SaMo Pride returns June 21 with expanded, all-ages celebration
May 8, 2025 7:58 AM
This press release was originally issued by The ACE Agency in collaboration with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica Pier, Main Street Santa Monica, the city of Santa Monica and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism.
SANTA MONICA (May 7, 2025) — The month-long SaMo Pride celebration returns this June with interactive experiences and community-driven events that honor and uplift the LGBTQ+ community while championing visibility, acceptance and inclusion throughout Santa Monica.
On Saturday, June 21, the celebration culminates in a full day of Pride programming across the Promenade, Pier, Santa Monica Place and Main Street, inviting locals and visitors to spend the day by the beach exploring art, entertainment, family-friendly activities and community resources that reflect the heart of SaMo Pride.
SaMo Pride is a citywide partnership between Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.), Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica Pier and Main Street Santa Monica, in collaboration with the city of Santa Monica and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. Full event details and updates are available at SMPride.com.
At the Santa Monica Pier, the beloved Fabulous Fables: Drag Queen Pride Family-Edition returns from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the historic Merry Go-Round Building. Presented in partnership with The Crow Comedy Club, this joyful event welcomes all family members and features face painting, a live performance by Santa Monica Playhouse, a poetry reading by Santa Monica Poet Laureate Anne Carmack, Drag Storytelling and a Books & Cookies pop-up. Guests can also browse local vendors offering family-friendly goods.
That same morning, near the Santa Monica Pier, Pride at the Pier Beach Sporting Experience returns from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with OutLoud Sports, the nation’s largest provider of LGBTQ+ recreational sports, bringing mini tournaments in kickball, dodgeball, soccer, football, volleyball, tennis and cornhole, plus music, food and drinks, to fuel the fun. Just north of the Pier, at the same time, Pride at the Pier Beach Volleyball offers open-format play hosted by Pride Point Volleyball, inviting all skill levels to spike, set and connect in an inclusive, community-driven tournament founded by LGBTQ+ members.
Just steps away from the Pier, Santa Monica Place hosts Pride Disco and Kid Zone from 12 to 4 p.m., featuring a family-friendly Silent Disco along with inclusive craft activities in partnership with Cayton Children’s Museum. Overhead, Lanterns of Love, a striking lantern display that brightens Center Plaza with brilliant color and Pride symbolism, will illuminate Center Plaza all month long.
Hosted by DTSM, Inc., Pride on the Promenade takes place from 2 to 7 p.m. with musical performances, fun giveaways, interactive games and a curated selection of LGBTQ+ businesses on Third Street Promenade. New this year, Pride on the Promenade is anticipated to be part of Downtown Santa Monica’s expanded Entertainment Zone, which allows guests to responsibly enjoy alcoholic beverages as they stroll the Promenade.
Community organizations and local service providers will also be on-site to offer resources, support and connection. For talent submissions, vendor opportunities and to learn more about Pride on the Promenade, please visit eventeny.com/events/pride-on-the-promenade-20126. For sponsorship inquiries, please reach out to DTSM, Inc. Director of Marketing & Partnerships Ariana Gomez at ariana@downtownsm.com.
On Main Street Santa Monica, Pride-goers will enjoy Drag Bingo in the Beer Garden from 3 to 6 p.m., alongside the return of the Summer Soulstice celebration. The district is filled with live music, family activities, art installations, sidewalk sales and more. Main Street will be closed to cars for nearly a mile, from Strand Street to Pier Avenue, enhancing the pedestrian-friendly experience. For more information and tickets to Drag Bingo, visit mainstreetsm.com.
The weekend celebration concludes Sunday, June 22, with the Pride on the Pier Dance Party, bringing high-energy beats, entertainment and community celebration right by the ocean.
In addition to the weekend programming, the city of Santa Monica continues its tradition of honoring Pride with a calendar of community-building events throughout June. Highlights include the city’s official Pride Proclamation on May 27, SaMo Pride Drag Bingo Night on June 5, the AIDS LifeCycle Finish Line Festival on June 7, Family PRIDE at the Annenberg Community Beach House on June 13, Rainbow Family Storytime at the Ocean Park Branch Library on June 17, and much more.
For a full schedule of SaMo Pride events, programming updates and more, visit SMPride.com.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov