In March 2021, a rainbow-painted pride lifeguard tower was burned down in Long Beach in a case ofsuspected arson.[1][2] This incident inspired local teen Izzy Bacallao and family to have a local lifeguard tower painted in solidarity; on June 14, 2021, the 13th Street lifeguard tower in Hermosa Beach was painted rainbow.[3]
The first Hermosa Beach Pride event was held on Saturday, June 26, 2021.[3] It featured a small parade of dozens of people who walked from Bottle Inn to the newly-painted rainbow pride lifeguard tower for a ribbon cutting ceremony.[3][4]
By 2022, a nonprofit was formed to handle organizing the parade and festival, with Randy Renner, Jessica Accamando, and Jose Bacallou (Izzy Bacallao's father) as directors.[5] When the event returned in June 2022, it was expanded to three days from June 24 to 26.[6]
In 2023, Hermosa Beach Pride was held June 16-17.[5] On June 17, a man threw a lit firework into the crowd in a suspected hate crime; multiple people suffered minor injuries.[7] The suspect was identified as a juvenile, and the police determined that it was not a hate crime.[8][9]
In 2024, Hermosa Beach Pride took place from Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 16.[10][11]
In 2025, Hermosa Beach Pride took place from Friday, June 13 to Sunday, June 15.[12]
