Introducing SaMo PRIDE in Santa Monica
INTRODUCING SaMo PRIDE, SANTA MONICA’S FIRST EVER MONTH-LONG PRIDE CELEBRATION
Downtown Santa Monica, Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Place, in collaboration with the City of Santa Monica, announced the first ever SaMo PRIDE: an entire month of festivities and programming to raise awareness and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community as well as individuality, empowerment, and inclusivity within Santa Monica.
During the month of June, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Place, Third Street Promenade and surrounding businesses will celebrate Pride with programming, activities and incredible light installations that span miles of city streets and lights up the sky with a rainbow of colors. With a focus on family-friendly art, events and community connection, city partners will host food festivals, happy hours, storytelling time for kids, silent discoes and more to celebrate love in every color.
“Earlier this year, the City Council identified six values that provide the foundation for all the work we do – accountability, equity, inclusion, resilience, safety and stewardship”
“Earlier this year, the City Council identified six values that provide the foundation for all the work we do – accountability, equity, inclusion, resilience, safety and stewardship,” said Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis. “These values are not new to Santa Monica, they are engrained in who we are.”
“It’s time we stand together to celebrate our PRIDE as we continue the fight for equality”
Kathleen Rawson, chief executive officer at Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. added, “Downtown Santa Monica is fueled by the kind, intelligent and creative people that live and work here every day. As a member of the LGBTQIA community, I am proud of our inclusive, welcoming and progressive community that champions the fundamental human rights of all people. It’s time we stand together to celebrate our PRIDE as we continue the fight for equality.”
“We are so excited to see the historic Pier bridge light up in rainbow colors this June”
One of the key programming highlights will be the “Miles of Pride” light Installation, which will serve as a backdrop for a full calendar of events that bring together the Santa Monica community and guests from around the world. Miles of Pride will feature rainbow lights shining brightly every night during the month of June at the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Place and at the Santa Monica Pier. A kick-off celebration for this light installation will take place on Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. The event will begin on the Santa Monica Pier deck, and then will follow a procession through Downtown Santa Monica to all the installations in the area, wrapping up at the northern end of the Third Street Promenade.
“We are so excited to see the historic Pier bridge light up in rainbow colors this June, and are so proud of the larger Santa Monica community for joining together to start a robust PRIDE program that can signify to other cities across the world the importance of standing with the LGBTQ+ community,” said Negin Singh, executive director of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation.
“We are extremely proud to collaborate with our Santa Monica partners to celebrate the individuality and acceptance that defines this great community,” commented Julia Ladd, Assistant Vice President, Property Management, Santa Monica Place. “SaMo PRIDE encapsulates our ‘Uniquely Santa Monica Place’ spirit and commitment to inclusivity and community connectivity.”
For more information, sign up for the SaMo PRIDE newsletter and view a calendar of events at www.smpride.com.
About Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) that works with the City of Santa Monica to manage services and operations in Downtown Santa Monica that promote economic stability, growth and community life within Downtown Santa Monica. DTSM, Inc. manages the Property-based Business Assessment District (PBAD) that encompasses the area bounded by Ocean Avenue (W), Wilshire Boulevard (N), Lincoln Boulevard (E) and the Santa Monica Freeway (S). downtownsm.com
About Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, public benefit corporation dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Santa Monica experience for all visitors. SMPC provides impactful location -specific programming year round, upholding the Pier as a relevant world-class destination that is free and open to all. santamonicapier.org
About Santa Monica Place
Located steps away from the Pacific Ocean in Downtown Santa Monica and adjacent to Third Street Promenade, the unique, all-outdoor Santa Monica Place is home to Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Hugo Boss, BARNEYS NEW YORK, Nike, dozens more shops and an inspired collection of restaurants and entertainment experiences including True Food Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, Sonoma Wine Garden, The Curious Palate, ArcLight Cinemas, The Gourmandise School, the new Cayton Children’s Museum, and more. Santa Monica Place also is home to a growing set of engaging, digitally native brands, such as b8ta, Ministry of Supply, Monica + Andy, Peloton, Indochino, and others.
For more information, visit SantaMonicaPlace.com
About The City of Santa Monica
The City of Santa Monica is a full-service municipality working on behalf of Santa Monica’s 93,000 residents. We are a community of 8.3 square miles along the Santa Monica Bay with a mix of residential neighborhoods, an expansive parks system, vibrant business districts and world-renowned destinations, including the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade. Santa Monica is an inclusive community that puts the highest value on sustainability and wellbeing. For more information on City news, events, and ways to get involved, visit santamonica.gov. You can also follow along on Twitter (@santamonicacity) and Facebook and Instagram (@cityofsantamonica).