The 50th Annual San Diego Pride Festival was celebrated this weekend, bringing thousands of people to the streets of Hillcrest on Saturday to honor the LGBTQ+ community.

The festivities kicked off with the San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday morning, starting from the iconic Hillcrest Pride Flag at the intersection of University Avenue and Normal Street, and concluding at Quince Drive. The parade route spanned a total of 1.5 miles.

Under the theme "Making History Now," this year's event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ+ pride marches in San Diego. Martín, an attendee who crossed the border to participate in the march, told BajaNews he felt very welcomed by the community, highlighting the attendance of complete families and the notable social support. He also praised the extensive security operation implemented by the San Diego police.

Currently, the San Diego Pride Festival is considered one of the largest pride celebrations in the United States, attracting over 300,000 people.

Security was a priority during the event. Attendees were accompanied by additional officers from state and federal agencies, as well as various agencies from across San Diego County. "We have all the different resources and tools available to help us keep everyone safe," stated Scott Wahl, the new San Diego Police Chief.

This year, Chief Wahl took a different approach towards law enforcement, allowing San Diego police officers to march without their uniforms. "I really wanted to show the human side of our police officers," Wahl explained. "This is a great opportunity for us to show support to the LGBTQ community and the members of our organization who are part of the community."

The 50th San Diego Pride Festival stood out not only for its size and attendance but also for the sense of community and support that permeated the event, marking a significant milestone in the history of pride celebrations in the city.