Pride weekend will officially begin with a special LGBT Community Coalition Pride Champagne Brunch at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. The event will run from 7:30-9 a.m. with a full breakfast available for a $10 donation. Pride representatives and other community leaders will be at the festive early morning event to kick off the weekend. The breakfast is sponsored by Wells Fargo, San Diego LGBT Pride and the Gay & Lesbian Times. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

For many years, San Diego Pride held a Friday night rally to kick off Pride weekend, which included awards presentations, inspirational speakers and entertainment. True to this year’s theme, Pride has veered from that tradition and will host the first-ever Human Rights Vigil from 6:30-7:45 p.m. on the Pride Green Stage at the festival site, located at Juniper Street and Balboa Drive in Balboa Park. The vigil aims to educate the San Diego community on human rights abuses of GLBT people locally and globally, and to inspire community members to action. London-based Peter Thatchell, a global activist for social justice and GLBT equality, will be the featured speaker. Community activists from San Diego will also speak to provide a local perspective, and singer-guitarist Allen Singer will perform traditional folk music. This is a free community event and a powerful way to kick off the weekend.

Later Thursday evening, Club Papi will host a special Pride weekend version of its popular weekly ¡Pan Dulce! party. Ten hot papi dancers, two dance floors, drink specials and giveaways will all be part of the celebration. Bacchus House is located at 3054 University Ave. Check out www.clubpapi.com for more information.

For the ladies: A San Diego Pride kickoff event will be held at Deco’s nightclub Downtown. The party has a jungle theme and will include a special “Queens of the Jungle” VIP pre-party from 5-7 p.m. and the main “Jungle Party” from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The VIP portion of the evening will include live acoustic music and comedy in a friendly, low-key atmosphere. The main event includes live music until 10:40 p.m. followed by DJs and go-go dancers until 1:30 a.m. VIP tickets are $50, and tickets for the main event are $20.

San Diego’s largest, most colorful and exciting event, the 34th Annual LGBT Pride Parade, will start at 11 a.m. and travel the “rainbow mile” down University Avenue at Normal Street to Sixth Avenue at Upas Street. (The “rainbow mile” actually clocks in at about a mile and a half, but who’s counting?) Almost 175 decorated contingents will traverse the parade route as close to 150,000 spectators cheer them on. Expect to see banners, cars, drag kings and queens, dykes on bikes, politicians, sponsors, community groups, students, parents, people of color, old people, young people and everything in between. The parade is a testament to the true diversity of our community.

This year’s parade will include a record 11 reviewing stands placed along the route with community leaders, entertainers, and local personalities and radio stations emceeing the parade. New this year will be The Deaf Pride reviewing stand presented by San Diego Youth and Community Services, where ASL interpreters will be provided.

With 150,000 people descending on the already crowded Hillcrest neighborhood, parking is non-existent. Pride will provide free shuttle service to and from the parade route from two locations. Parade shuttles will run to the parade route between 7:15-11 a.m. from the Old Navy Hospital parking lot located at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way, and from the north lot of the County Administration Building at West Grape Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Riders will be dropped off at the start of the parade route and will be free to enjoy the event without worrying about any parking hassles. Shuttles will return to the pick-up sites or the Pride festival site beginning at 2 p.m.

Immediately following the parade, crowds will descend on Balboa Park’s Marston Point for the two-day Pride festival. Tickets are $15 for one day and $25 for two days, which includes access to all entertainment and attractions within the festival grounds. For the first time ever, festival-goers can purchase tickets online at www.sandiegopride.org, print them out, and show them at the gate. This is the best way to avoid the long lines that typically are seen at the front gate. Children 15 and under are free when accompanied by a parent or guardian, and seniors and students (age 16-24) get in for just $10 (these discounted tickets are only available at the Pride office or festival gates). Active-duty military receive free admission. Active-duty members of the military must present valid ID at the ticket sales gate to receive a special ticket.

