When: Sunday, June 27
Time: Noon
Phone: 773.348.8243
Email: PrideChgo@aol.com
Website: http://www.chicagopridecalendar.org

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.

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.

Needs and Special Needs

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. Included at several locations are restrooms for the physically challenged.

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.

Ten Tips for Parade Spectators

1. The parade starts at 12 Noon. So, arrive early to find a good spot.
2. Parking in the area is limited, so walk, take public transportation (or if you must drive, then car pool). For CTA/PACE/Metra transit information, call 773-836-7000; Web Site: www.transitchicago.com.
3. The parade route (both sides of Halsted Street and Broadway Avenue) will be lined with barricades as required by the City of Chicago. Spectators will be required to stand behind the barricades, not in the street. Besides the parade registrants traveling down the middle of the street, only police officers, other city officials and parade marshals will be allowed in the street.
4. Alcohol consumption should NOT take place along the parade route. Bring plenty of bottled water and sun screen and dress lightly.
5. Keep the area clean by using trash barrels.
6. Since crowds have increased in recent years on Halsted Street, spectators are being asked to try other sections of the parade route to view the parade (for example, West Diversey Parkway or Broadway from Wellington to Diversey). Spectators must watch the parade on the parade route, not in the assembly area.
7. City ordinance prevents parade participants from tossing items to spectators. Likewise, spectators should not toss items back to parade participants. Spectators are not allowed to walk into the street to get items. Spectators must wait until parade participants come to the sidelines to hand out items. Parade participants are not allowed to hand out items to spectators who are standing on sidewalks in the assembly area. (So, spectators who want sample items must view the parade from the actual parade route.)
8. Do NOT use high-powered water rifles, “Super Soakers” or squirt guns, because they could cause injuries.
9. Each year when the parade ends, spectators are kept out of the street because the Streets and Sanitation Department removes barricades and begins cleaning the streets. Then, the police reopen the streets to traffic.
10. As in past years, police personnel and PRIDEChicago marshals will be on hand, but spectators can be a big help by obeying the above rules.