The Ultimate Guide to L.A. Pride 2018
With L.A. Pride 2018 only days away, it’s important those looking to take part in the weekend festivities have all the necessary into to make this year’s celebration the best yet.
So with that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about L.A. Pride 2018, from what’s in store, who’s headlining and how you can arrive de-stressed and with all your hair in tact, also known as not having to park a car.
When and where is L.A. Pride 2018?
L.A. Pride 2018 is this weekend! Have you been hiding under a rock? While Pride is really more a ‘state of mind’ than anything, the official L.A. Pride events are taking place in West Hollywood, Saturday and Sunday, June 9 & 10.
While the L.A. Pride 2018 parade will, as always, make its way down Santa Monica Boulevard through WeHo, the L.A. Pride Festival will take place in West Hollywood Park, along San Vicente Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, as well as in Pacific Design Center Plaza.
How much will L.A. Pride 2018 set me back?
The Pride Festival will run you $30 for a single day (either Saturday or Sunday), or $40 for a weekend pass. You can purchase your pass online here or when you show up at the festival.
If you’re disabled, an active member of the military, a veteran or a senior, you only have to pay $15 at the festival’s box office.
L.A. Pride 2018 is also offering something called a “Backstage Experience” for $250 (single day) or $400 (full weekend) that gets you exclusive backstage access to the Park Stage (that’s the one with all the headlining acts), two vodka cocktails per day and a complimentary afternoon meal.
And as always, the L.A. Pride 2018 Parade is free!
What happens at the L.A. Pride 2018 Festival?
So much! First and foremost, the L.A. Pride 2018 Festival will feature three stages, the Park Stage (mainstage), the Boulevard Stage (Hip-Hop Music stage) and the Plaza Stage (Latin Music stage). Each one is set to feature a crazy bunch of talented pop and drag acts.
On Saturday, featured artists include Kehlani, Icona Pop, Superfruit, Kim Petras, Keri Hilson, Jesslove, Alexis Mateo and more.
On Sunday the big acts include Tove Lo, Eve, Jessica 6, Saturn Rising, Keke Wyatt, Cece Peniston, Laith Ashley, Natalia Jimenez, Kalorie Karbdashian Williams, Monique Heart and more.
But in addition to the music acts, the L.A. Pride 2018 Festival will feature a ton of vendors (everything from upcoming films doing promo work, local organizations and more), lots of food and drink options, the Trans Galeria, alcohol- and substance-free area Sizzle and Erotic City, a special leather and S&M area of the festival restricted to adults.
The L.A. Pride 2018 Festival is open to the public from noon to 1 a.m. on Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
What about the L.A. Pride 2018 Parade?
Always a highlight of L.A. Pride, this year’s Parade will begin at 11 a.m., marching down Santa Boulevard from Fairfax Avenue to Doheny Drive, until 2 p.m. You’ll just need to make sure you get a great spot among the crowds lining the street (which, yes, for the uninitiated, happens to be the main drag of the city’s gayborhood.
The theme of this year’s L.A. Pride festivities is #JustBe, and this year’s Parade Grand Marshal is trans activist, entrepreneur and restauranteur Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn. She’s the CEO of Pollo West Corp, one of the largest franchises for El Pollo Loco restaurants in the Western U.S., and she’s long been dedicated to diversity and inclusion among the company. She was also the first trans contestant in the Ms. Senior California Pageant, worked as a consultant on Laverne Cox’s character in Orange Is the New Black and is Vice Chair for the Trevor Project.
Parking in L.A. sucks. What’s the best way to get to L.A. Pride 2018?
Due to the popularity of L.A. Pride each year, getting there can be a hassle if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you can, we suggest taking a ride-share into West Hollywood. (Parking is the worst in L.A., after all.) Or opt for public transportation. Several Metro Bus Lines will bring you almost directly to the Festival or Parade.
Check out this public transportation map:
OK, but this is L.A. Surely there’s more fun stuff happening throughout the week!
You’d be right! Events have been planned long in advance to make L.A. Pride 2018 an entire week of fabulous events.
Tonight, June 7, head to the Staples Center for Women’s Night at the L.A. Sparks. At 7 p.m., they’ll take on the Seattle Storm, and following the game you’re invited to the Staples Center City View Terrace Rooftop for the second annual L.A. Pride Women’s Party, right in the heart of L.A. Live. More info here.
If baseball is more your thing, the sixth annual LGBT Night at the L.A. Dodgers takes place Friday, June 8. Now a full-on tradition, the Dodgers will honor some of the biggest LGBT names in sports, including Gus Kenworthy, Dale Scott (the first openly gay umpire in MLB history) and Will Hackner, Founder of the Varsity Gay League. The kick-off party lasts from 5:30 p.m. to around 7:10 p.m., when the first pitch is thrown against the Atlanta Braves. More info here.
Also on Friday, L.A. Pride 2018 holds its free Youth Pride Dance for people 24 and younger. Held at the L.A. LGBT Center, it’s an outdoor, glow-themed party with food, non-alcoholic drinks, giveaways and more. More info here.
Last but not least, not to be outdone, L.A. Pride dedicates itself to a full 40 days of Pride programming. Called One City One Pride and having begun back on May 22, Harvey Milk Day, OCOP includes a plethora of all sorts of events — staged readings, screenings, panels, concerts and even the TransLife LA PoP Up Film Festival. Find more info about OCOP here.
