Santa Ynez Valley Pride will hold its fifth annual Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday in downtown Solvang. The parade route includes Copenhagen Drive, as seen here in last year's parade.
Santa Ynez Valley Pride will hold its fifth annual Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday in downtown Solvang. The parade route includes Copenhagen Drive, as seen here in last year's parade. Credit: Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk file photo

Santa Ynez Valley Pride is holding its fifth Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, and more pride events are planned across the region this summer. 

The fifth annual SYV Pride Parade will start at 11 a.m. in downtown Solvang with a festival to follow around Solvang Park. The festival is designed as a kid-friendly event with a rock climbing wall, face painting, vendor booths and live music. There will also be a beer and wine garden. 

“This year’s theme, Pride in Action, is all about choosing visibility, kindness and courage every single day,” SYV Pride president Lauren Lastra said. “At SYV Pride, Pride in Action isn’t just a theme; it’s what we do. From community events, Youth Connect and scholarship opportunities, we are committed to creating spaces where Pride lives year-round.” 

The parade route is a loop that starts and ends at Alisal Road and Oak Street. 

Find more local pride events and LGBTQ+ businesses to support on the Visit Santa Barbara list here. 

Santa Barbara’s Pride Week is celebrated in August, with the Pacific Pride Festival planned for Aug. 22 this year at Chase Palm Park. It is a free, all ages event. 

“This year’s theme — Out. Proud. Unstoppable — honors the strength of showing up fully, the joy of living authentically and the momentum we create when we move together,” organizers said. 

Have more pride events to share? Let us know at news@noozhawk.com.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.