Event Dates
From: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
To: Monday, July 17, 2023
San Diego Pride offers some amazing events leading up to the main pride parade. Other highlights include the Hillcrest Block Party & Pride Festival.
With 265 days with sunshine, its nearly always a good time to visit San Diego, and there is no better time than during the city’s annual Pride festival. Plan early as this is one of San Diego’s biggest events.
- Stay close to all the pride festivities in the Downtown district, home to some of the city’s better hotels and just 8 minutes from the block party (Hillcrest neighbourhood is short on nice hotels). Stay at The Bristol, a boutique hotel located at the crossroads of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.
Highlights during the San Diego pride weekend include the Spirit of Stonewall Rally, the Pride Block Party in Hillcrest, and the always colorful San Diego Pride Parade on the last Saturday of the event.
The Rally
- Friday, July 14, 2023 @ 6 PM – 7 PM – The official opening of the San Diego Pride weekend with inspiring speakers, recognize LGBTQ leaders, and raise the Pride flag at Hillcrest Pride Flag, 1500 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103.
The Block Party
- Thursday, July 13th & Friday, July 14, 2023 – 4:00 PM to 11pm – The Pride of Hillcrest Block Party kicks off San Diego Pride weekend in the heart of Hillcrest! This event for those 21 years and older includes food, drinks, carnival rides, and lots of DJs, go-gos, and dancing!
- Stay close by in the Mission Valley district, close to all the gay bars and clubs. Try the Kings Inn Hotel, with a great pool, gym and perfect location.
San Diego Pride Circuit Parties
Other events not to be missed include:
- LE Parties Pool Parties & Events – July 12th to 16th, 2023.
- Rich’s Pride Week San Diego – July 12th to 16th, 2023.
- The Unite Pride Circuit Party – July 14th to 17th, 2023.
- San Diego DILF Out & Loud – July 14th to 17th, 2023.
- Furrageous & Sub Woofer – San Diego Bear Pride – July 14th & 15th, 2023
- The Pride by the Pier Party – July 15th, 2023.
- GPS Party – San Diego Edition – July 15th 2023.
- The Escapade Sunset Cruise – July 15th, 2023.
- United We Groove Cruise – July 16th, 2023.
- San Diego Sunset Tea Dance – July 16th, 2023.
- The Hole in the Wall Sunday Block Party – July 16th, 2023.
The San Diego Parade & Route
- Saturday July 15th 2023 – 10 am to 3 pm – San Diego Pride leaves from the intersection of Normal Street and University Avenue, west to 6th Avenue and then south to Balboa Drive and Quince Street. (1.5 miles)
- Watch for the military contingent, which includes active duty and veteran service members. Be sure to cheer them on at the parade when the contingent passes by!
- What’s a parade without a marching band? Over 200 Southern California youth make up the Pride Youth Marching Band, which will perform down the San Diego Pride Parade route. And it wouldn’t be a Pride parade without motorcycles – and lots of them! Listen for the revving of the engines, and watch the Motorcycle Contingent cruise by as part of the procession.
- It’s tradition to close out the San Diego Pride Parade with the giant rainbow flag! As always, everyone is welcome to join in and help carry the flag to the San Diego Pride Music Festival.
- Stay close to all the pride festivities in the Downtown district, home to some of the city’s better hotels and just 8 minutes from the gay bars. Stay at The Bristol, a boutique hotel located at the crossroads of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.
The Pride Music Festival
- Saturday, July 15 – Sunday, July 16 2023 – Don’t miss the San Diego Pride Music Festival on Saturday (11 am–10 pm) and Sunday (11 am–9 pm), during which some 40,000 revelers of all ages and backgrounds dance and celebrate to performances by more than 100 musicians on four different stages. This is a ticketed event.
- Stay close to the park with more than 70 nearby hotels and some stunning condos with great views.
The Rainbow Zone
- The Free Rainbow Zone is located just outside the Pride Music Festival and includes many longtime attractions of the San Diego Pride Festival, including Art of Pride, Lambda Archives history area, Senior Cool Zone, Youth Zone by Trevor Project, Pride Family Picnic and more! And no ticket is needed – this area is completely free and open to everyone!
Where to stay during San Diego Pride?
Hillcrest and North Park are two neighborhoods in San Diego that attract LGBTQ+ travelers on the hunt for gay friendly entertainment, drinks and socializing.
The following hotels are currently trending with our readers and are close to the gay bars and clubs:
Pendry San Diego, Gaslamp Plaza Suites, The Westin, Inn at the Park
Where to stay close to all the gay bars
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
The Solamar Hotel a great gay-friendly
Hotel in the perfect location with fab pool
For further information and advice on
San Diego Gay Pride visit The Website
The gay scene in San Diego is located mostly in the trendy Hillcrest neighborhood, just northeast of Balboa Park and a short drive or cab ride from downtown. Several others are in the districts just to the east of Hillcrest: University Heights and Normal Heights.
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in San Diego that keep you close to all the shops, restaurants & bars
Pendry San Diego features a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and bar and offers free WiFi. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and ticket service for guests. The hotel offers a à la carte or American breakfast.
The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter features a sundeck with outdoor games, spa services and a swimming pool. A 55-inch flat-screen TV each guestroom is furnished with a refrigerator and a coffee machine. A laptop safe and work desk are also provided. Eco-friendly LED and CFL lights along with solar shades
Gaslamp Plaza Suites is a historical, European-style hotel built in 1913. The original architectural design with marble walls and stairways is featured at Gaslamp Plaza Suites. Each stylish room at this hotel provides a seating area with a cable TV and a DVD player. Suites include a refrigerator, a coffee machine
This unique all-suite San Diego property is situated on the edge of Balboa Park West. It features a piano bar and elegant suites with kitchen facilities. Inn at the Park features traditional historic charm and spacious suites. Each suite includes clean white linens and a cable TV.
2017 San Diego Pride Parade Montage
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Expedia
We have chosen hotels in San Diego that keep you close to all the shops, restaurants & bars
This smoke-free hotel features 2 restaurants, a restaurant, and an outdoor pool. Other amenities include 3 bars/lounges, a 24-hour fitness center, and a poolside bar. All 400 soundproofed rooms provide free WiFi, free wired Internet, and minibars, Smart TVs with cable channels, bathrobes and slippers.
Along with 2 restaurants, this smoke-free hotel has a restaurant and a fitness center. Other amenities include a bar/lounge, a rooftop terrace, and valet parking. All 258 rooms offer comforts like pillowtop beds and Egyptian cotton sheets, plus MP3 docks and Smart TVs with digital channels.
Along with a full-service spa, this smoke-free hotel has a restaurant and an outdoor pool. Additionally, a health club, a bar/lounge, and a coffee shop/café are onsite. All 223 rooms offer WiFi, balconies, and LED TVs with cable channels. iPod docks, room service, and premium bedding.
This smoke-free aparthotel features a restaurant, an indoor pool, & a 24-hour fitness center. A bar/lounge, a spa tub, & valet parking. Each apartment offers pillowtop bed & premium bedding, plus free WiFi & a flat-screen TV with digital channels. Sitting area & a microwave