The City of Santa Monica is kicking-off its first Pride Month on June 1, nearly 50 years after the 1969 Stonewall riots that sparked the LGBTQ movement.
Downtown Santa Monica, Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Place are collaborating to organize SaMo PRIDE with a series of family-friendly festivities and events along the 3rd Street Promenade, the Pier, and Center Plaza.
“Pride Month is a great way for the community to come together and celebrate everybody in our community,” said Mackenzie Carter, the director of marketing and communications for Downtown Santa Monica. “It’s a celebration of individual empowerment.”
The first festivity, Run + Yoga, takes place at 8 a.m. on the Santa Monica Pier and will be followed-up by Wake Up with the Waves, an event for children ages two to ten filled with dancing, story time, music, and more.
Smorgasburg Pride-Edition will take over The Pier at 11 a.m., offering food prepared by LGBTQ chefs, a beer garden, limited edition PRIDE bandannas, and more.
At night, the sky will be lit with rainbow lights strung above the Promenade, from Wilshire to Broadway. The lights, called “Miles of Pride,” will be lit every night of June.
“People can come walk down the street and feel the love under miles of light,” Carter said.
There has been a positive response from the community since SaMo PRIDE was announced in March, said Carter, who also noted that numerous businesses and residence have provoked interest in becoming more involved in the events.
The Birdcage is hosting an official Venice Pride After Party, Gaywatch, to celebrate the commencement of Pride Month on June 1 from 9 to 10 p.m. Ticket proceed will support Venice Price, a non-profit organization “dedicated to education, to the commemoration of LGBT heritage and to the celebration of LGBT culture and liberation,” according to the Venice Pride website.
The Heritage Museum will also present an art exhibition featuring LGBTQ artists D’Elia, Gus Harper and Gino Perez from June 1 to June 28.
In addition, Dagwoods is offering 20 percent off all orders with the purchase of any MagicalAF Glitter Pizza the entire month of June.
SaMo PRIDE is by no means the first celebration of LGBTQ Pride, however, it has never been formally celebrated in Santa Monica and this is the first city-wide program to do so, according to Carter.
“We hope this becomes a beloved tradition not only downtown, but city-wide,” Carter said.
The festivities begin again next week, visit smpride.com for the complete list of events.
SaMo Pride Month Week 1
June 1
Pier: Run + Yoga = ROGA
8 - 10 a.m.
8 a.m. Run - Meet at the Pier sign on Colorado. 9 a.m. Yoga - Meet at the West End of the Pier. Instructor: Christi Christensen. Free.
Pier: Wake Up With the Waves
9 - 10 a.m.
Pier Playground. Start the weekend with fresh air family fun for kids ages 2-10 (and their parents). Wake up with the Waves comes to life with an interactive story time by Story Pirates, music, dancing, playing and more! It’s a perfect way to start the day. Free.
Pier: Smorgasburg Pride Edition
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Santa Monica Pier
Dagwoods Pride
dagwoods
For the entire month of June, get 20% off your entire order with the purchase of any size #MagicalAF Glitter Pizza! Use coupon code PRIDE20 to apply coupon online.
California Heritage Museum: Lou D’Elia in collaboration with Gus Harper and Gino Perez
June 1 - 28
Exhibition by LGBTQ artist Lou D’Elia in collaboration with Gus Harper and Gino Perez, also LGBTQ artists. Docent tours are available. Two (2) tickets for the price of one. Tickets are $5 for General Admission. Children under 12 and military are free. Free parking and Handicap Facilities. Fridays are free to the public.
The Birdcage: Gaywatch (21+)
9 - 10 p.m.
The Victorian
An Official Venice Pride After Party at The Birdcage following the sign lighting. Featuring hunky beach boys and butches on the dance floor. Space is limited. Purchasing tickets early is strongly advised as we will sell out. Ticket proceeds support Venice Pride, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to saving lives through acceptance and diversity.
Purchase Tickets https://www.showclix.com/event/venice-pride-gaywatch-2019
June 2
Pier: LUSH Beach Clean Up
8 - 11 a.m.
Meet Up At Pier Sign
Participants should stop at LUSH after clean-up for PRIDE thank you gift
June 3
3rd St Promenade: PRIDE Pong
6 - 9 p.m.
North Block of Third Street Promenade, between Arizona and Wilshire. PRIDE themed tables and equipment set-up for free casual play
June 4
Arthur Murray: PRIDE Group Class and Dance Party
7:45 - 8:45 p.m.
Arthur Murray. Rumba Group Class at 7:45 p.m. and stay for party from 8:30 - 9:15 p.m. Learn how to lead, follow or switch it up at our celebration of the LGBTQIA community. www.DancingSantaMonica.com, (310) 260-8886.
June 5
Santa Monica Place: Kids Club with Twinkle Time
11 a.m. 12 p.m.
Santa Monica Place, Third Level Dining Deck. June Kids Club will feature interactive activities and a performance by award-winning kindie music performer, Twinkle Time, who will sing her hit song, “It’s Ok to be Me.” This song is all about acceptance and inclusivity, encouraging kids to accept every person, color, and race.
3rd St Promenade: Work It Wednesdays, PRIDE Edition
6 - 7 p.m.
North Block of Third Street Promenade, between Arizona and Wilshire
Dance, pilates and yoga classes
Main Library: Frank DeCaro and Pandora Boxx present Drag!
7 - 8 p.m.
601 Santa Monica Blvd. Author Frank DeCaro, in conversation with special guest Pandora Boxx, celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month with the release of his new book Drag! Combing Through the Big Wigs of Show Business, an irreverent look at the history of drag queens, and their impact on pop culture and politics. A book sale and signing follows.
June 6
Santa Monica Place: Live Music under “Lanterns of Love”
3 - 4 p.m.
Santa Monica Place, Center Plaza. Santa Monica Place presents free live music every Thursday evening in June under “Lanterns of Love;” an overhead colored lantern installation that spans across Center Plaza in celebration of SaMo Pride. Commemorative Pride bandannas will be given away to guests in Center Plaza. For the full list of musical performances visit https://www.santamonicaplace.com/Events.
Main Library: Soundwaves: john cage’s “Lecture on nothing”
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
601 Santa Monica Blvd. Camera Obscura poetry instructor Brendan Constantine performs John Cage’s text. Cage lived mainly in West LA until his 30s and first performed his own music in Santa Monica, with pioneer gay activist Harry Hay singing.
June 7
WISE & Healthy Aging Headquarters: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall
1 - 2 p.m.
Wise and Healthy Aging. Come celebrate the triumphs and contributions of the LGBTQ+ Community. Learn what happened on June 28 & 29, 1969. Hear from people about what life was like before Stone Wall and since. Hosted by members of the LGBTQ+ Community and Los Angeles Oasis.