The 56th annual San Francisco Pride Parade and Festival drew an estimated 1.5 million visitors to the city over Pride Weekend, including around 56,000 who participated in the parade on June 28, 2026. The San Francisco Bay Times is honored to have been among the over 300 contingents that included local leaders, entertainers, businesses, community groups, nonprofits, and much more.
The theme of this year’s Bay Times contingent, Love Makes a Family, was evident in guests who included Megan Married Meagan presented by Olivia Travel, marriage equality leaders John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, Pink Triangle installation founder Patrick Carney and his husband Dr. Hossein Carney, and Leslie Sbrocco. Leslie is the host of Check, Please! Bay Area (now in its 21st season on KQED), is a Today show regular, national host on PBS, and is known for her entertaining approach to food and wine. An ally and Bay Times columnist, Leslie was joined by her daughter Grace Sbrocco, who is an LGBTQ+ community member, Leslie’s sister Lauren Hartley, and other family members and friends.
Don Berger of Regency Limousine has attended the parade for several years as a viewer from the bleachers, but, until this year, had never participated. He was Leslie’s driver and dressed in festive rainbow colors to mark the occasion.
The family theme additionally carried over to the Contingent Managers, Warren Alderson and Steve Scheitlin, who are a married couple. Karen Bardsley also helped manage the contingent. Jimmy Consos, Co-Owner of the Grubstake Diner, rode a pedicab (cyclist Brady Bakay, who has been a part of the Bay Times contingent for years) with Jimmy’s daughter Eleni and they both gave out free Pride items to paradegoers.
In addition to Warren and Steve, the volunteer team included Juan Davila and Leticia Lopezz—dressed in elaborate Day of the Dead costumes—Miguel Lopez, Jade Martner, Carol Steinkamp (Bus Seating Check-In Captain), Linda Schomaker (T-shirt Captain), and Monette Shirley, who skillfully helped manage the front of the contingent during the parade. Monette’s daughter Savannah rode in the contingent and brought great energy and style to the presentation.
Holding the Bay Times banner were Juliana Slater and Ariyana Vojdani, whom the Bay Times publishers met at Rikki’s only the day before the parade! These two UC Davis graduate students had never participated in the parade before, and did a fantastic job.
Music was provided by DJ Olga T, renowned for her work at Mango and other popular events, and DJ Manny of Bay Pro DJs who served as sound engineer and emcee. Sparky’s Balloons, run by Salvador Tovar and with Site Manager Samantha and their team, decorated the contingent’s BMW convertible and vehicle provided by Big Bus Tours. Only a few contingents in the parade featured Big Bus Tours buses—highlighted in Golden State Warriors parades and other major events—and the Bay Times again was honored to be one of them. John F. Kennedy was the driver, and, living up to his presidential-sounding name, JFK was an impressive boss from early in the setup until navigating the challenging traffic right after the parade.
The organizers of the contingent wish to thank all of the sponsors and vendors: columnist and author Tom LeNoble, Olivia Travel, Boichik Bagels and founder Emily Winston, 1800 Tequila, and V. Sattui Winery. Wine Educator Ed Wyrabkiewicz and Wine Club Manager Stephanie Price of V. Sattui represented the winery in the contingent.
Photographer Bill Wilson, who frequently contributes to the Bay Times, rode in the contingent, while contributing photographer Michael Kirschner and columnist Joanie Juster took photos along Market Street during the parade. Lead photographer Rink was also on site and photographed the VIP Party at the Asian Art Museum following the parade.
Additional participants who joined the contingent included Babs Daitch, Beth Schnitzer, Carol Batte, Brent Hensley and his husband Frank Marx (who dramatically waved a giant Pride flag from atop the bus), Baylee Decastro, Jenna Rosenthal, Debra Reabock, Madeleine Bronstone, Donna Sachet (who majestically stood at the front of the bus in trademark red), Kiersten Elzy-Loving and her partner Jen, Jade Martner’s wife Lynn Gold, Misha Cohen, Mai Dam (the mother of Nguyen Pham of San Francisco Pride, CHEER SF, and Mensa Foundation) and her sister Phuong, Sonoma County Dyke March Co-Founders Pam Adinoff and Nancy Kelly, Sally Nichols, Chris Michaelson, and Bay Times columnist and longtime member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Sister Dana Van Iquity.
Still others either rode or marched in this year’s Bay Times contingent.
Thank you to San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and her team, and again to everyone who participated in this year’s Parade and Festival. That also includes those reading this who attended the parade and tirelessly watched from the sides of Market Street. Such support and positive energy are just as important to the parade as the contingents. The synergy between the paradegoers and the participants is palpable and reminds why the San Francisco Bay Area remains one of the world’s most successful, diverse, and welcoming regions for the LGBTQ+ community and all those committed to upholding democracy and inclusion.
Pride Parade 2026
Published on July 16, 2026
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