By Steve Valentine
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
What is being described as the largest turnout so far, Mountain Pride Lake Arrowhead opened for its seventh annual celebration on Friday night, Aug. 14, with a happy hour welcome at Jetties Waterfront Kitchen followed by a Disco Cowboy Dance Party at Cadillac Cowboy culminating at 1 p.m.
The 2026 Mountain Pride Festival produced by Lake Arrowhead LGBTQIA+ organization took place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday under the tent at waterfront park in Lake Arrowhead Village. Other activities in the Village included the Pride Boat Parade with 25 boats including a Jurassic Park-themed winner. There was also “The Love Boat Booz Cruise” aboard the Arrowhead Queen.
This boat in the Pride parade paid tribute to the late Lauri Carlton.
“We are so proud to celebrate the LGBTQIA community in the San Bernardino Mountains each year,” said Lake Arrowhead LGBTQIA+ Vice President Destiney Roxburgh. “We know that community makes us stronger and we love our mountain community.”
The drag show took place in the tent, with the crowd spilling well outside the structure. Talent included the hostess with the mostess, Jewels Long Beach, our own local Britney Shields, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Mayhem Miller and Phantom King, all of whom performed to upbeat disco classics like Gloria Gaynor’s anthem, “I Will Survive.” Music was provided by DJ Nod Noize and DJ Jerry Cola.
Other activities included face painting, arts and crafts booths, a silent auction, giveaways to local businesses and more. The event culminated on Sunday with a Pride Brunch at Spade & Spatula-Ca. Gastropub.
Special thanks to our sponsors and allies: The Lake House, Sunsets Island Bar and Grill, Jetties Waterfront, Spade & Spatula, Lake Arrowhead Brewing Co., the Arrowhead Lake Association, Bad Boy Pilates and Pines to Palms Real Estate.
For more info, “Celebrating Love, Diversity and Community in the San Bernardino Mountains,” visit www.LakeArrowheadlgbtqia.org.
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