The Sacramento Pride Festival was celebrated at the Capital Mall, Saturday, June 2, 2012, as thousands of guests attended the annual event. Entertainment events were scheduled throughout the day. Two dance tents with several deejays played as visitors enjoyed music and the company of friends and fellow dancers. Community information and outreach tables lined both sides of the Capitol Mall as visitors lined up to receive information, chat with merchants, play games, and receive giveaway items offered by dozens of organizations. The day began with a parade that started on 4th and N Streets. Unlike last year’s parade, when it rained, this year the weather was very warm. After the par

Sandwiched between the Capitol and Tower Bridge, Capitol Mall was blocked off Saturday for the 26th annual Sacramento Pride Festival. About 12,000 people filled Third through Seventh streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate the event and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. The event was kicked off with a parade from Southside Park to Capitol Mall. A ribbon-cutting ceremony included Mayor Kevin Johnson, Senator Darrell Steinberg and Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez. "(The festival) is a celebration of equality for all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation," said Bonnie Osborn, Sacramento Pride's marketing committee chair. Attendees wandered amon

The Capitol Mall proved to be a pleasant crowd gatherer for today's Sacramento PRIDE Festival. Southside Park was the starting point for the parade which traveled north on 7th St and ended on Capitol Mall. Here's some snapshots taken during the parade and festival: Fred Palmer holds a rainbow flag gliding down 7th St. in the parade. The River City Sisters march up 7th Street. Darrell Steinberg and Dave Jones sit atop the back seat of a convertible.  Priscilla Carlisle marches up 7th Street. Fans lined the route (above and below) . Ballroom dancers Melissa Bryden and Janell Darrock. The parade dispersed into the crowd at the PRIDE Festival along Capitol Mall betw

Sacramento's PRIDE 2010 kicked off with Dyke Night, an evening of music and entertainment on the west Capitol steps to lead into the new location of this year's festivities on Sacramento’s Capitol Mall near between the Tower Bridge and the Capitol building. Here are some moments: Two women in the audience respond to the performers on stage. Allyn Pharo and her dog Sterling. The crowd filled the lawn in front of the west Capitol steps. Aurora (top and bottom) played to the crowd. Emcee and Organizer Hilary Hodge keep the pace going throughout the evening. Tina Reynolds, Equality Action Now, gave folks an update on Prop.8. Dancers from Hot Pot Studios (above) moved their bodi

With an iconic new location--Sacramento's scenic Capitol Mall, expanded marketing efforts and a growing roster of prestigious corporate sponsors and exhibitors, the 26-year-old Sacramento Pride Festival is expected to break attendance records on Saturday. The June 19 Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., attracting an estimated 10,000 visitors and bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of economic benefit to Sacramento’s downtown area. Festival admission is $10. After a number of years at South Side Park, the Festival will move to Capitol Mall in 2010, where a street-festival layout sandwiched between the Tower Bridge and the State Capitol dome is expected to add novelty