December 9, 2023 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Solving Last Year’s Over-Capacity Issues at L.A. Pride

 With chart-topping pop stars like Kehlani and Tove Lo headlining last year’s L.A. Pride Festival, no one could have been surprised by an unusually high turnout. However, during last year’s Pride, the City of West Hollywood, along with the Pride organizers of Christopher Street West, saw an unexpected number of ticket sales and flooded streets on Saturday, June 9, causing parade-goers to be turned away by the thousands.

 Before any of the headlining performances began, helicopters circled in the sky, and thousands of ticket-buyers were being told by the L.A. Fire Department that the venue was full. Fast-forward to next weekend: the festival is as popular as ever and the headliners are equally as thrilling. This leaves attendees wondering if the trek will even be worth it, or will they be turned away at the gates again. The Pride L.A. spoke with Madonna Cacciatore, CSW Executive Director about the subject. So if you plan on attending the festival this year, keep on reading! 

Why were guests being turned away at the gate last year?

 The venue hit capacity and our main priority is the safety of our guests. We had to prioritize safety above all else and accept responsibility for all the issues it caused at the door.  

 Did the event sell out? Was it over capacity?

The LA Pride festival sold out for the first time in the nearly 50-year history.  Many attendees arrived early and stayed all day which has never happened before.

Photo: Facebook.
LA Pride 2018

Why does the Pride Festival get so crowded? 

 The event has grown from a small community gathering into something completely unique: a safe and inclusive space where tens of thousands of people can gather to embrace everyone for who they are.  

 What steps is CSW taking to assuage crowd control this year?

 With the obvious increase in demand for the LA Pride festival, we will be working with the City of West Hollywood and the community to continue to improve and evolve the festival. We are working to continue adding more programming for our guests to participate in. This year, we have added a free block party called “Pride on the Boulevard” which allows guests to gather and watch local performers on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. The block party will be located on Santa Monica Boulevard between San Vicente and Robertson Boulevards and is a great place for people to unite and celebrate together. We have also added a new free Friday night program that will feature an official Opening Ceremony and a combination of entertainment including a Weho Vogue Ball and Drag Show, music from local DJs and special surprise guests. For our 21+ guests, we are offering two new beer gardens located in the Koontz Hardware parking lot and next to The Factory.

 LA Pride is also implementing the below to help create a more seamless event experience:

 • Ticketing and guest services relocated to Santa Monica Boulevard, between Palm and Hancock Avenues, to expedite entrance into the festival grounds and reduce wait times

 • New and additional street closures to help improve the flow

• Increased and improved security teams with specialized training for the LGBTQ+ community

 • Improvements to ADA implementation and accessibility for all guests, with extra focus on safe access and space throughout the festival for those guests requiring additional assistance. All ADA compliance and improvements will be overseen by Accessible Festivals.

Photo: Facebook. Attendees at last year’s LA Pride Festival

 How will the expansion onto Santa Monica Boulevard help?

 The expansion onto Santa Monica Blvd allows for additional opportunities for the community to engage with the festival and each other.

 How can guests ensure entrance this year? 

 We encourage guests to plan accordingly and arrive earlier in the day to ensure entrance this year.

LA Pride is organized by nonprofit Christopher Street West Association, Inc. This year’s festival is help on June 8-9 and the parade will be on June 9. For more information and tickets, visit lapride.org

Related Posts

(Video) The Christmas Tree at The Abbey of West Hollywood has been lit

December 8, 2023

December 8, 2023

 The Holidays have officially begun in Weho with festive cheer @centurycitywestwoodnews The Christmas Tree at The Abbey of West Hollywood....

Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue Live Comes To LA For a Delightful Run of Shows

December 8, 2023

December 8, 2023

Join Sophia, Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy for a Hilarious Journey in 2023 By Dolores Quintana Gather your closest pals and...

Celebrated Chefs Feniger and Milliken to Debut Alice B., Their First Palm Springs Venture

December 7, 2023

December 7, 2023

Feniger & Milliken’s Alice B. Opens its Doors in Palm Springs This Week  Award-winning chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue...

LA County’s Winter Virus Surge: New Respwatch Dashboard Unveiled to Track COVID-19, Flu, and RSV

December 7, 2023

December 7, 2023

Stay Informed, Stay Safe: County Launches Comprehensive Surveillance Tool for Respiratory Viruses By Dolores Quintana In the past week, respiratory...

Norman Lear’s Legacy Illuminated at 2023 Sentinel Awards Celebrating Impactful TV Storytelling

December 7, 2023

December 7, 2023

Beverly Hills Event Honors Lear’s Enduring Influence on Television and Social Narratives By Dolores Quintana The Writers Guild Theater in...

LA City Council To Vote on Recommendation Which Could Eliminate Al Fresco Space

December 7, 2023

December 7, 2023

Vote To Take Place in 24 Hours, Small Restaurant Urges Action From Food Fans By Dolores Quintana A last-minute development...

LA Times Unveils Top 101 Restaurants in Los Angeles for 2023 – Westside Gems Shine Bright

December 6, 2023

December 6, 2023

Food Critic Bill Addison’s Culinary Examination Recognizes Outstanding LA Eateries By Dolores Quintana The Los Angeles Times food critic Bill...

Second Fatality Linked to Panera’s Charged Lemonade Sparks Legal Action

December 6, 2023

December 6, 2023

Panera Faces Lawsuit Over Caffeinated Beverage Following Tragic Death By Dolores Quintana Panera Bread is under legal scrutiny again as...

West Hollywood Joins Forces for 34th Annual Toy and Food Drive – Spreading Joy to Families in Need

December 6, 2023

December 6, 2023

City Collaborates with Sheriff’s Station to Bring Holiday Cheer through Monetary Donations, Toys, and Gift Cards By Dolores Quintana In...

Human Rights Speakers Series Presents a Touching Documentary on Fatherhood, Brotherhood, and Unconditional Love

December 6, 2023

December 6, 2023

Netflix Partners with the City of West Hollywood for Exclusive Screening of ‘The Dads’ In partnership with Netflix, the City...

LA Metro Boosts Train Buzz: Faster Rides and Later Service Begin December 10

December 6, 2023

December 6, 2023

Responding to Rider Surge, Metro Improves Frequencies On A, C, E, and K Lines By Dolores Quintana Responding to an...

Lyft Spreads Holiday Cheer: $20K in Free Ride Credits for Disabled and Elderly Residents in LA

December 6, 2023

December 6, 2023

Partnering with Local Organizations, Lyft Gives Back to Ease Holiday Travel Struggles  By Dolores Quintana As the holiday season unfolds,...

Los Angeles Payroll Report Shows That Significant Numbers of City Employees Aren’t Local

December 5, 2023

December 5, 2023

City Controller Mejia’s Report Calls Attention to City Workers Place of Residence By Dolores Quintana In the realm of payroll,...

Protest Erupts in Los Angeles Over City’s Approval of Rent Hike Approval

December 5, 2023

December 5, 2023

Residents and Advocacy Groups Unite Against City Council’s Decision By Dolores Quintana In Los Angeles, residents took to the streets...

Billie Eilish Sarcastically Responds to Unexpected Outing at Variety Awards

December 5, 2023

December 5, 2023

Hitmakers Awards Ceremony Interview Aftermath Prompts IG Response By Dolores Quintana In a recent interview with the entertainment industry trade...