. It tells LGBTQ+ residents, workers, students, small business owners, artists, families, visitors, and allies that their safety, visibility, and celebration are negotiable. It undermines decades of volunteer work and community trust. And it weakens the very values Long Beach claims to champion. At this moment, we need leadership. We need inclusion. We need the City to stand with Pride, not cancel it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city statement said alternate plans are in place for people who are already in town with plans to attend the festival on Saturday or Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo accommodate those coming into town for that event, Long Beach will add additional transit options to connect downtown locations to the Bixby Park area so that there are many options available to celebrate in Long Beach,\u201d city officials said.<\/p>\n
Many on social media noted that large crowds typically attend the festival and pump thousands of dollars into the local economy. Others said the event is almost entirely organized by volunteers with little to no professional staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpecting an event that must coordinate with city departments and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on to be completely run by volunteers is unreasonable,\u201d Chuck Stewart posted under a Facebook announcement about the cancellation. \u201cThese events need at least a paid professional leader who can keep the event on track.\u201d<\/p>\n
In their statement, festival organizers pledged to seek a way to restore the festival to future Pride weekends in Long Beach.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on the City of Long Beach to immediately engage in good faith with Long Beach Pride, community leaders, public safety partners, and elected officials to identify a path forward that preserves the festival and protects the community,\u201d Martin\u2019s statement continued. \u201cWe call on our Mayor Rex Richardson and the city council members to make the Pride Festival happen. We ask that our city leaders stand with the community at this critical moment and help ensure that Long Beach remains a beacon of equality, safety, and pride.\u201d<\/p>\n
Apart from the group\u2019s official statement, Martin said organizers had \u201casked the city for help earlier this year\u201d ahead of the 2026 festival, the Long Beach Press Telegram reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite continued collaboration and multiple deadline notices, the City did not receive the required documentation needed to complete safety reviews, inspect critical event infrastructure, such as the stage, electrical systems and tent, and emergency exiting plans to ensure compliance with public safety standards.\u201d the city\u2019s official statement said. \u201cWith event programming scheduled to begin [Friday] \u2026 and essential information still outstanding, there is no longer sufficient time to safely permit the festival this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tickets were $75 for the two-day event and roughly 300 had been sold in advance, according to the LAist news site.<\/p>\n
Some commenting on social media said they were already in the process of seeking refunds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis situation is unacceptable,\u201d Facebook user Power Man noted under the announcement. \u201cIf the organizers already knew the event was going to be canceled and continued selling tickets, that could be considered fraud. There seems to be something suspicious behind this cancellation and it should be investigated immediately. I am requesting a full refund as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Long Beach, was among those expressing disappointment about the festival cancellation while urging people to still find ways to celebration Pride in the city this weekend<\/p>\n
\u201cLong Beach Pride has been a beacon of joy, pride, and acceptance for decades,\u201d Hahn said in a statement. \u201cWhile I am happy that the Pride parade will go on as planned, I am disappointed that the festival has been canceled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that people will still come out and celebrate this weekend, see the performances that have been relocated to the Terrace Theater, and support the local Long Beach businesses that are just as proud as ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
The theme for what remains is \u201cFearless and Free,\u201d highlighting resilience, authenticity and equality.<\/p>\n
Remaining activities include performances by Grammy winner Thelma Houston, Robyn S and Thea Austin.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s parade is set for 10 a.m. beginning at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue and continuing along Ocean and Alamitos Avenue into the city\u2019s downtown area.<\/p>\n
City officials said Pride weekend remains one of the community\u2019s defining events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis weekend is one of the busiest in the City of Long Beach as the community celebrates Pride and the LGBTQ+ community,\u201d officials said. \u201cLong Beach is proud to host the Pride Parade, which will occur as promised this year, and will feature 141 entries \u2014 the most in City history.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany Long Beach bars, restaurants and businesses will be fully activated, and the City has permitted five special events to activate additional spaces. Information on all that is happening this weekend in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community can be found at visitlongbeach.com\/events\/annual-events\/long-beach-pride, which will be updated throughout the weekend. The City encourages everyone to have fun and celebrate safely.\u201d<\/p>\n
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