May 22, 2025 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

Memorial Day Weekend in L.A.: Rosé, Beach BBQs, and Brunches Ring in the Summer

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Westside Is Packed With Culinary Events, Pop-Ups, and Parties This Weekend Angelenos looking to kick off the summer season...

(Video) Interview with Chef Roy Choi for his new book The Choi of Cooking

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

We speak with the world-famous Socal Chef in Manhattan Beach at the Los Angeles Public Library.

FDA Probes Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Recalled Cucumbers Distributed in California

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

At Least 26 People Sickened and 9 Hospitalized in Multiple States  Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of...

Thieves Use Cars to Smash Into Fairfax Stores in String of High-End Burglaries

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

LAPD Investigates String of Vehicle-Driven Break-Ins at Specialty Boutiques Storeowners in the Fairfax District are grappling with concerns about safety...

State Farm Seeks New Insurance Rate Hikes for California Homeowners and Renters

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Insurer Aims to Raise Premiums by up to 52% for Some Policyholders by 2026 Just one week after receiving approval...

Mayor Bass Launches Major Initiative to Boost Film Production in Los Angeles After Years of Neglect

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Facing Industry Setbacks, L.A. Rolls Out Plan to Attract On-Location Shoots In a renewed effort to preserve Los Angeles’ status...

Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd Settle Labor Lawsuit with Former Pump Employees for $490K

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Judge Approves Final Class-Action Settlement in Long-Running Wage Dispute Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, have reached a final...

Michelin Three Star Institution Brings 20th Anniversary Culinary Experience to Beverly Hills

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Grant Achatz’s Alinea Heads to Beverly Hills for Summer Residency Renowned chef Grant Achatz and his team at Alinea, Chicago’s...

Deadline Approaches to Apply for GLAAD’s 2025 Black Queer Creative Summit

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Program Returns in September to Support Emerging Black LGBTQ Creatives The deadline to apply to the 2025 Black Queer Creative...

West Hollywood City Manager David Wilson to Retire After 26 Years of Public Service

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Wilson to Retire After Guiding West Hollywood Through COVID and Beyond David Wilson, West Hollywood’s City Manager and a longtime...

L.A. County DA Files Over 1,000 Felony Theft Charges Under Prop 36 in Retail Crime Crackdown

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

DA Nathan Hochman Unveils Major Enforcement Effort Targeting Organized Retail Theft Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced...

LGBTQ+ Advocates Condemn Newsom Administration Over $17 Million Health Equity Cut

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

LGBT Center Calls State Funding Rollback a ‘Betrayal’ of Queer and Trans Communities LGBTQ+ advocates are sharply criticizing Governor Gavin...

Getty Villa Museum to Reopen After Months-Long Closure Due to Palisades Fire

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Limited Public Access Resumes With Major New Exhibition on Mycenaean Greece The Getty Villa Museum will reopen to the public...

Woman’s Car Stolen from UCLA Valet in Santa Monica While Visiting Husband in ICU

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Couple Left Without Vehicle During Cancer Treatment After Thief Stole Keys Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a local Montessori school teacher, says she...

Celebrity-Owned Cannabis Dispensary The Woods WeHo Hit in Smash-and-Grab Burglary

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Shop Co-founded by Woody Harrelson, Bill Maher, and John McEnroe Targeted The high-profile cannabis dispensary co-owned by actor Woody Harrelson,...