LGBT Pride Parade and Festival

There’s nothing sexier than loving yourself. To celebrate being yourself, each year San Diego [1] hosts its own LGBT Pride Parade and Festival (http://sandiegopride.org [2], June). Smaller than the mammoth festival in San Francisco [3] each year, San Diego Pride beckons to those who want the fun of Pride without the mega-crowds. (But still, with all that bikini weather, expect plenty of people to be in attendance at all events and on both days of the festival.)

The weekend is packed with events and attractions, from a 5K run to a Ferris wheel. No matter who you are or what you’re into, there’s something for you here. You’ll find almost a dozen stages, each offering a different style of music from hip-hop to acoustic to Latino to lavender.

Just about every possible lifestyle choice is represented with its own fun area; you can get hardcore in the leather space, explore your sexuality in the bisexual area, or bring your children to the family place. If you love baseball and queer life, plan ahead and purchase tickets to the Padres Pride event.

The parade and festival take place in Balboa Park [4], spilling out to the Hillcrest neighborhood especially in the evening, and out to Petco Park for the Padres baseball event.

Check the website for information about park-and-ride services, parking, bicycle parking, public transit, and more. You can purchase tickets in advance, or at the festival. There’s no smoking at the festival, but if you need wheelchair assistance, contact the festival organizers in advance.