Pacific Pride's Festival on Saturday was a celebration of community.
The annual event at Chase Palm Park was well-attended but not crowded, with room for attendees to wander through the rows of tents -- a safe refuge from some brief rain. The festival also included food trucks, art installations and performance spaces.
Everyone from families with kids to seniors with walkers showed up to the event, some in bright colors and elaborate outfits. Many animals, some even matching with their owners, walked around the festival grounds decked out for the pet parade.
The family area, which included a petting zoo full of goats and bunnies, played music spun by DJ Darla Bea and featured performers like the Brasscals, a local street brass band.
On the other side of the festival grounds was the main stage, which was headlined by Jessica Wild, a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race, and also showcased performers such as Mariachi Arcoíris de Los Angeles, the world's first LGBTQ+ mariachi group.
Among the songs that Mariachi Arcoíris performed was "Defying Gravity," from the musical Wicked. The song's emotional climax was met with cheers as the soloist and arranger, Yalitza "Yaya" Vasquez-Lopez, belted out the high notes.
After the performance, Vasquez-Lopez expressed that she loved performing at Santa Barbara's pride event, especially because of the opportunity to sing "Defying Gravity."
"With this arrangement, I just really, really love that we get to play it everywhere we go," said Vasquez-Lopez. "I sing it for my trans community every single time. This is my way of living out my Broadway dream with the mariachi, and I'm really happy that everyone gets to enjoy it too."
Although they were also having a good time at the event, Veronica Rockstrom and her wife TailZz had some suggestions.
"It needs to be bigger," said TailZz. "Why do we do it in August? Why is there no parade?"
This year's festival also celebrates the 50th anniversary of Pacific Pride's founding. The organization started as a group focused on preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS, and staff and volunteers continue to work as advocates and educators.
"Since its formation, Pacific Pride Foundation has become the foremost resource for people living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBT community, both in Santa Barbara County and the coastal communities of California between Los Angeles and San Francisco," says the organization's website.
Leading up to Saturday's festival was a week of events like a lunchtime Instagram live about mental health on Monday and a Pride Cabaret, featuring the Santa Barbara Gay Men's Chorus, on Thursday.
Overall, the celebration focused on the joy of being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
"Being queer is not a choice, but if I could choose, I would choose it over and over and over again," Rockstrom said.