Parade Information
Date and
Time
The Pride Parade
is scheduled each year for the last Sunday in June at 12 Noon. This year the
Chicago 41st Annual Pride Parade is scheduled for Sunday, June 27
at noon. The parade route: Step off from the Halsted & Belmont corner,
proceeding north on Halsted (to Broadway); then south on Broadway (to Diversey);
then east on Diversey to Cannon Drive, in Lincoln Park..
CONTENT & DESCRIPTION
Grand Marshal of this year's parade is country singer/songwriter Chely Wright.
The parade will feature 250 registered entries including floats, decorated vehicles, performance groups, a marching band and walking contingents.
The entries represent community organizations, businesses, governmental officials and individual community members.
Crowd estimates each year are in the hundreds of
thousands. So the plans are to line the parade route with barricades on both
sides of the street from beginning of the parade route to Diversey. Spectators
will be required to remain behind the barricades. In recent years, the City of
Chicago has required that several large city parades, including the Pride
Parade, line their parade routes with barricades to prevent injuries.
In addition, parade marshals will be
placed along the entire parade route as well.
In addition, police officers along with the parade marshals will be present along the route. (See elsewhere on this website for "Ten Tips for Spectators").
STREET CLOSURES
STREET CLOSURES (on parade day, Sunday, June 27)
ASSEMBLY AREA: Closed to traffic at 10:00 AM. Halsted Street from Belmont to Fullerton.
PARADE ROUTE: Closed to traffic at 11:00 AM. Starts at 12 Noon at Halsted/Belmont corner proceeding north on Halsted Street from Belmont to Grace; then south on Broadway to Diversey; then east on Diversey to Cannon Drive in (Lincoln Park).
Both the Assembly Area and Parade Route (listed above) will be posted with temporary signs indicating "NO PARKING ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010 FROM 5:00 AM TO 8:00 PM"
ADDITIONAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS
There will be additional parking restrictions on Belmont Avenue between Sheffield and Broadway; also on the east side of Clark Street, from Halsted to Wellington; and also on Wellington Avenue between Halsted and Clark.
TOWING: Begins at 5:00 AM. Due to the volume of vehicles involved, the issuing of parking violation citations and towing will start at 5 AM - Promptly.
CROSS STREETS: Closed to traffic at 11:00 AM
After stepping off at 12:00 PM, the parade will take approximately two and one-half hours to finish crossing the Belmont & Halsted corner. After this time, the floats will still be winding their way to the end of the parade route at Diversey & Sheridan.
Halsted Street, from Belmont to Addison will remain closed after the parade passes and will be utilized as a Safety Buffer Zone. Streets will be re-opened along the parade route after street cleaning is completed. The police can assist community members getting in and out of the area that day.
CTA BUSSES on Addison, Belmont, Diversey, Sheridan, Broadway and Halsted will be rerouted during this event. Information on the reroutes can be obtained by calling the CTA CUSTOMER SERVICE at 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282).
NEEDS AND SPECIAL NEEDS
1. Portable Restrooms - are stationed along the assembly area (the parade line-up street) and the parade route. They are sponsored by various businesses, organizations and individuals.
2. Included at several locations are restrooms for the physically challenged. The locations include the corner of Halsted/Clark; the corner of Halsted/Belmont; the corner of Broadway/Halsted; and at 600 W. Diversey (see #3 below).
3. Physically Challenged Area/Wheelchair Accessible Area - for people who need or want more space: the sidewalks of West Diversey Parkway (near 600 W. Diversey). Traditionally this area of the parade route has fewer spectators than other sections of the parade route. Spectators in these areas generally arrive there early on parade morning to secure their viewing spots. Included there are wheelchair accessible restrooms. The area is also barricaded for better protection.
