Save the Date for SaMo PRIDE Festival and Events

By Susan Payne

Santa Monica Pier and downtown Santa Monica are ready to celebrate Pride month with a festival on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SaMo PRIDE, in collaboration with the city of Santa Monica and Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, is a month focused on events and activities for all ages that celebrate inclusivity and diversity. The festival focuses on art, events for people of all ages and community connection, supports the LGBTQ+ community and pays tribute to love in every color.

Downtown, from the Third Street Promenade through Santa Monica Place to the Santa Monica Pier, is designated as a Pride zone where all ages are welcome to enjoy live musical performances, Priderelated treats, free swag, games, and more.

“Colors of PRIDE” photobooth installations, designed by LGBTQ+ artists, will be placed throughout the SaMo PRIDE Festival with fun, interactive props. Photos from the installations will be assembled to create a photographic mosaic, bringing the three districts together in a rainbow of colors that make up the LGBTQ+ Progress PRIDE flag.

The City’s PRIDE proclamation was signed on May 23, recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Santa Monica and serving as a powerful declaration of the city’s support for the LGBTQ+ community, its commitment to promoting equality and inclusion and its dedication to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all individuals.

Other Santa Monica Pride events include:

Trapeze School NY: LA Pride Show 2023 — flying trapeze artists soar over the historic Santa Monica Pier and aerialists will dazzle on the hammock, silks and lyra on the deck on Saturday, June 3 from 4-5 p.m.

Made with PRIDE Marketplace — a unique retail pop-up hosted every Friday through Sunday in June at Santa Monica Place on Level One from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The marketplace showcases over a dozen LGBTQ+ business owners, highlighting their stories and featuring local goods and services made, conceived and curated in Southern California.

SORORITY: WAVES — a celebration of music, theatre and dance at the Annenberg

Community Beach House Sunday, June 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets can be reserved here.

Rainbow Family Storytime at the Main Library — an inclusive story time for LGBTQ+ families at the Santa Monica Public Library, Tuesday, June 6 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

10 Women Gallery – Pride Celebration

— a celebration of pride at the 10 Women Gallery on Tuesday, June 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. featuring rainbow-themed art, appetizers, sweets and wine.

AIDS/LifeCycle Finish Line Festival

— cyclists, roadies, food trucks, entertainment, celebration and many surprises will be held at the AIDS/LifeCycle Finish Line along the Santa Monica Beach from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10.

I Gotta Crow PRIDE Comedy Show

— the funniest LGBTQIA+ comedians will stand up and deliver non-stop laughs and unique insights on life, love and randomness in between on Saturday, June 10 from 8 to 9 p.m. at the Cros. Tickets can be purchased here.

Generation Comedy Smackdown with Judy Carter: PRIDE VERSION — a standup comedy event ending in a game show shakedown where the audience asks questions and decides who the best generation is: lesbian Millennials, gay Boomers, or the gay Gen-zers! Tickets can be purchased here.

Queer Prom at the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club — for LGBTQ+ and allies ages 16-20, Monday, June 12 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club.

PRIDE Sunset Swim — hosted at the Annenberg Community Beach House Friday, June 23 from 6-9 p.m. Fabulous floaties and s’mores included!

Sapphic Icons: Poetry Masterclass and Workshop — hosted by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza and Eileen Elizabeth Espinoza at the Annenberg Community Beach House Saturday, June 24 from 2-5 p.m.

Party with a Purpose! Trans Equity Fundraiser — a happy hour dedicated to raising money for trans equity at The Victorian Thursday, June 29 from 5-7 p.m.

For more information on these events and Santa Monica Pride, visit smpride.com/ events.