There’s something about stepping off that ferry in Avalon that just… hits different. The pace slows down. The light shifts. The buildings feel like they’re from a postcard someone actually mailed you — not the kind you buy and forget to send. And the air? It’s not just ocean breeze. It’s like the island exhales for you.
It’s hard to believe you’re just 22 miles from LA coast.
That’s what makes Catalina Pride such a gem. It’s not just another pride event squeezed into a city block. It’s a vacation, a vibe reset, and a full-blown celebration of queer joy — surrounded by water, mountains, and the kind of small-town magic that lets you breathe a little easier.
“Every time I come to Catalina, it feels like I left the country — but I didn’t have to deal with TSA or customs or any of that,” I laughed. “It’s honestly wild how close it is, and how far away it feels. That’s the real beauty of it.”
Catalina Pride 2025 is back June 6–7, and it’s once again positioning itself as the pre-party to LA Pride. But honestly, it stands on its own. Backed by Love Catalina and US Bank, the two-day celebration is filled with music, community, and those kinds of moments you don’t always get in the bigger, flashier festivals. It’s a little slower. A little stranger. And a lot more real.
The weekend kicks off Friday with Pink Pony Club at the Chi, hosted by the chaotic charm of Billy Francesca, with a trio of Chappell Roan impersonators (yes, you read that right — Bibble, Thierry, and Maxine), plus DJ Lord Izac spinning all night. It’s campy, loud, messy in the best way. The kind of night where nobody leaves early and everyone leaves sweaty.
Saturday starts earlier — but still chill. The Pier 24 Patio Party opens at noon with drinks, music, and Pride giveaways. And then, in true Catalina fashion, the Pride Walk and the Dinghy Parade both launch at the same time. Some folks walk the boardwalk in rainbow fits, others sail through Avalon Harbor in decked-out dinghies like sea-bound floats. Honestly, it’s a toss-up which is more fun to watch.
The performances roll out later in the day with live sets from KINGQUEEN, DJ Davy, DJ Annalyze, and crowd fave DJ ASHA, who’s back for her fourth year. Headlining the main stage is PULP VIXEN, a fierce all-female cover band with serious power vocals and high-voltage energy. But the real moment? When the Catalina Casino lights up in rainbow. It’s quiet, understated, and kind of breathtaking.
And yeah — it’s Pride. But it’s also a weekend away. So if you’re looking to stay the night (and you should), there are a bunch of Pride-themed hotel deals and packages. Some spots — like Catalina Island Inn or Catalina Courtyard Suites — are offering 20% off or welcome bottles of wine. Others, like Hotel Metropole, have full Pride packages with ferry tickets, wine & cheese boards, keepsakes, and add-on spa stuff if you’re feeling extra. It’s not cheap, but it’s not outrageous either — especially for a whole experience.
Scuba by Design is even offering diving discounts with the code LOVEWINS, which feels kind of poetic if you think about it too long.
At the end of the day, Catalina Pride isn’t about being the biggest or the loudest — it’s about feeling good in your skin, under the sun, surrounded by water and weirdness and other people who get it.
And that’s what makes it special.
More info and weekend details at: www.LoveCatalina.com/Pride
