San Diego Pride Festival 2023 Headliners Announced; Tickets On Sale

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two LGBTQ+ artists, Princess Nokia and Saucy Santana, will take center stage at the 2023 San Diego Pride Festival, planned Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16, at Balboa Park, organizers said today.

Drawing some 250,000 attendees each year, the two-day festival — that kicks off with a parade from Hillcrest— showcases six stages of entertainment, educational and art exhibits, interactive cultural presentations, food, HIV testing and a slew of Pride Week events leading up to the weekend extravaganza.

Tickets for Princess Nokia's concert on Saturday and Saucy Santana's Sunday show are on sale, with options for one- or two-day general admission ($26-$32) or VIP experience ($195).

This year's festival theme is "Thrive!" — to highlight "the resilience and determination of the LGBTQ+ community to overcome challenges and celebrate their collective strength," SD Pride officials said.

"These headliners, our brilliant local artists and musicians, and our entire community are ready to stand up, stand out, and help us all thrive," said Fernando Z. López, San Diego Pride executive director.

“As LGBTQ people whose lives, events, art and culture have increasingly been under legislative and violent threat, it is now more vital than ever to remember that creating civic and artistic spaces where our LGBTQ community can safely and authentically be ourselves is a social justice issue," he said.

Princess Nokia echoed the sentiment.

“This year especially when threats to our rights are coming from every direction, it’s important that we come together to celebrate and reaffirm our pride and our identities," said the New York City-born rapper and songwriter, whose full name is Destiny Nicole Frasqueri. She gained acclaim for her 2014 debut studio album, Metallic Butterfly, followed by her 2017 album 1992 Deluxe.

Fellow headliner, Saucy Santana, agreed, adding: "Let's stay loud, together in unity and love, and show the world that not only do we survive, we Thrive!" The performer, whose full name is Rashad Spain, began his career as a makeup artist before breaking into the rap industry with hit singles "Walk" and "Here We Go."

Previous festival headliners include Ashnikko, Baby Tate, Daya, Snow Tha Product, Melissa Etheridge, Kesha, Kim Petras and TLC.

Festival and parade proceeds support San Diego Pride's LGBTQ-centered efforts, education and advocacy programs. As of 2022, the organization, founded in 1974, has donated more than $3 million to such causes, according to the nonprofit's officials.

Find Pride Festival ticket links here, and see more on Pride week events here.

---------------

ALSO SEE: SD Weekend Guide: Earth Day Events; 'Dutch Day' Family Fest; King Tut