The first Saturday of summertime possesses a few mythic properties for many people. You want to get out and enjoy the sunshine, and celebrate with your friends, and be a part of a community, and welcome a season that has shine in both the literal and figurative sense.
The Orange County Pride parade, which will take place on Saturday, June 26, embraces those ideals, and does so in a hue-happy, dance-tastic, "Live Your Life!" kind of way.
In fact, "Live Your Life!" is the 2016 theme of OC Pride Week, which was founded in 1989 and has become one of the Golden State's most vibrant gay pride happenings. The new theme was "(i)nspired by exciting changes, milestones and accomplishments in the name of LGBT pride," reveals the event's site.
"(W)e decided to transform those feelings of admiration, gratitude, and happiness into something visual. Something creative. Something that vividly flaunts what it is we all feel inside!"
It's a festive feeling that will permeate other parties during the June 25 and 26 weekend, from the festival spreading out through a goodly chunk of downtown Santa Ana to the quartet of dance stages to the Kids' Club area to the multiple vendors selling merch that emphasizes unity, joy, and the spirit of "Live Your Life!"
How many people are expected? Over 10,000 attended in 2015. The cost to attend? Watching the parade is totally free, as is browsing the vendor area, but you'll want to alight upon a festival ticket asap.
Happy Pride, OC!
