LAKEVIEW — The Chicago Pride Parade returns for its 52nd year Sunday, bringing tens of thousands of people to Uptown and Lakeview to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities.
The parade steps off noon Sunday from Broadway and Montrose Avenue in Uptown. The route winds south through Lakeview, ending at Diversey Parkway and Cannon Drive.
This year’s parade will feature 150 floats, performance groups, marching bands, walking contingents and decorated vehicles, including a bus featuring the teams from Block Club Chicago and WCIU’s “On The Block” TV show.
This year’s parade also will have increased security in light of rising attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, the Windy City Times reported. Hundreds of extra police officers will patrol the parade and late-night hours following the parade, interim Supt. Fred Waller said.
That security means parade rules will be enforced — with violators subject to a $1,000 fine for public alcohol consumption and public urination, organizers said.
Read through Block Club’s guide on how to be prepared and have the most fun at this year’s parade.
The Route
Starting at Broadway and Montrose, the parade will head south along Broadway toward Halsted Street. It then continues south on Halsted to Belmont Avenue. From there, it heads east on Belmont, south on Broadway again and then east on Diversey Parkway to its end point at Cannon Drive.
The parade route will be lined with barricades with police officers and parade marshals stationed at various points, organizers said. The coordinators are also providing a security team to help with police along the parade.
The parade will take about two-and-a-half hours to finish from its starting point, organizers said. After that, floats will still wind through the parade route.
There will be nine pedestrian crossover streets along the parade route, where police officers will assist people in getting across. They are:
- Montrose Avenue at Broadway
- Irving Park Road at Broadway
- Grace Street at Halsted Street
- Addison Street at Halsted Street
- Roscoe Street at Halsted Street
- Wellington Avenue at Broadway
- Aldine Street at Halsted Street
- Cornelia Avenue at Halsted Street
- Oakdale Avenue at Broadway
Street Closures
Street closures will happen in the areas surrounding the parade route, organizers said.
The city will begin towing cars along the route at 4 a.m., while street closures for the parade’s staging areas will begin at 5 a.m., according to Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th).
The entire parade route will close at 10 a.m., and cross-streets will close from 10-10:30 a.m., Lawson said.
Police will work to reopen the streets to cars as soon as cleaning crews are finished, organizers said. The streets will not remain open to foot traffic.
No parking from 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday:
- both sides of Montrose Ave. from Greenview Ave. to Hazel St.
- both sides of Broadway from Leland Ave. to Grace St.
- both sides of Sheridan Road from Montrose Ave. to Agitite Ave.
- both sides of Sheridan Road from Sunnyside Ave. to Buena Ave.
- both sides of Sunnyside Ave. from Sheridan Road to Broadway St.
- both sides of Halsted St. from Grace St. to Clark St.
- both sides of Belmont Ave. from Racine St. to Broadway
- both sides of Broadway from Melrose St. to Diversey Parkway
- both sides of Diversey Parkway from Broadway to Cannon Drive
- both sides of Cannon Drive from Diversey Parkway to Fullerton Parkway
- both sides of Addison St. from Halsted St. to Sheffield Ave.
- both sides of Addison St. from Halsted St. to 736 W. Addison St.
- both sides of Waveland Ave. from Halsted St. to Broadway
- west side of Broadway from Belmont Ave. to 1/2 block north
- both sides of Buena Ave. from Broadway to Sheridan Road
- Halsted St. at each intersection within 200 feet in both directions between Waveland Ave. and Belmont Ave.
- east side of Aldine Ave. from Halsted St. to the alley (729-759 W. Aldine)
- east side of Racine from Wellington to Belmont Ave .
- both sides of Grace St. from Halsted St. to Fremont St.
- Roscoe St. from Halsted St. to 200 feet east of Halsted St
- south side of Diversey Parkway from Clark St. to 100 feet west of Clark
- both sides of Halsted St. from Addison St. to Clark St.
- both sides of Lake Shore Drive West from Cannon Drive to Diversey Parkway
- both sides of Roscoe St. from Clark St. to Halsted St.
No parking from 5 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday:
- both sides of Halsted St. from Addison St. to Clark St.
- both sides of Belmont Ave. from Sheffield Ave. to Halsted St.
- both sides of Clark St. from Belmont Ave. to Halsted St.
- both sides of Halsted St. from Belmont Ave. to Barry Ave.
- both sides of Sheffield from School St. to Wellington Ave.
Public Transportation
Expect heavy traffic due to street closures and the large crowds. Visitors are encouraged to use trains and buses going to and from the parade.
Nearby Red Line stops include Wilson, Sheridan, Addison and Belmont, all a short walk to the parade route. The 146, 151 and other lakefront bus routes will also give people access from northern neighborhoods, Gold Coast and Downtown.
The Belmont station and its surrounding area tends to become the most crowded spot, so people are encouraged to watch the parade from areas toward the start of the route, organizer said.
Several buses will be rerouted on parade day, including the 8 Halsted, 22 Clark, 36 Broadway, 76 Diversey, 77 Belmont, 78 Montrose, 151 Sheridan and 152 Addison. The CTA website will have updated information regarding these changes.
Those coming in from the suburbs are encouraged to take the Metra.
Weather
Pack an umbrella.
Sunday is likely to bring showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. There’s a 70 percent chance of rain as early as 10 a.m. — two hours before parade kicks off.
Health And Safety
Visitors should bring plenty of bottled water, sunscreen and maybe a hat or head covering, organizers said. People are also encouraged to dress lightly if the weather is hot and sunny.
There will be cooling buses at the following areas:
- Halsted, south of Belmont
- Addison, west of Halsted
- Belmont, east of Broadway
- Wilton, north of Belmont
- Buena, west of Broadway
The Fire Department will also have first-aid stations at:
- 901 W. Addison St.
- 765 W. Roscoe St.
- 3165 N. Halsted St.
- 561 W. Surf St.
- 802 W. Roscoe St.
More information and updates can be found on the Pride Parade’s website.
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