West Hollywood wrapped up three days of high-energy celebrations Sunday as thousands of people gathered for the annual WeHo Pride Parade, a centerpiece event honoring the LGBTQ+ community with music, dance, and a vibrant display of inclusion.
The weekend culminated with the iconic parade, which began at noon at the intersection of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica boulevards. From there, it headed west down the famed Santa Monica Boulevard, through the Rainbow District — a section stretching from La Cienega Boulevard to Doheny Drive — known for its rainbow flags and brightly colored crosswalks at San Vicente Boulevard. The procession concluded at Robertson Boulevard.
This year’s Parade Icons included actress and model Cara Delevingne, Emmy-nominated actress and filmmaker Nava Mau, “Love on the Spectrum” star Pari Kim, and former NFL punter and LGBTQ+ ally Chris Kluwe. The group was honored for their commitment to LGBTQ+ visibility, civic engagement, and advocacy.
“They’ve each made a big difference in popular culture by shining a light on LGBTQ+ voices, in pushing for social justice, and by helping more people feel seen,” West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers said in a statement leading up to the weekend. “As we come together for the WeHo Pride Parade, it fills my heart that their work and presence will lift our message of LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, and our vision for positive change in the world for LGBTQ+ people everywhere.”
This year’s theme, “Pride Starts Here,” reflected West Hollywood’s deep-rooted history as a hub of LGBTQ+ activism and celebration. For over four decades, the city has hosted one of the largest Pride celebrations in the country, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
The festivities officially kicked off on May 22 with a Harvey Milk Day Celebration and the José Sarria Drag Pageant. That was followed by the WeHo Pride Arts Festival, a showcase of queer visual art, film, and performance that ran throughout the week leading into the parade.
Sunday evening also featured “Ground in Pride,” an outdoor wellness gathering at Plummer Park’s Vista Lawn. The event began with a gentle yoga session and ended with a sound bath experience under the sunset, offering a moment of calm after the weekend’s electrifying celebrations.
Meanwhile, the OUTLOUD Music Festival at West Hollywood Park drew massive crowds over the weekend. Saturday night was headlined by Grammy-winning artist Lizzo, whose set celebrated body positivity, empowerment, and LGBTQ+ joy. On Sunday, Remi Wolf brought her colorful, genre-blending sound to the stage, followed by performances from legendary DJ and fashion icon Honey Dijon and global celebrity Paris Hilton.
Hilton made a dramatic entrance to the festival in the Absolut PRIDE Moke, a brightly decorated electric vehicle that doubled as a statement of style and allyship. She joined the celebration as part of her ongoing collaboration with Absolut, raising an “Absolut Sliving Cosmo” in honor of the LGBTQIA+ community. The partnership builds on Hilton’s performance earlier this year at Coachella, where she debuted her Infinite Icon Remix EP at the Absolut House of Cosmo.
Throughout June — recognized globally as Pride Month — Hilton and Absolut plan to continue their celebration of queer culture at major events like World Pride and additional appearances at LGBTQ+ spaces across the country.
Photo: Ashley Osborn
Other notable acts throughout the weekend included Kim Petras, Maren Morris, Frankie Grande, Chrissy Chlapecka, and many many more.
In addition to honoring icons and performers, WeHo Pride placed a strong emphasis on community this year. Local businesses, non-profits, activists, and advocacy groups were all represented in the parade’s floats and marching contingents. Organizers stressed the importance of visibility and unity, especially amid rising political challenges facing LGBTQ+ individuals across the nation.
“Pride is both a celebration and a reminder,” said one local marcher from the Trans Wellness Center in Los Angeles. “We’re here to uplift joy, but also to remind folks that our fight for equality, health care, and safety is ongoing.”
With Pride Month just beginning, West Hollywood’s celebration served as a vibrant launch for a season of activism, art, and joy throughout the region. The city of Los Angeles will continue its observance with the separate LA Pride Festival and Parade, scheduled for June 8. That parade is expected to begin at 11 a.m. at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
As rainbow flags wave across Southern California and beyond, this weekend’s events reaffirmed West Hollywood’s enduring status as a beacon for LGBTQ+ pride, resistance, and celebration.
