{"id":1774,"date":"2026-05-30T21:02:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T04:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losangelesmovinginsider.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/30\/santee-kicks-off-pride-month-celebrations-with-annual-walk-and-festival\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T21:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T04:02:52","slug":"santee-kicks-off-pride-month-celebrations-with-annual-walk-and-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losangelesmovinginsider.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/30\/santee-kicks-off-pride-month-celebrations-with-annual-walk-and-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Santee kicks off Pride Month celebrations with annual walk and festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hundreds of participants came together in Santee on Saturday for the city\u2019s annual pride walk and festival, marking the first celebration of Pride Month in San Diego County.<\/p>\n

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An estimated crowd of over 200 people gathered for the fifth annual event hosted by the Santee United Methodist Church, kicking off the celebration with a walk through nearby streets.<\/p>\n

Attendees carried pride flags and wore shirts decorated with slogans, including \u201cProtect Trans Youth\u201d and \u201cLove Wins,\u201d as they walked a 2-mile loop that began and ended at the church parking lot, where the festival was held.<\/p>\n

For the volunteer church group that organizes the annual LGBTQ+ celebration, the gathering is about bringing together community members, allies, nonprofits groups and volunteers with the shared goal of inclusivity and visibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided we needed to do something different to show acceptance of everyone and that gave rise to the Pride Walk here,\u201d said Linda Roach, a 50-year resident of Santee and a church organizing member who helped bring the event to the East County community.<\/p>\n

That vision came to life during the festival that followed the walk; attendees danced to live music and children weaved through the crowd waving pride flags. Local vendors and nonprofit organizations and community groups lined surrounding tables, offering resources such as LGBTQ+ support groups and mental health services.<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s pride celebration was the result of a concentrated effort by community members, church volunteers and city leaders to \u201cbetter communicate what Santee is all about,\u201d Roach said.<\/p>\n

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Attendance has blossomed since the city\u2019s first pride event, which she said only a few dozen people attended. The rise in attendance shows the community is becoming more welcoming and accepting, Roach said.<\/p>\n

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Photos: Santee Pride Walk and Festival<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n