OC Pride is back in Downtown Santa Ana Oct. 10, free and in the streets again

OC Pride is back downtown. The annual parade and festival returns to Downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Oct. 10, with around 20,000 people expected.

General admission is free. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. and the festival runs from noon to 10 p.m., with five performance areas, food vendors, a beer garden, a vendor marketplace and activities.

Why it's back

In 2024, organizers moved Pride to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, citing costs and safety concerns, LAist reported. Last year's event was held there too, according to Culture OC.

OC Pride executive director Bryan Terry told LAist that community feedback pushed the return. "They really wanted Pride to be out in the streets. They wanted it to be free. They wanted it to be visible," Terry said. LAist reported the 2026 edition is shaping up to be OC Pride's largest festival yet.

What to expect

The parade runs along Third Street from Ross Street to Bush Street, per LAist. This year's theme is "Our Voices All Combined," according to OC Pride.

Charo, Mama Duke and Chris Conde headline, with Charo listed as the closing performer. Stages include the Pride Stage and the Orgullo Latin Stage, alongside zones like Trans Central, Teen Pride, a Pride Family Camp, an 18-and-over Leather District, an Artists Village and a Quiet Quarter low-sensory space for anyone who needs a break from the crowd.

OC Pride also sells a paid VIP package through Eventbrite. Parking can be tricky, so organizers recommend arriving early and bringing water, LAist reported.

What’s next

Pride weekend opens Friday, Oct. 9, with a kickoff party at Queens Lounge, and wraps Sunday, Oct. 11, with a closing brunch there. A bar crawl through Queens Lounge, Native Son and Chapter One follows the festival on Saturday night, according to OC Pride.