PRIDE DANCE PARTIES

AIN’T NO PARTY LIKE A PRIDE PARTY

PRIDE AT RETREAT

Sunday, July 10

Sycuan Casino Resort will kick off San Diego Pride festivities with an afternoon pool party. The expansive deck is furnished with pool chairs, oversized daybeds and cabanas, so you can choose your own adventure and experience. Fresh, seasonal fare can be found on the daily menu alongside signature cocktails and refreshments. Take a cruise along the lazy river. Local queen Mz Perez will host a drag show featuring performances by some of San Diego’s fiercest and finest queens.

PRIDE OF HILLCREST BLOCK PARTY

Thursday, July 14 and Friday, July 15

The two-day extravaganza is now an all-ages event. Celebrating its 10th year, the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party will feature a diverse lineup of local and international talent. The party will include a cocktail bar and beer garden, food trucks, drag shows starring international drag superstars Violet Chachki and Gottmik, go-go dancers, a Ferris wheel and a DJ dance party.

SUBWOOFER

Friday, July 15

Bear it all at SubWOOFer. Returning to The Merrow in the the heart of Hillcrest, Chris Vance’s epic dance party is a place to celebrate, cruise and dance with the friendliest crowd. Get nuts-to-butts on the dance floor with DJ Neon The Glowgobear from Atlanta and the woofy go-go Bears. SubWOOFer will take over the parking lot to create an outdoor playground complete with bars and FimFim’s hot dogs, burgers and lumpia.

LAUNCH

Friday, July 15

The Rob Benzon Dan Ferbal Foundation will celebrate more than two decades of giving with its annual San Diego Pride kickoff party. This “party with a purpose” has become one of San Diego’s premier events, returning 100 percent of the ticket sales back to supporting the LGBTQ community. This first-class fete will be at the beautiful grounds of the historic Burnham House near Balboa Park. Enjoy more of San Diego’s top chefs and restaurants serving up their unique creations for your enjoyment, a silent auction, a VIP Lounge offering tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, decadent treats, and a hosted bar serving premium liquors and wine.

UNITE! MUSIC FESTIVAL

Friday, July 15 through Monday, July 18

The supercharged sixth anniversary of UNITE! Music Festival will be among the official parties of San Diego Pride. It features a diverse, international musical landscape spanning the electronic music spectrum from deep and progressive house and tribal to progressive trance and techno. From start to finish, this audible journey will promote connection, healing and growth through dance-floor therapy. Throw in the infamous festival-style “PLUR vibes” for unity, a friendly and diverse crowd, and cutting-edge technology in lighting, laser shows, video artist and LED production and Funktion-One sound. This makes UNITE! Music Festival a one-of-a-kind, not-to-be-missed annual event. The festival includes three massive, high-quality main nighttime events by OVERDRIVE, Masterbeat and WÜF! at Spin Nightclub. Plus, the return of the well-received #UNITED WE GROOVE sunset harbor cruise on board the largest yacht in SoCal, the Inspiration Hornblower. UNITE! will donate a portion of proceeds to the San Diego Pride organization and the Sunburst Youth Housing Project for LGBTQ youth in San Diego.

QUEERGXRL PRIDE PARTY

Friday, July 15

QueerGxrl Events will take over the Andaz nightclub in downtown San Diego. DJ Lotus Banks and DJ Alex D will bring high-energy trap, hip-hop and EDM vibes to create the ultimate queer womxn Pride party of 2022.

FURRAGEOUS

Saturday, July 16

Things will be getting hairy in Little Italy. Join hundreds of men for the woofiest, burliest party of the weekend. DJ Jon Williams will headline this Pride dance party at the Music Box, a three-level music venue with audiophile-quality acoustics, a spacious floor plan, outdoor patios, two VIP experiences and general admission.

EDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday, July 16

This is San Diego Pride’s largest party for women who love women, and their friends. The indoor/outdoor mini music festival and femalefocused queer Pride concert will have high-energy live music, DJs, dancers, LGBTQ vendors, and surf + skate activations.

CHRIS VANCE

PROMOTER OF BEAR NIGHT, FURRAGEOUS AND SUBWOOFER

How did you become involved in party planning and promoting?

I moved from Nashville to San Diego in 2006, and although there were fun bars here, I felt like something was missing. The dance clubs mainly catered to twinks, which alienated our community. There was a large, tight-knit Bear community and an untapped audience. One night a friend of mine took me to [the now defunct] Bacchus House, and I immediately fell in love with the bar. It wasn’t big, but it reminded me of New Orleans and the bars in the South. That’s when the light bulb went on in my head. I thought, this is it, so I asked my friend to introduce me to the manager. From there, I met DJ Jon Williams and the rest is history.

What’s the formula for a successful party?

It starts with knowing your audience. And music, music, music! If the music ain’t hitting, the party ain’t kickin’. Plus, if you’ve been to one of my events, I am obsessed with lasers and lights! When I first heard Jon Williams spin back at Bacchus House, I knew he was the one — he reminded me of the DJs back in Nashville that would spin the soundtracks to my life. FYI, DJ Jon Williams has a 100% attendance record in the 14 years of Bear Night.

What traits make a superb promoter?

It’s all about attention to detail and understanding your audience. You also need to be outgoing and able to engage with people as you ensure guests have the best experience. Plus, a knowledge of marketing, social media, décor, lights, sound, a great team and DJs.

Do you have an all-time favorite party that you attended that someone else planned?

Oh yes! My most impressionable and memorable party was always Corbett Reynolds’ annual Red Party in Columbus, Ohio. As a new gay in my 20s, his parties were over the top with the best DJs and themes, including life-sized elephants and 10-foot-tall stallions and seahorses he made himself. Look him up on the Internet; he was legendary!

From your perspective, how has Bear culture evolved over the years?

It has evolved from a subculture of hairy men who did not fit the traditional gay mold to a mainstream community of acceptance and inclusion. Now everyone wants to be a Bear or love the heck out of them. This is evident with the vast array of bars, parties, events and cruises catering to this furry, lovable, fun-seeking demographic. Like any species, the Bear community has adapted to our everchanging society and continues to thrive while contributing to our LGBTQ community.

Why have your parties been hugely successful for over 14 years?

Well, I’ve been a part of the Bear culture for as long as I can remember. I’ve lived it and enjoyed it, so I could tap in on what I liked and what I felt would work best. I’ve stayed consistent with my core audience from the beginning. Bear Night was hugely successful from the first night at Bacchus House. That momentum and energy have continued over the years, and it’s been awesome! No matter what curves came my way — like the first two bars closing — I have been able to adapt, learn and flourish. While we were closed during the pandemic, I didn’t know if we would open back up with the same success or if I wanted to continue doing events. I was wrong on both accounts. San Diego has been thirsty, and we relaunched with lines down the street. Everyone has always supported me, and I have a very loyal following. I am grateful for them. People always ask me when I get to have fun, and my answer has always been, “Who says I’m not?”

Is Bear Night your full-time job?

No, I have been an art director at Sycuan Casino Resort for the past seven years.

Have you thought about taking Bear Night to other cities?

Yes, that is in the cards! You never know where Bear Night or FURRAGEOUS might pop up.