Palm Springs Pride kicks off as businesses prepare for busy weekend, focus on safety

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - As thousands of visitors prepare to celebrate Palm Springs Pride, local businesses are getting ready for one of the city's biggest weekends of the year, with safety and security among their priorities.

The celebration begins Thursday evening with the Arenas District Walkabout, kicking off four days of festivities for Palm Springs Pride's 40th anniversary.

With large crowds expected throughout downtown Palm Springs, News Channel 3 is speaking with local business owners about how they're preparing for the influx of visitors, what safety precautions they're considering and how they're working to create a welcoming environment for everyone.

We're also looking into the security measures planned for this year's celebration and what visitors should know before heading downtown.

News Channel 3's Raymond Kalra will have live reports at 4, 5 and 6 p.m., with a full report at 5 p.m. examining how local businesses are preparing to keep employees and customers safe during Pride weekend.

Check back for updates as we continue gathering information from businesses and local officials.