The first ever Valley Pride Street Festival celebrated all things diverse this past weekend. It all begain with the official kick-off party at The Bullet Bar on Saturday, August 11, and the actual block party style festival took place on Sunday, August 12.
The event produced by Lara Productions LLC and Bolt Events, was all about inclusion, inviting every person in the LGBTQ+ community from the San Fernando Valley to come out and celebrate pride. The festival also included different walks of life from north of the Los Angeles basin and Greater Los Angeles areas–including West Hollywood. Attendees lathered up on sunblock and gathered under the hot summer sun to enjoy vending booths, food trucks, live entertainment and various adult-themed games (the dildo ring toss by GED and Squirt.org, being a favorite).
Valley Pride 2018 – Photo by Paulo MurilloThe collaborative efforts of The Bullet Bar and The Eagle, resulted in an event that welcomed the leather and fetish communities. It was a safe spaces for furries and puppies enjoyed a mosh pit/ball pit area sponsored by Ruff Howsers Pack and Pound Puppies LA. There was a also a cigar bar hosted by Master Kevin Cowger.
“I thought Valley Pride was amazing,” Gabriel Green, executive producer of Green Mirror Entertainment, and President of the Los Angeles Band of Brothers, told WEHO TIMES. “I really felt it accomplished its mission in bringing together the North Hollywood community and people who usually attend events like LA Pride and DTLA Proud. It really showcased what bringing community together is all about. I think for its first year and first opening, it was masterfully successful. It was wonderful to see people from the surrounding communities support it. Everyone was in a festive mood. You saw people from Los Angeles, people from West Hollywood, people from Silver Lake–I saw Charlie from The Eagle, I saw the pups, and Bobby Trendy showed up. It was just really cool seeing–not just the diversity in the crowd, but also on stage. The opening was Heavy Metal, which I thought was interesting. It was just a well-rounded event, both in entertainment and the booths they had to offer. It was really cool see the people pack the street, but also the Bullet Bar was massively packed as well. Everyone was having a great time. It was a beautiful event and I really look forward to seeing what next year has to bring.”
trans and cannabis advocate Buck Angel – Photo by Paulo MurilloThe entertainment portion of the event was hosted by trans actress and overall entertainer Candis Cayne, Don Mike, and Misty Violet. They welcomed to the stage a mixed bag performances by Gay rapper Cazwell, queen of raunch Wendy Ho, big boy rapper Big Dipper, Sean G Wolf & The Country Bear Jambor, Salina EsTitties, Maebe A. Girl, Pickle, Roxy Mountain, Tia Wanna, Taylor Olson, Samba2Love, Zombie Eating Horse, Xross Rage, and Volta Charge.
To learn more about Valley Pride Street Festival, visit valleypride.org/.
Photos by Paulo Murillo (click to enlarge).
