Santa Barbara County nonprofit Santa Ynez Valley Pride is getting ready for the fourth annual Pride celebration with a lineup of events, June 1-30.
“This year’s Pride theme Lead with Love is about a bold and brave kind of love that requires action,” said Lauren Lastra, president of SYV Pride. “It will ask us to stand up for all members of our community, especially our trans and immigrant neighbors.
“It will require that we act with kindness in the face of adversity and that we garner strength and hope through community. It will empower us to create safe spaces throughout the valley where folx can unapologetically be themselves and know that they belong here.”
Pride month’s main attraction, the SYV Pride Parade will roll through downtown Solvang at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14 with floats and music. The parade concludes with a family-centric Pride Festival at noon at Solvang Park (corner of Mission Drive and First Street).
The festival will feature bounce houses; face painting; vendor booths; a beer and wine garden; food vendors; and live music with a performance by The Molly Ringwald Project and tunes by DJ Darla Bea.
The SYV Pride celebration is open to the public with ticketed and non-ticketed events. Event updates will be announced on the SYV Pride website. Proceeds, in part or in whole, and donations from all events will benefit SYV Pride.
SYV Pride opens the month’s activities Sunday, June 1 with a Pride Brunch at Brave & Maiden Estate in Santa Ynez, followed by a disco-themed kick-off event at the Future Perfect Wine tasting room in Los Olivos.
On Tuesday, June 3, and continuing each Tuesday in June, Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez will host “Gayraoke;” and on Thursday, June 12 Stolpman Fresh Garage hosts All Colors of the Rainbow, a wine event in Los Olivos.
SYV Pride thanks sponsors and supporters, including: Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians; Farmacy Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden; Allan Hancock College; Lefty’s Coffee Co.; Rio Vista Chevrolet; and Carla & Jon Mead.
The SYV Pride foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to the annual Parade & Festival, SYV Pride collaborates with local partners; organizes, sponsors and supports other community events; and brings together the financial resources of individuals, families and businesses.
SYV Pride offers scholarships to local Santa Ynez Valley High School seniors who have shown leadership in supporting the LGTBQ+ community. Learn more about SYV Pride’s Board here.