The 2025 Chicago Pride Parade is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 29, serving as a vibrant culmination of Pride Month festivities in the city and suburbs.
This year marks the 54th edition of the parade, which is anticipated to attract around 800,000 spectators to Lakeview to witness over 151 groups marching in what is recognized as the city’s largest Pride celebration.
Windy City Times has gathered crucial logistical details and pertinent information to assist attendees in planning a fun and safe experience during the parade.
The parade is set to kick off at 11 a.m. from the intersection of West Sheridan Road and Broadway, making its way south on Broadway and Halsted.
Following Halsted, the parade will eventually turn east on Belmont Avenue before continuing south along Broadway, concluding at Diversey Parkway.
Notably, the corner of Sheridan and Broadway will be closed for the staging of the parade, with the viewing area commencing at Grace Street and Broadway.
For those seeking prime viewing spots, the Northalsted entertainment corner, which stretches along Halsted Street from Addison Street to Belmont Avenue, is expected to be the most popular.
Attendees planning to watch the parade from this location are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good spot.
Areas that tend to be less crowded include Broadway from Belmont to Oakdale and Belmont from Halsted to Broadway, according to organizers.
There will also be an accessible viewing area along Diversey near Clark Street, featuring accessible portable restrooms nearby at 600 W. Diversey.
Crossing the parade route may present challenges, yet it is feasible at crossover locations that include Addison and Halsted, Cornelia and Halsted, Buckingham and Halsted, Briar and Broadway, and Wellington and Broadway.
For those requiring medical assistance or cooling relief, various health and safety stations will be established along the parade route. Medical areas can be found at:
– Addison, east of Halsted
– Roscoe, east of Halsted
– Aldine, east of Halsted
– Surf, west of Broadway
Cooling buses will be strategically positioned at:
– Addison, west of Halsted
– Roscoe, west of Halsted
– Belmont, east of Broadway
– Wilton, north of Belmont
– Waveland, between Broadway and Halsted
– Belmont, westbound between Halsted and Clark
Given the anticipated crowd and street closures, parking will be extremely limited in the area. Attendees are advised to carpool or be prepared to park far away from the parade route.
Utilizing public transportation is encouraged, with nearby Red Line CTA stops including:
– Wilson, one mile north of the start point
– Addison
– Belmont, which is expected to be the busiest stop
Additionally, the following Brown Line CTA stops are in close proximity to the parade route:
– Belmont, again noted as likely to be crowded
– Wellington
– Diversey, located near the end of the parade
While CTA bus routes will also be available, attendees should check transitchicago.com for any updates on rerouted services on parade day.
As for attire and essentials, attendees are advised to wear light and comfortable clothing to accommodate warm and sunny weather, whether in costumes, rainbow gear, or adorned with glitter.
Bringing sunscreen, along with water and snacks for enjoyment throughout the day, is highly recommended. Most viewing areas may not provide shade, so wearing hats or other head coverings could be beneficial.
Important items to pack include a wallet containing ID and cash for any emergency purchases, in addition to a fully charged cell phone.
A strict list of prohibited items for the parade includes:
– Alcohol
– Bicycles and scooters
– Coolers
– Drones
– Fireworks
– Folding chairs
– Propane and propane tanks
– Tents, canopies, and structures
– Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks
– Weapons
Additionally, open containers of alcohol are strictly forbidden, with offenders facing potential fines of $1,000 or more.
Although pets are not permitted to participate in the parade, spectators are welcome to bring them along, keeping in mind that the route can be noisy, crowded, and full of colorful distractions.
For enhanced safety, black and white pole markers with unique letter-and-number codes will be placed throughout the parade route. These identifiers can help attendees communicate their location in case of emergencies or if they become separated from friends and family.
In terms of traffic and access, certain streets will be closed to parking and traffic on parade day. No parking will be enforced from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the following areas:
– Both sides of Broadway from Irving Park to Waveland
– Both sides of Halsted from Sheridan to Waveland
– Both sides of Broadway from Melrose to Diversey
– Both sides of Diversey from Broadway 100ft west of Clark to Cannon Drive
– Both sides of Waveland from Halsted to Broadway
– Both sides of Racine from Wellington to Belmont
– Both sides of Grace from Pine Grove to Fremont
– West side of Wilton from Belmont to 3245 N Wilton
– South side of Cuyler from Clarendon to Broadway
– Both sides of Sheridan from Sheffield to Inner LSD
– Both sides of Clarendon from Broadway to Bittersweet
– West side of Clarendon from Bittersweet to Buena
– Both sides of Fremont from Irving Park to Sheridan
Additional areas will observe no parking from 1 a.m. to 9 p.m.:
– Both sides of LSD West from Cannon Drive to Diversey
– Both sides of Cannon Drive from Diversey to Fullerton
– Both sides of Diversey from Sheridan to Lake Shore Drive
Finally, there will be no parking starting at 2 a.m. on June 29 through 7 a.m. on June 30 in several other areas including Halsted, Belmont, Sheffield, Clark, Roscoe, Wellington, Addison, and Aldine.
Parking restrictions for the assembly area and parade route are set to begin at 5 a.m. on June 29, with street closures commencing as early as 8 a.m.
Drivers are strongly urged to read parking signs diligently before leaving their vehicles during the parade to ensure compliance with city regulations.
image source from：windycitytimes
