BOSTON — Heading to celebrate Pride Week in Boston today? Here's what you need to know ahead of the Boston Pride Parade and Festival, an incredible march for LGBTQ+ equality and celebrations of inclusively, respect, and awareness.
This year is Boston's 48th annual Pride Parade, which is set to be the largest parade in Boston Pride history with more than 360 contingents, 45,000 participants and 500,000 spectators.
Highlights of this years' parade will be the Grand Marshal Freedom for All Massachusetts marching with 300 supporters, a remembrance contingent in the first section to honor 11 transgender people fatally shot or killed by violence in 2018, a "Mayors of America" contingent invited by Mayor Walsh and contingents from Boston's major league sports to support local athletes and artists set to compete at the 10th Gay Games in Paris this summer.
WATCH: BOSTON 25 NEWS PRIDE WEEKEND FORECAST
When and where does it start?
The parade will kick off from Copley Square on June 9 at noon, shortly after Mayor Marty Walsh cuts the ribbon at the corner of Boylston and Clarendon streets.
The theme of this year's 2.27 mile-long parade is rainbow resistance, which will finish off at City Hall Plaza.
How many people are expected to attend?
If you're planning on attending the Pride Parade, make sure to give yourself extra time to get to wherever you need to go. An estimated 45,000 people are expected to participate, while over 500,000 are expected to attend.
At this year's parade, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, the New England Revolution and the Boston GGX are all expected to participate.
Along with local sports teams, the parade will count on more than 360 contingents, 32 floats, 86 vehicles and 35 motorcycles.
Out of the groups participating and supporting the Pride Parade, 40 percent of parade groups are nonprofit/grassroots organizations, 36 percent are business groups and 18 percent are solidarity groups.
How do I get there?
Parade organizers strongly recommend traveling to and from the parade by taking the T. Due to the large amounts of people and closed off roads, traffic is likely to be an issue and parking will be limited.
All roads on the parade route will be closed off until 4 p.m., according to the City of Boston's website.
Parking restrictions will be in effect as following:
- Boylston Street, both sides, Massachusetts Avenue to Tremont Street
- Exeter Street, both sides, Newbury Street to St. James Avenue
- Dartmouth Street, both sides, Newbury Street to St. James Avenue
- Gloucester Street, both sides, Newbury Street to Boylston Street
- Fairfield Street, both sides, Boylston Street to Newbury Street
- Clarendon Street, both sides, Newbury Street to Tremont Street
- Tremont Street, both sides, Union Park Street to East Berkeley Street
- Berkeley Street, both sides, Tremont Street to Newbury Street
- Charles Street South, both sides, Park Plaza to Boylston Street
- Charles Street, both sides, Boylston Street to Beacon Street
- Beacon Street, both sides, Charles Street to Tremont Street
- Tremont Street, both sides, Cambridge Street to Beacon Street
- Court Street, both sides, Washington Street to Cambridge Street
- Cambridge Street, Center Plaza side, Bowdoin Street to Court Street, east side, Sudbury Street to New Chardon Street
- New Chardon Street, Cambridge Street to Congress Street
The MBTA offers easy access to the parade. If you're planning to get there for the start of the parade, you can take either the Orange Line to Back Bay station or the Green Line to Copley station. Commuter Rail riders can hop off the rail on onto any of these MBTA lines. If you're driving, check MBTA.com/parking for more information on parking at a station.
According to the event organizers, the route of the parade will be:
- Start at Boylston St and Clarendon St
- Turn right onto Clarendon St
- Turn left onto Tremont St
- Turn left onto Berkeley St
- Turn right onto Boylston St
- Turn left onto Charles St
- Turn right onto Beacon St
- Turn left onto Tremont St
- Arrival at City Hall Plaza on Cambridge St
You can find more information as well as a map with the exact route here.
What do I need to bring?
Participants and spectators are encouraged to bring as many Pride flags and rainbow-themed attire and accessories as they can! With a sunny forecast in view for the weekend, it is very important to pack lots of sunscreen! Consider bringing bottled water, sunglasses and hats as well.
Don't forget to bring your positive vibes and colorful energy!
Are there other Pride Week events happening this weekend?
As the parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, so will the festival and free concerts at Boston's City Hall, which are scheduled to go on until 6 p.m.
There will be plenty of food options to chose from and a beer garden for +21 participants.
Following the festival, the Boston Pride Youth Dance event will take place on City Hall Plaza for those under 21 and will feature a dance party and drag performances.
Martha Walsh and Big Freedia will be headlining the concerts, with additional performances from Boketto the Wolf, Happy Little Clouds, Justin Dearborn, Long Arm Rex and Queens with a Mission.
Verna Turbulence and Fast Freddy will serve as emcees for the event, which is expected to gather around 100,00 Pride Festival participants. The festival will also host a Family Fun Zone as well as 130 festival vendors.
On Sunday, June 10, as part of Pride Week Boston Pride will host the Back Bay Block Party from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on St. James Avenue. The day will be packed with high energy entertainment from opener DJ Gay Jim and Australian DJ Kitty Glitter. For more information on the event and to purchase tickets in advance, visit the block party's website here.
If you can't make it to the Back Back Block Party, do not worry! On Sunday. Boston Pride, along with Kristen Porter Presents will host the Jamaica Plain Block Party from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Perkins Street. DJ Maryalice will kickoff the event with throwback hits, kids of all ages will be able to play games, paint their faces and dress up at the Kidz Corner and even rescue pups will celebrate Pride Week in great style! For more information, visit their website here.
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