About the Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2012:
This weekend hosts the annual Gay Pride Parade in Chicago on Sunday, June 24, 2012, and the Chicago PrideFest Street Festival June 22 and June 24. The festival includes live entertainment and drag shows with some of Chicago's most popular female impersonators. Don't forget about the Pet Pride Parade on June 24 at 12:30 p.m. Chicago's Gay Pride Parade is held the last Sunday of June each year since 1970. The parade takes place in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood, usually starting on Halsted Street and proceeding north. The parade attracts over 500,000 spectators and roughly 250 entries/floats.
When is the Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2012:
June 24, 2012 starting at 10 a.m.
Where is the Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2012:
The parade starts at Broadway Avenue and Montrose Street and goes south on Broadway to Halsted Street, then east toward Diversey Parkway and then down Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park.
Admission to the Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2012:
Admission is free.
Getting to the Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2012:
Parking is tough in the Lakeview area of Chicago. Your best bet is to take the Red Line EL train to the Belmont Stop, or the Brown Line to the Wellington stop. The CTA 36 is also an option, but since it goes down part of the parade's route, it might not run. You could also take the CTA 151 down Sheridan to Belmont.
More about the Chicago Gay Pride Parade's History:
The Chicago Gay Pride Parade was first held in 1970 and is the culmination of June Pride Month, which celebrates LGBT culture with a series of various social, athletic, and political events. The parade takes place each year the last Sunday in June and is attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators. The parade features over 200 floats. To learn more about Gay Pride Month in Chicago, check out our Chicago Gay Pride 2012 - Chicago Backlot Bash 2012 Guide.
Chicago PrideFest Street Festival:
In addition to the Chicago Gay Pride Parade, there is the Chicago PrideFest Street Festival June 22-23, 2012 from 4 - 10 p.m. on June 22 and from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. on June 23. The festival takes place at Halsted & Waveland and is presented by the Northalsted Business Alliance. For more information, visit the festival's Web site.
