Menswear company Ten Eleven is this year’s celebration major sponsor, and organizers say around 60 different clubs, organizations, and entertainers are to take part in the parade and festival. Last year, Boyle Heights actually had what was billed as the neighborhood’s first annual pride festival, but the organizers of Orgullo Fest are not part of Saturday’s event. According to local entrepreneur Tonie Juarez, who is the vice president of the pride parade and festival, much of the delay can be blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers say talks of having a Pride parade and festival had been in the works for almost five years, but plans for this year’s event started in earnest in January. Following the parade, the festival will take over the street from Chicago to Soto Street, until 11pm. Saturday’s festivities will begin with a parade from 10am to 1pm that will move East on First Street, from Mariachi Plaza at Boyle to Ross Valencia Community Park at Chicago.
