Colors of Strength Festival

OC LGBTQ+ Pride and the OC Fair & Event Center strive to offer an event that meets the needs of all our guests. This guide provides an overview of our offerings for guests with disabilities and special needs.

What to Expect at OC Pride

• OC Pride is a large indoor/outdoor event that attracts thousands of attendees. The event features a parade, music and entertainment on two stages, as well as other zones, speakers, resources, exhibitors, food, and more. Alcohol is present.
• OC Pride is located at the OC Fair & Event Center.
• OC Pride is ONE day – October 5, 2024.
• The OC Pride Festival is a ticketed event. The OC Pride Parade is free (but parking fees apply).
• General Admission tickets are $20. Buy them here.
• Free tickets are available for volunteers, youth, and seniors. Click here
• If you need to buy a pass on the day of the festival, tickets are available for purchase online or in-person at the main gate box office. We accept cash or credit card.

Parking

• Parking spaces are reserved for patrons with disabilities in close proximity to the parade viewing area and the admission gate entrance with easy access.
• Parking is $12; $24 for buses or limos.
• Please remember to display your ID placard in your vehicle’s windshield before parking in any space reserved for people with disabilities.

Entrance Policy

• Guests requiring accessible entry may enter the VIP/Accessibility queue at the front entrance.
• Security will be conducting bag searches and will have metal detectors at the entrance.
• If you have a disability that requires you to bring a prohibited item, such as medication, food, beverages, or certain mobility devices, please let the Security team know when you arrive.
• If you are not able to pass through a metal detector, please let Security know, and they will provide an alternative for you.

Service Animals

• Service animals are welcome at OC Fair & Event Center provided they are on a leash at all times. A member of your party must remain with the animal.
• Currently, the ADA provides no definition of therapy, comfort, or emotional support service animal and such are not considered service animals and are not permitted at OC Fair & Event Center.
• Service animal relief areas are any grassy or dirt areas throughout the festival that are out of the way of congested guest traffic.

Waste can be discarded in any trash can throughout the festival. Please remember your doggy bags.

Mobility Accessibility Information

• OC Pride is located at the OC Fair & Event Center. The venue has some grassy areas, but it is largely flat terrain, asphalt road and cement sidewalk and flooring.
• Admission booths, exhibit buildings, restrooms, entertainment venues, and exhibitor booths are accessible to guests who use wheelchairs.
• We encourage guests to bring their own mobility devices, if available.
• An accessible seating area for the Pride Stage and Orgullo Latin Stage will be available. Capacity is limited to guests who require accessible seating and one companion.
• Shady Zones and Rest Areas will be available throughout the event.
• Accessible, gender-inclusive restrooms that can accommodate disabled guests and guests in wheelchairs are available throughout the event. The most comfortable restrooms are the newly refurbished facilities in the larger exhibit halls (Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Los Alamitos Buildings).

Sensory Accessibility Information

• If you need a sensory break, the Costa Mesa Building, which houses our Teen Pride, Athlete Zone, Read the Rainbow, Kids Zone, Meet Ups, and Pride Speaks, is the place to be. There is no amplified music in this space, and there will be several picnic tables to rest and regroup.
• The best times to come to the festival for minimal sensory input and crowds will be from 2 PM to 4 PM on Saturday.
• Here are some examples of sensory stimulation that you may encounter at OC Pride:
• Loud noises, including cheering, clapping, music from two stages, announcements, speeches, and people talking
• Crowds
• Bright colors
• Bright and flashing lights at night
• Dancing and movement
• Exhibitors speaking to you and giving out items
• Scents from food vendors and other exhibitors and guests
• Smoking and vaping are not permitted

Communication Accessibility

• An accessible seating area for the Pride Stage and Orgullo Latin Stage will be available. Capacity is limited to guests who require accessible seating and one companion.
• Guests needing access to accessible stage seating (and their companion) can obtain a wristband from the Information Booth (located near the entrance to the festival) to help gain access to the designated spaces.
• We are proud to offer ASL interpretation at both the Pride Stage and the Orgullo Latin Stage to ensure that our festival is inclusive and accessible for everyone. This service will be available throughout the day so that all attendees can fully enjoy the performances and programming at these stages.