Everything You Need to Know About the Chicago Pride Parade
Planning to attend the 48th annual Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday? Here's what you need to know.
Thousands are expected to descend on Chicago's North Side Sunday for the 48th annual Chicago Pride Parade, a culmination of the city's Pride Month festivities.
Planning to attend? Here's what you need to know.
Parade route and timing: The parade steps off at noon at Montrose Avenue and Broadway Street in the Uptown neighborhood. It commences south on Broadway to Halsted, then south on Halsted, east on Belmont, south on Broadway and east on Diversey to Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park, according to Chicago's Office of Emergency Management.
Street closures: Some steets will begin closing as early as 8 a.m. for participant staging areas and as early as 9:30 a.m. along the parade route, city officials said. Street closures include parts of Montrose, Irving Park and Wellington at Broadway and Addison, Grace and Roscoe at Halsted. "Streets are expected to fully reopen by 8:00 p.m. or when deemed safe to do so," the OEMC says. "Traffic Control Aides will be assigned to assist with traffic."
Getting there: Public transportation is "highly recommended" as parking restrictions begin at 5 a.m. Sunday morning and crowds build thoughtout the morning. Metra and CTA both announced additional service on Sunday for the parade.
Metra will provide extra trains on the BNSF Line from Aurora, the Union Pacific North Line from Kenosha, the Union Pacific Northwest Line from Harvard and the Union Pacific West Line from Elburn. "Extra seating capacity will be made available on all other lines," Metra reps said.
On the CTA, expect more trains on the Red, Blue, Brown and Orange lines:
--Red Line: From 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., trains will operate with increased frequency.
--Brown Line: Longer trains will operate from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Service will also be provided more frequently from approximately 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
--Blue Line: Longer trains will operate from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
--Orange Line: Longer trains will operate from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m.
More buses also will run on the #74 Fullerton route between 10:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the #77 Belmont and #78 Montrose routes from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
In addition, the CTA will reroute several buses due to street closures along the parade route: #8 Halsted, #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, #76 Diversey, #77 Belmont, #78 Montrose, #80 Irving Park, #151 Sheridan and #152 Addison.
Weather: As of Friday, NBC 5 meteorologists were tracking a partly cloudy day with a few showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to reach the lower to middle 70s.
Transit pride: In celebration of the parade, four CTA 'L' cars will be specially wrapped with an image of the LGTBQ rainbow flag. The cars will run along the Red Line for the next week. The CTA also will sell Pride-themed single-ride Ventra tickets at 30 of its busiest rail stations.
Safety and security: An increased number of uniformed and plainclothes police officers will be stationed along the route, and the OEMC will activate its Emergency Operations Center to "monitor activities and support on-site staff."
It's all part of the OEMC and Chicago Police's efforts to built on last year's strategy, "enhancing current operations for a more comprehensive safety plan." Spectators can expect to see more signage for pedestrian crossing, for example, and more pole marker signs to identify their location if calling 911.
Chicago Police said it will utilize PRIDEChicago private security staff, increase barricades along the parade route and establish clearer routes for emergency responders to reach medical tents.
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Grand marshal: "Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2017 Chicago Pride Parade. The 58-year-old actress and Illinois native is best known for her award-winning role as "Big Boo" in the hit Netflix series. Organizers noted she was selected as the grand marshal for her long-time activism in the LGBT community, which earned her the Equality Illinois Freedom Award in 2015.
What not to bring: Coolers are not allowed and will be strictly enforced, the city says. "Open containers containing alcoholic beverages are illegal on the city's streets and sidewalks," the OEMC said in a statement. "Violators will be subject to fines up to $1,000."
Share your photos: Want to show off your pride? Email pictures to isee@nbcchicago.com!