The City of Cathedral City participated in the 37th Annual Palm Spring Pride Parade in Downtown Palm Springs on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, featuring its new float promoting the upcoming Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival, designed by Jimmy and Ralph Thompson. “Drag Now, Drag Forever” was the theme for 2023 Palm Springs Pride, which featured more than 200 entrants this year.
The colorful float featured hot air balloon decorations and signage to promote the 9th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival (Nov. 17-19, 2023), as well as a banner to promote Cathedral City LGBT Days (March 8-10, 2024). Shauna McGloin was the emcee, while Mayor Rita Lamb, Councilmembers Nancy Ross, Raymond Gregory, City Manager Charlie McClendon, Angelique VaGorgeous, and Dolly Pardon Me all appeared on the float.
Staff walking alongside the float included Assistant City Manager Anne Ambrose, Ryan Hunt, the City’s Communications & Events Manager, Cristina Velazquez, our Events & Special Projects Coordinator, and Dr. Stone James, the City’s Economic Development Director (accompanied by his wife Laura James, CVEP’s Vice President of Innovation). Michael Kocan, Public Arts Commissioner Rick Travis and Antonio Baciu, Vice Chair for the Parks & Community Events Commission, held the lead banner. Additional volunteers included Chris Parman, the City’s former Communications & Events Manager, and Cathedral City residents Terry Applegate and Marlo Clingman.
From humble beginnings has emerged an annual celebration that attracts more than 125,000 people from Southern California, across the nation, and around the world.
Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has repeatedly awarded the City of Cathedral City with a perfect score of 100 on its Municipal Equality Index (MEI) Scorecard. Thanks to all our volunteers for making this year’s parade entry so special!