The Pride festival will include a number of attractions including entertainment, dance parties, beverage gardens, community information booths, vendors, a Ferris wheel, youth and children’s area, adult-oriented areas and more. San Diego Pride continues to make changes and upgrades to the festival each year to ensure a fresh, exciting experience for everyone. More than 90 performers will entertain the crowds on the stages, as popular San Diego DJs rock the outdoor PNN Dance Tent and Club Papi Latin Dance Floor. The Wine Steals Grotto is a new addition to the festival and sure to be popular, with more than 90 wineries pouring their latest and greatest releases for participants to taste and enjoy. The festival grounds are open from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The fun continues on Saturday night with the Popsicle Pride event at Downtown’s 4th & B, featuring hot go-go dancers, fresh beats and cool treats. The party, which runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., will feature an opening set by The Perry Twins of Los Angeles followed by DJ Nikno of Rich’s. Tickets are just $25. 4th & B is located on B Street at Fourth Avenue in Downtown. Check out www.sandiegopride.com for more information.

Also, the legendary Circuit Daze Harbor Cruise event will set sail from San Diego Bay from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. aboard the Inspiration Yacht, with DJs Chris Cox and Manny Lehman spinning. Only 1,500 tickets are available for this popular event open to ages 21 and up only, so buying tickets in advance is highly recommended. Tickets and more information are available online at www.circuitticket.com.

For the ladies: 607 Productions will present a special edition of MILK, San Diego’s hottest lesbian night out, at The Abbey. The promoters are hoping to make San Diego the hottest lesbian scene on the west coast, so they have all sorts of special surprises planned for this event, including sexy dancers and shot girls. The Abbey is located at 2825 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest. Check out www.607events.com for more information.

The Pride festival continues on Sunday with all of the same attractions and more. In the past, the Sunday crowds have been lighter, but this year promises to be different.

For those who roll out of bed before 2 p.m., stop by the festival for the Bloody Mary Afternoon in the Park event. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Tavern in the Trees, there will be live entertainment and Bloody Marys served. If you plan to have brunch at one of our local Sunday hot-spots – such as Urban Mo’s or Baja Betty’s – before hitting the festival, give yourself extra time to put your name in on the waiting list.

Two hot T-Dances will take place on the festival grounds on Sunday, including America’s Finest Pride Party from 3-7:30 p.m. in the PNN Dance Tent, and a Women’s T-Dance from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Lavender Lens Stage. Also, Pride will celebrate marriage equality at a special celebration on the festival grounds at 1 p.m. Come and celebrate California’s historic ruling in favor of marriage equality!

Of course, the main event will be the live performance by Emmy-winning comedienne Kathy Griffin. Since Pride announced Griffin’s performance, it has been the talk of the town. Griffin will perform at 6:30 p.m. on Pride’s solar power Green Stage and her performance is included with regular festival admission. Get to the stage early to get a good spot, as this is certain to draw throngs of people!

The world famous Zoo Party will happen on Pride Sunday from 4-11 p.m. at the San Diego Zoo. This popular party is one of the most well-known San Diego Pride events, and this year’s event will feature DJs Wayne B and Phil B. There are only 3,500 tickets available for this event which often sells out. Tickets are $85 in advance, $100 day of. Visit www.circuitticket.com for more information.

Tickets to the San Diego LGBT Pride Festival are available for the first time online. Visit www.sdpride.org to easily and securely order, pay for and print festival tickets. Tickets may also be purchased at the San Diego LGBT Pride office, or from several community organizations that are selling tickets as a fund-raiser, including The San Diego LGBT Community Center. Tickets will also be sold at the main gate to the Pride Festival.

Cash is the only form of payment accepted at the festival grounds. There will be ATMs located on site, but if you want to avoid those hefty ATM service fees come prepared with cash in your wallet. Remember to bring enough money for festival tickets, beverages, food, souvenirs and other items you may want to purchase from the numerous vendors on site.