Part of the Gay San Diego Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Friday, July 17, 2026
The Spirit of Stonewall Rally 2026 opens San Diego Pride weekend on Friday, July 17, at 6 p.m. in the heart of Hillcrest, gathering the community at 535 Robinson Avenue, across from the Brass Rail. It is the most meaningful night of the week, part celebration and part call to action, where San Diego honors the activists and organizations who have shaped the movement and recognizes the year's LGBTQ+ community leaders and grand marshals. Expect rousing speakers, live performances, and the symbolic raising of the Pride flag over Hillcrest, all in the neighborhood that has anchored San Diego's gay community for decades. The rally traces its roots back to the city's earliest Pride gatherings in the 1970s, and it remains the moment each year when the celebration reconnects with the reason it exists. It is free and open to all, and it draws a warm, multigenerational crowd. The rally sits a short walk from the Hillcrest Pride Flag and the bars and restaurants along University Avenue, making it the perfect kickoff before the parade and festival the next day. Take the MTS Rapid 215 bus straight to University Avenue rather than fighting for parking, and arrive a little early to find a good spot, because the plaza fills quickly once the speakers begin. Bring a light layer for when the evening cools off. Whether you come to be inspired, to honor someone, or just to feel the energy build toward the big weekend, the Spirit of Stonewall Rally is where San Diego Pride truly begins.
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Fri, Jul 17
5:45 PM - 10:30 PM
Lips Restaurant, San Diego
Friday-night drag dinner show at Lips, the city's drag supper club. Reservation-only.
Weekly
Fri, Jul 17
7 PM - 9 PM
Redwing Bar & Grill, San Diego
Karaoke at Redwing Bar & Grill in North Park, San Diego: open-mic karaoke six nights a week (Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun) starting at 7pm at this neighborhood dive.
Weekly
Fri, Jul 17
8 PM - 2 AM
EQ San Diego
Bear Night San Diego's 10th-annual Pride warm-up at EQ San Diego in Hillcrest — July 17 from 8pm to 2am, with DJs, go-go talent, and an open-air patio. 21+.
Fri, Jul 17
9 PM - 11 PM
San Diego Eagle, San Diego
Red Hanky Night at San Diego Eagle - third Friday of every month at 9pm, a hanky-code themed night at North Park's leather cruise bar.
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From Hillcrest's legendary bar scene to Black's Beach and year-round sunshine, here's your insider guide to LGBTQ+ San Diego.
Robbie S.Where to find drag brunch in San Diego — Lips' Sunday Gospel Brunch, Urban MO's in Hillcrest, and Gossip Grill's cabaret drag brunch, with days, prices, and booking tips.
Robbie S.Your guide to drag in San Diego — the dinner theater at Lips, Urban MO's Dreamgirls Revue, Gossip Grill's Cabaret Drag Brunch, and the monthly shows at the Brass Rail.
Robbie S.Everything to know about Hillcrest, San Diego's gayborhood — the bars, the food, the giant Pride flag, and how it connects to the rest of gay San Diego.
Robbie S.
