Long Beach Cancels Annual Pride Festival Due to Permit and Safety Issues
Long Beach Pride Festival Canceled Amid Safety Concerns
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The city of Long Beach has announced the last-minute cancellation of the Long Beach Pride Festival, originally scheduled for this weekend at Marina Green Park. This decision has sparked disappointment among organizers and community members alike.
City officials cited a failure by festival organizers to provide necessary safety documentation, including plans for emergency exits and vital infrastructure such as staging and electrical systems. According to special events officials, the city did not receive the required information in time to safely permit the event.
Despite the cancellation of the festival, the annual Long Beach Pride parade will proceed as planned on Sunday morning, starting at 10 a.m. The parade is set to feature 141 entries, making it the largest lineup in the city’s history. Additionally, several performances—including those by Grammy winner Thelma Houston, Robyn S, and Thea Austin—will be relocated to the Terrace Theater.
Organizers had sold around 300 advance tickets for the festival at $75 each, prompting many attendees to voice their frustrations on social media and demand full refunds.
City officials emphasized that the decision was made with public safety in mind. "Unfortunately … 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," a statement from Special Events officials read. "Despite continued collaboration and multiple deadline notices, the City did not receive the required documentation needed to complete safety reviews… there is no longer sufficient time to safely permit the festival this year."
Long Beach Pride President Tonya Martin expressed her disappointment, calling for Mayor Rex Richardson and the city council to find a way to salvage the festival. "Canceling Pride sends the wrong message," Martin remarked. "It tells LGBTQ+ residents, workers, students, small business owners, artists, families, visitors, and allies that their safety, visibility, and celebration are negotiable."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn shared her mixed feelings regarding the cancellation, stating, "While I am happy that the Pride parade will go on as planned, I am disappointed that the festival has been canceled." She encouraged residents and visitors to support local businesses and attend the relocated performances.
Looking ahead, festival organizers have committed to working with city leaders and public safety partners to ensure the festival can return in the future. In the meantime, the city plans to implement additional transit options to facilitate access to remaining holiday activities around Bixby Park.
