Members of the FFC Gym float in the 2019 Chicago Pride Parade, the most recent time it was held before COVID-19 cancellations.
Rick Majewski / Sun-Times
After taking the last two years off from celebrating in person due to the pandemic, the Chicago Pride Parade returns in full fashion to the streets of Lake View and Uptown on Sunday for what’s traditionally one of the city’s biggest gatherings of the year.
The parade represents the biggest moment of Pride Month for many in the LGBTQ+ community. The late June date commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of protests in New York that are considered a pivotal event in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.
If you’re planning to go, here’s a rundown of the basics for Chicago Pride Parade 2022:
It starts at noon Sunday at Montrose Avenue and Broadway. Target, ALDI and Jewel-Osco locations are nearby if you need last-minute beverages or supplies.
The parade will run southeast on North Broadway before turning right to head south on North Halsted Street. It then turns left onto West Belmont Avenue, heading east before turning right back onto North Broadway. Finally, the route takes a left onto West Diversey Parkway and ends at Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.
Below, you can see a map of the full route.
Unlike a lot of recent Chicago days, it looks like parade Sunday won’t be a scorcher. As of Thursday morning, the forecast for Sunday is mostly sunny with a high near 82 degrees. There’s a 40% chance of rain before 8 a.m., hours before the start, if you’re heading out early.
Pride in the Park will be in Grant Park for the second day of the two-day festival. Unlike the parade, this other major event isn’t free: General admission for Sunday is $45, plus fees. Musical acts include Alesso, Rebecca Black, Daya and J. Worra.
