PALM SPRINGS, CA — Greater Palm Springs Pride officials Wednesday announced the complete schedule for this weekend's 40th anniversary Palm Springs Pride celebration, featuring live entertainment, community activities and a downtown parade.
This year's theme is "Be Included." The annual event kicked off Wednesday and will continue through Sunday throughout downtown Palm Springs and the Arenas District.
Organizers expect the event to draw about 220,000 attendees.
The celebration officially started Wednesday with the unfurling of a 30-foot rainbow flag at 10 a.m. at Desert Regional Medical Center. City officials, community leaders and hospital representatives gathered at the hospital's historic Bell Tower for the ceremony.
Thursday's festivities will include the Arenas District Walkabout, creating a pedestrian-only area along Arenas Road from 6 to 11:30 p.m. The event will allow visitors to explore participating businesses, including Hunters, Blackbook, Streetbar, Dick's on Arenas and Chill Bar.
The main festival will run Friday through Sunday, featuring performances on the Arenas District stage, a 5K run and walk, festival activities and a cultural presentation by Brothers of the Desert.
The annual Pride parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Sunday on Palm Canyon Drive. The procession will start at Tachevah Drive and travel south to Amado Road.
A complete schedule of events is available at pspride.org.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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