San Diego Gay Pride 2007: A Whole New Level

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Gay Pride Season is upon us, and the 2007 San Diego Pride celebration is the place to be. With a massive list of all-new activities and events, there's something for both friends and family to be proud of.

San Diego Pride: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

San Diego officially kicks off its LGBT Pride Season Sunday, July 8, with the first-ever Out at PETCO Park with the Padres, a partnership that's sure to be a hit. The Pads meet the Atlanta Braves at the plate for what a Padres spokesman says is "just one of more than 5,000 special group events the Padres promotes each season."

Be among the first 200 admitted with discount presale tickets, and treat yourself to a rooftop tailgate party hosted by Stingaree – but make sure you snag a seat before the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego sings the national anthem or one of the many Pride supporters and volunteers toss the first pitch.

San Diego Pride: I've Got Rhythm, I've Got Music

If sports aren't for you, July is full to the brim with San Diego Pride musical events. 2007's Out at the Globe features the opening night of Tony Award-winning Avenue Q's sensational six-week run on July 12. The Globe Theatre in Balboa Park will host the musical's San Diego debut with a courtyard party following the event, before it moves on to Spreckel's Theatre downtown for the remainder of its stay. Also making its first appearance that evening is Diversionary Theatre's The Break Up Notebook: A Lesbian Musical, based on Patricia Cotter's critically-acclaimed hit play of the same name.

July 19 jumpstarts Pride Weekend with what San Diego Women's Chorus members believe will be the largest Pride Concert in nearly twenty years. The concert showcases 100+ local music masters, including San Diego Men's Chorus, Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego, In aChord, and San Diego Women's Chorus, the last of which recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary Concert with record attendance in June.

San Diego Pride: They're Dancin' in the Street

Since its first run down Broadway in 1974, the San Diego Pride Parade has become the city's largest civic event. Strutting from University to 6th Avenue and down into the belly of Balboa Park, the parade, now in its 33rd year, boasts over 200 floats and contingents including local businesses, community churches, city politicians, and various sectors of straight supporters.

2007's Gay Pride Parade grand marshal, attorney Bruce Michael Abrams, strives to live this year's theme, "United for Equality," by doing his best to "live with dignity and honor... by celebrating life ... and reaching out to others."

San Diego Pride: Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Just as the parade ends, the fun really picks up. The Pride Festival, held annually in Balboa Park, is expected to have a record-breaking turnout of over 200,000.

With nearly 300 booths, the festival will entertain, educate, enlighten, and excite. Vendors from all corners of San Diego County will settle into the park July 21 and 22 with food from local Hillcrest and North Park restaurants, jewelry, clothing, and information for you to peruse between bouts of live bands and lounging on the lawn. Erasure will headline the event with nearly 70 other musicians on the event's seven live stages throughout the park. Art exhibits, vintage auto shows, cultural presentations, comedy performances, and even a Children's Garden make the festival a place for singles, couples, family and friends to enjoy the warm July afternoon and evening.

For more information about ticket prices, schedules, and details on all San Diego Gay Pride activities, including Powerhouse Production's 21+ parties, check out the official website at sdpride.org .