LONG BEACH (CNS) - Organizers and others are expressing disappointment after the city's last-minute cancellation of the long-planned Long Beach Pride Festival -- which was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Marina Green Park on Shoreline Drive -- due to concerns about permits and public safety planning.

The ticketed event "requires the submission of detailed operational, construction and public safety plans in order to be permitted to ensure safety of the attendees," Special Events officials said in a statement on the city's website. "Unfortunately ... the Long Beach Pride Festival will not be able to take place this year as sufficient information to safely permit the event has not been made available by the event organizers."

In a statement on the festival's website, organizers did not directly respond to the permit allegations but instead cited current challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community and Long Beach's long history as one of the nation's best cities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer inclusion as cited by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipal Equality Index.

"Long Beach Pride is deeply disappointed by the City's decision to cancel the Long Beach Pride Festival, a long-standing community institution built by volunteers, sustained by love, and rooted in the belief that every person deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity," said the statement from organization President Tonya Martin. "This decision comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ people are facing escalating attacks from the current federal administration and from political forces across the country. At a time when our community is being targeted and made vulnerable, Long Beach should be doing more to protect and uplift us, not taking away one of the most visible and meaningful expressions of inclusion our city has.

"Canceling Pride sends the wrong message. It tells LGBTQ+ residents, workers, students, small business owners, artists, families, visitors, and allies that their safety, visibility, and celebration are negotiable. It undermines decades of volunteer work and community trust. And it weakens the very values Long Beach claims to champion. At this moment, we need leadership. We need inclusion. We need the City to stand with Pride, not cancel it."

The city statement said alternate plans are in place for people who are already in town with plans to attend the festival on Saturday or Sunday.

"To accommodate those coming into town for that event, Long Beach will add additional transit options to connect downtown locations to the Bixby Park area so that there are many options available to celebrate in Long Beach," city officials said.

Many on social media noted that large crowds typically attend the festival and pump thousands of dollars into the local economy. Others said the event is almost entirely organized by volunteers with little to no professional staff.

"Expecting an event that must coordinate with city departments and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on to be completely run by volunteers is unreasonable," Chuck Stewart posted under a Facebook announcement about the cancellation. "These events need at least a paid professional leader who can keep the event on track."

In their statement, festival organizers pledged to seek a way to restore the festival to future Pride weekends in Long Beach.

"We call on the City of Long Beach to immediately engage in good faith with Long Beach Pride, community leaders, public safety partners, and elected officials to identify a path forward that preserves the festival and protects the community," Martin's statement continued. "We call on our Mayor Rex Richardson and the city council members to make the Pride Festival happen. We ask that our city leaders stand with the community at this critical moment and help ensure that Long Beach remains a beacon of equality, safety, and pride."

Apart from the group's official statement, Martin said organizers had "asked the city for help earlier this year" ahead of the 2026 festival, the Long Beach Press Telegram reported.

"Despite continued collaboration and multiple deadline notices, the City did not receive the required documentation needed to complete safety reviews, inspect critical event infrastructure, such as the stage, electrical systems and tent, and emergency exiting plans to ensure compliance with public safety standards." the city's official statement said. "With event programming scheduled to begin [Friday] ... and essential information still outstanding, there is no longer sufficient time to safely permit the festival this year."

Tickets were $75 for the two-day event and roughly 300 had been sold in advance, according to the LAist news site.

Some commenting on social media said they were already in the process of seeking refunds.

"This situation is unacceptable," Facebook user Power Man noted under the announcement. "If the organizers already knew the event was going to be canceled and continued selling tickets, that could be considered fraud. There seems to be something suspicious behind this cancellation and it should be investigated immediately. I am requesting a full refund as soon as possible."

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Long Beach, was among those expressing disappointment about the festival cancellation while urging people to still find ways to celebration Pride in the city this weekend

"Long Beach Pride has been a beacon of joy, pride, and acceptance for decades," Hahn said in a statement. "While I am happy that the Pride parade will go on as planned, I am disappointed that the festival has been canceled.

"I hope that people will still come out and celebrate this weekend, see the performances that have been relocated to the Terrace Theater, and support the local Long Beach businesses that are just as proud as ever."

The theme for what remains is "Fearless and Free," highlighting resilience, authenticity and equality.

Remaining activities include performances by Grammy winner Thelma Houston, Robyn S and Thea Austin.

Sunday's parade is set for 10 a.m. beginning at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue and continuing along Ocean and Alamitos Avenue into the city's downtown area.

City officials said Pride weekend remains one of the community's defining events.

"This weekend is one of the busiest in the City of Long Beach as the community celebrates Pride and the LGBTQ+ community," officials said. "Long Beach is proud to host the Pride Parade, which will occur as promised this year, and will feature 141 entries -- the most in City history.

"Many Long Beach bars, restaurants and businesses will be fully activated, and the City has permitted five special events to activate additional spaces. Information on all that is happening this weekend in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community can be found at visitlongbeach.com/events/annual-events/long-beach-pride, which will be updated throughout the weekend. The City encourages everyone to have fun and celebrate safely."

Bill Handel

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