Pride Events All Year Long
SC Pride hosts free and paid events. The parade and festival are always free, while events leading up to the parade may include a cost to cover expenses.
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Join in many of the events - some of them are free.
Rainbow Reception at Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Join Santa Cruz Pride for the rainbow reception at Alley Oop prior to the final concert at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and visit with composers and musicians from the festival.
Register here to attend the reception and receive a code for 20% off the cost of the ticket for the final concert entitled “Hope is our Banner.”
Pride Night: August Wilson's Fences @ Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Pride Night: Thursday, August 20
Show: Fences @ 7pm
Picnic Dinner @ 5:30
Santa Cruz Pride attendees receive a 15% discount.
Discount code: PRIDESC26.
5:30 - Join SC Pride Board and committee for a picnic dinner outside on the picnic tables. Bring your favorite food to share.
More Info: Tom Ellison: tomeellison95062@gmail.com or Info@SantaCruzPride.org
Purchase Tickets Here. ** Discount code: PRIDESC26
Pride Night: Kristin Key @ Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Pride Night: Monday, September 21
7pm Show: Comedian Kristin Key
Picnic Dinner @ 5:30
5:30 - Join SC Pride Board and committee for a picnic dinner outside on the picnic tables. Bring your favorite food to share.
More Info: Tom Ellison: tomeellison95062@gmail.com or Info@SantaCruzPride.org
Considering Matthew Shepard, An Oratorio
A moving oratorio that honors and explores the life, death and legacy of Matthew Shepard. Also a benefit for the scholarship fund for queer youth across Santa Cruz County to be awarded in 2017. Purchase tickets here.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth parade begins at 12 noon at the Black Lives Matter mural.
Festivities at London Nelson Park from 12-6.
Queerlantis, Year 4: We Grow Stronger
Purchase Tickets ($50-$100)
Queerlantis is a one-night "micro-festival" to kick off Pride Month and celebrate the queer community with friends and allies. Featuring Irene the Alien from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Town Clock Dance Party and Grand Marshal Introductions
Town Clock Dance, DJ and Introductions of Grand Marshals
A Sapphic Jam Session
Mariposa Coffee Bar. Bring your voice or instrument or just come.
IllumiNight 2026 @ County Building
Join us for the second annual Rainbow Lighting of the County Building to kick off Pride month. Bring a flashlight or other colorful lights.
2026 Festival Booth Registration Open
Complete your booth registration here. Early bird registration by April 15. Applications will be accepted until May 1. We are hoping to provide a booth for everyone who registers, However, there are limited booth spaces so registration does not ensure a booth.
2026: Parade Registration Open
All are welcome to be part of our Pride 2026. The parade will kick off at 11am in downtown Santa Cruz at the corner of Pacific and Cathcart and proceed down Pacific and exit on Church Street. We ask Parade Volunteers, Parade Monitors and Contingent leads to arrive onsite at 9:15 am for safety meeting.
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served process. Submitting an application does not guarantee placement within the parade. All applications submitted by Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:59pm will be reviewed. Those submitted after this date may be placed on a waitlist or may not reviewed.
Elevate 2026 for Businesses, Organizations and NonProfits
Join us for the second annual Elevate Event.
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Information and Registration Here.
Holiday Parade - Join the SC Pride Contingent
Join our parade contingent and celebrate the season.
Rainbow Conference for Students and Families
Attend the event or volunteer. Watsonville High School. More Info Here.
Lavender Reader and Local Queer History Panel
Learn more about local queer history at the Santa Cruz Public Library with Scotty Brookie, Jo Kenny and Sarah-Hope Parmeter who will discuss their involvement with the publication, Lavender Reader, that was published in Santa Cruz beginning in 1987 and continued for 10 years. Queer life and culture in Santa Cruz County will be discussed. Panel discussion moderated by library director Christopher Platt. Refreshments served. Downtown Santa Cruz Library, 224 Church St.
Monterey Peninsula Pride
Join Santa Cruz Pride in the Monterey Peninsula Pride Parade
10:30am: Polk Street between Hartnell and Pearl in Monterey. Parking on streets or parking lots.
11:00am: Parade down Alvarado Street. See parade map here.
12:00pm: Festival and Entertainment, Custom House, Monterey