As Pride Month continues, things are slated to get even more exciting with the 2018 New York City (NYC) Pride March aiming to celebrate members of the LGBTQIA+ community Sunday. The first-ever gay pride parade in American history was held in NYC's Central Park on June 28, 1970. It occurred one year after the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which were multiple violent protests organized by members of the LGBT community after the NYPD raided known gay club Stonewall Inn. The parade served as a launching pad for other cities across the United States to hold their own respective marches. It's now commemorated annually, ultimately becoming an important civil rights movement. "The March is a celebration of our lives and our community," NYC Pride's website reads. "In 2017, we were joined by over 450+ unique marching contingents, representing a vast array of nonprofits, community organizations, corporate partners, small businesses, political candidates and activists! With over 110 floats making the trek down Fifth Avenue, last year's March was one of the largest and most exciting in history." With Sunday's event preparing for takeoff, here's everything there is to know about this year's parade. What time is the NYC Pride March? Sunday's event is scheduled to take place at 12 p.m. EST. While there isn't a set time it's slated to conclude, it will likely end in the early evening. What is the March's route? The March will begin on 7th Avenue and 16th Street. MTA's website states that the parade will continue east along Christopher and 8 Streets to 5 Avenue before heading north along 5 Avenue. It will later conclude at 29 Street. A full route map from the Heritage of Pride can be viewed, here. What roads will be closed? The parade will take over several roads in NYC from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m EST. The following areas will be blocked off for the event: Route 7th Avenue between 19th Street and Christopher Street Christopher Street between Greenwich Avenue and West 4th Street Greenwich Avenue between Christopher Street and 6th Avenue 8th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue 5th Avenue between 8th Street and 33rd Street Festival University Place between East 13th Street and Waverly Place East 8th Street between University Place and Greene Street Formation 19th Street between 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue 18th Street between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue 17th Street between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue 16th Street between 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue 15th Street between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue Dispersal 29th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 30th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 31st Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 32nd Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 33rd Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue Does it cost to attend? The March is free for all ages, but there is seating area at The General Worth Monument that would require interested persons to purchase a pass. The pass includes special restrooms, food, beverages and live entertainment. Is there a way to watch online? New York's ABC7 (WABC-TV) is airing a live broadcast of the March from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For those who don't have access to a television, the special would be viewable via live stream on the station's website.<doc-sep>Thousands of people in New York City will show up Sunday afternoon for the annual Pride Parade that's set to run a new route, along 7th and 5th avenues in the city. The spectators will be there to celebrate and to see members of the LGBTQ community take part in the parade on floats and marching the streets of New York. Every year the parade has floats for organizations, pop culture icons, musicians, actors and influential community members. For the 2018 parade, there are four grand marshals for NYC Pride. Those grand marshals include tennis legend Billie Jean King, Lambda Legal firm that focuses on LGBTQ rights, activist and writer Tyler Ford and Kenita Placide who is also an activist. The new route starts downtown and heads past the Stonewall Inn and the makes its way uptown. The Stonewall Inn is has great significance for the parade as it's one of the places pride honors each year. The riots that took place at the Inn in 1969 are credited with birthing the modern LGBTQ movement. In addition to the grand marshals, there are a number of celebrities expected to be at the parade including some athletes. Harrison Browne, the former National Women's Hockey League athlete and first out transgender athlete in professional hockey is expected to march Sunday, according to The Athletic. The NFL and the MLB also have representatives who plan to march Sunday. Ryan O'Callaghan of the NFL is expected to march as is the MLB's Billy Bean, The Baltimore Sun reported. Bobby Berk from Netflix's Queer Eye will be at the parade on the Lyft float. He is set to officiate three weddings during the parade for three lucky couples, People reported. Berk's co-star, Jonathan Van Ness, is collaborating with Smirnoff vodka during pride to promote pride-theme vodka and though it was not confirmed whether he would be at pride Sunday, he was in New York Friday, according to his social media posts. The parade is set to start at noon Sunday and last several hours as it makes its way uptown with floats and marchers. Past parades have featured politicians, like the Mayor Bill de Blasio, and other stars like the cast members of the Netflix show Orange Is The New Black. Other events during pride this year will feature musical artists like Tove Lo and Lizzo. NYC Pride did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment on who would be attending the parade Sunday.<doc-sep>Pride Island. Formerly known as Dance on the Pier, the DJ-happy two-day dance party runs Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. at Pier 97 in Hell’s Kitchen. On deck for day one are Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo and “Drag Race” fan fave Sasha Velour. Pop goddess and beloved gay icon Kylie Minogue appears as the grand finale on Sunday. “We’ve never had this event sell out so fast, thanks to Kylie,” a Pride NYC spokesman told The News.<doc-sep>2018 PRIDE MARCH COVERAGE The 49th Annual Pride March in New York City will be on June 24th, 2018.Don't miss the live broadcast of the 2018 New York City Pride March on ABC7 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on June 24th, 2018.<doc-sep>
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD and Pride march organizers have unveiled a new route and security plan for Sunday’s parade. This year’s march will step off at noon at 16th Street and Seventh Avenue. It will travel south to Christopher Street, then head up Fifth Avenue to 29th Street. Did you know that this year’s @NYCPride Parade on Sunday has a new route? Be informed and check out this graphic. #NYCPride2018 pic.twitter.com/456Zi1btFd — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 22, 2018 Organizers expect about 2.5 million spectators. Police said while there are currently no known threats, comprehensive security will be in place. “We will have thousands of uniformed officers and plainclothes officers deployed along the entire route,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison said. “We’ll have a complex counterterrorism overlay. You’ll see it out front, you won’t see it behind the scenes, both levels will be there,” added NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism John Miller. “As we always do for events of this size, we have a comprehensive security plan in place to ensure the safety of everyone participating in or attending the march.”- @NYPDChiefPatrol on how this year’s @NYCPride Parade will be both safe and fun. #NYCPride2018 pic.twitter.com/r0FeuqkqeU — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 22, 2018 The new route is a test run for next year, which is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and the first time New York City hosts the event known as “World Pride.” For more information on the march and street closures, see here and here.