Saturday, June 13, 2026

Pasadena Hosts Fifth Annual Pride Celebration Tonight at City Hall

Drag performances, live music, and family activities cap the city’s five-year tradition of Pride Month observances

The City of Pasadena will hold its fifth annual Pride Month celebration tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at City Hall, continuing a tradition of city-sponsored LGBTQIA+ gatherings that began in 2022.

The free event features drag performances by Los Angeles-based 2 Hot 2 Handle, headlined by Rock M. Sakura, who competed on the 12th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, along with live music by singer-songwriter Virr, according to a city press release. Arts-and-crafts activities, dance contests, inflatables, food trucks, and a photo display by Gilbert B. Weingourt titled “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” round out the evening’s lineup.

“Pasadena Pride brings our community together to honor and support our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, friends, and family members while creating a space where everyone feels welcome and valued,” Koko Panossian, director of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, said in the press release.

The celebration, branded “Love, Loud & Proud!,” takes place at 100 N. Garfield Ave. Attendees can connect with local LGBTQIA+ organizations, community partners, and city departments, according to the press release. Girl Squad Media will host a photo opportunity at the event.

The city’s Pride observances have expanded since 2021, when Pasadena first raised the rainbow flag at City Hall. The flag-raising became an annual ceremony, now in its sixth year, and the celebration itself launched in June 2022. This year’s flag was raised June 1 at a ceremony where Mayor Victor Gordo said Pasadena “is a city that accepts, loves and welcomes all people regardless of where they’re from, regardless of how they identify,” according to Pasadena Now.

Terry Madigan, who will serve as president of the 2027 Tournament of Roses and is the first openly gay president in the association’s history, also spoke at the flag-raising, according to Pasadena Now.

Sponsors for tonight’s event include HRC Fertility, Pasadena Management Association, Girl Squad Media, The Boulevard, and Fat Boys, according to the city press release.

For accessibility requests, contact (626) 744-7311 or CSC@CityOfPasadena.net, providing at least 72 hours advance notice.

“We are excited to host this celebration and invite the community to join us for an evening of connection, joy, and pride,” Panossian said.