Chicago Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade 2009

Overview:

My all-time favorite memory from Chicago's Gay Pride parade is the huge black Mack truck that inched its way down Halsted one year. It was so wide it could barely make it down the street without picking off some spectators. It kept blasting its horn in long intervals that shook the crowd. A giant sign across its grill read, "GOD DOES NOT HATE." There were also some guys in leather hanging off of it.

That, my friends, is Chicago's Gay Pride Parade in a nutshell. Since 1969, Chicago's LGBT community celebrates Pride Month on the last Sunday in June with this exuberant parade.

Related Reading: Pride Month - Top Picks.

When:

Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 12 noon.

Parade Starting Point:

Halsted and Belmont
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Parade Route:

North on Halsted to Broadway
South on Broadway to Diversey

Parade Ending Point:

Diversey and Cannon Drive
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Grand Marshal:

To be determined.

Television Coverage:

The parade is not broadcast live, but often a local TV station records the parade and broadcasts excerpts. Check back closer to parade date for more information.

Tips for Attending Chicago's Gay Pride Parade:

More than half a million spectators descend on Chicago's "Boys Town" for the parade, so planning helps.

• Bring lots of fluids to stay hydrated. The day is often very hot and you may not feel like fighting the crowds to buy some.
• Wear sunscreen to avoid risking skin cancer and looking like a tomato.
• Stake out a vantage point early unless you like roaming the parade. If so, good luck to you.
• If it's your first time, be ready for anything. The parade is good bawdy fun - kind of like attending Mardi Gras in the French Quarter, an Abba concert, and a leather convention all rolled into one moving event. Expect it. Enjoy it.

Neighborhood:

Lake View

Essentials:

Official Website of Chicago's Gay Pride Parade
Chicago Hotels