10 Biggest & Best Pride Parades in the U.S
Happy Pride Month!
It’s time to break out your rainbow gear, turn up the music, and get ready to party!
Whether you’re in the LGBTQ community or you’re an ally to it, joining the celebrations isn’t just fun.
It’s also a fantastic way to show your support and bring awareness to LGBTQ issues.
And one of the best ways to celebrate is at one of the hundreds of Pride parades happening across the U.S. in June 2022.
Top 10 Pride Parades in the U.S.
No matter where you live or where you want to go, you can find an exciting Pride parade nearby.
Keep in mind that showing up to enjoy the parade is just one way to show support.
Many of these Pride parades also accept donations and volunteers if you want to get more involved on a deeper level.
To help you narrow down the options, here’s a look at the 10 best Pride parades in 2022, with details about when they’re happening, what the themes are, and more.
These are in order of when they occur, starting with the earliest Pride parades in June and ending with those later in the month.
1. Washington D.C. Pride
When: Saturday, June 11th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Parade Starting Point: 14th St., just south of T St. NW & on the southside of Dupont Circle
Parade Ending Point: 21st St. NW & P St.
The Capital Pride Parade in D.C. is one of the earlier marches to kick off the parade season — and it’s just one part of a HUGE celebration that also includes a block party, pool parties, a festival, and more.
The theme for the 2022 Capital Pride Parade is “reUnited” to highlight the strength and endurance of the LGBTQ community (you can get themed-out gear for the 2022 Capital Pride Parade here).
Beyond cars, floats, and wonderfully garish costumes, the Capital Pride Parade will also feature DJs, dancing, and a walk by the block party, where food trucks, live music, games, fun activities, and tons of other festivities await you.
While that’s more than enough to fill your day, you can party well into the night (and after) too because several D.C. bars and restaurants have Pride events running throughout June.
2. New Orleans Pride Parade
When: Saturday, June 11th, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Parade Starting Point: 931 Elysian Fields Ave., in Marigny & the French Quarter (the location of PrideFest)
Parade Ending Point: Bourbon St., between St Ann & Dumaine
As one of the few major Pride parades to happen at sunset, the NOLA Pride Parade is truly a one-of-a-kind event, filled with glittering lights and amazingly outrageous floats, costumes, and performers, set to a backdrop of music that’s distinctly The Big Easy’s brand of cool.
Oh, and don’t forget about the beads, the burlesque shows, the drag shows, and the bands — there’s no end to the entertaining sights you can take in at this Pride celebration.
Notably, the 2022 NOLA Pride Parade marks the 52nd anniversary of this event, and it’s the first in-person Pride Parade in New Orleans since 2019 (due to COVID).
Seen as one of the fastest-growing Pride parades in the U.S., this year’s parade is expected to bring out tens of thousands of people. So, make sure to get there early if you want a good spot.
To see what other exciting events are happening before and after the 2022 NOLA Pride Parade, click here.
3. Los Angeles Pride
When: Sunday, June 12th starting at 10:30 a.m.
Parade Starting Point: Hollywood Blvd. & Cahuenga Blvd.
Parade Ending Point: Sunset Blvd. & Cahuenga Blvd.
As one of the largest Pride parades in the world, the Los Angeles Pride Parade will be enjoying its 52nd anniversary this year, with the theme, “Love Your Pride.”
Rejoicing in the spirit of unity, joy, and fabulousness in the LGBTQ+ community, the 2022 Los Angeles Pride Parade will feature more than 130 different celebrities, performers, marchers, nonprofit groups, businesses, and others proudly coming together to delight, inspire, show support, and speak their truth.
Some of those in this year’s lineup include:
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
Los Angeles City Attorney Pride Association
Society for Senior Gay and Lesbian Citizens (“Project Rainbow”)
Grindr
Grand Marshaling the 2022 Los Angeles Pride Parade will be Sir Lady Java, Mark Indelicato, and Paula Abdul. Here’s more about the LA Pride Parade and other events happening before and after it.
4. Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade 2022
When: Saturday, June 18th starting at 10:30 a.m.
Parade Starting Point: Front St. & W. Broad St.
Parade Ending Point: Buttles Ave. & Dennison Ave.
With a 42-year history that’s still going strong, the 2022 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade is another extraordinary event bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from across the nation.
In fact, the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade almost rivals the Chicago Pride Parade — and this year you can party at both, kicking off your celebration in Columbus and then jetting over to Chicago the following weekend.
For the 2022 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade, you can expect major glitz, pomp, and big-time displays of pride because this is another event that’s coming back for the first time since COVID.
So, get ready to see some stunning performances, floats, bands, and costumes as you take in all that the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade has to offer.
And don’t limit your celebration to just the Parade — like other huge Pride Parades across the nation, there are several events, from brunches and happy hours to pool parties and beyond, planned before and after the Columbus Pride Parade.
5. Portland Pride Waterfront Festival & Parade
When: Sunday, June 19th starting at 11:00 a.m.
Parade Starting Point: NW Couch St. & NW 8th Ave. in the Pearl District
Parade Ending Point: 98 SW Naito Pkwy at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park (the location of the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival)
For the 47th year in a row, the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival & Parade will be held to honor, support, and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.
As a 2-day affair culminating with the Parade, this donation-based Pride event will be centered on the theme, “Pride Is Universal.”
The Parade, packed with creative expressions of diversity and support, will feature a lineup of 159 different groups, including (and by no means limited to):
Dykes On Bikes
The Rose City Pride Band
The Portland Gay Prides
The Portland Lesbian Choir
After reveling in the Parade, you can keep the celebration going at the Pride Festival, where you can enjoy local beer, wine, food, crafts, music, and so much more.
To check out the 2022 Portland Pride Parade map — or to sign up as a volunteer and get more info — click here.
6. Houston Pride
When: Saturday, June 25th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Parade Starting Point: 901 Bagby St. (Houston City Hall)
Parade Ending Point: N/A
Like New Orleans, the Houston Pride Parade marches at dusk and highlights some stunning and inspiring displays of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
As the first time this event has been held since the start of the pandemic, this year will be particularly special for all involved, bringing a new meaning to the Parade’s nickname as the “premier event of the Pride season.”
In fact, the 2022 Houston Pride Parade will showcase larger-than-life floats, eye-catching costumes, and skilled performers — and this year, they will all be doing their best to embody the theme of “Houston: The Beat Goes On.”
If you want to volunteer or check out some of the other thrilling events happening before and after the 44th Annual Houston Pride Parade in 2022, click here.
7. NYC Pride March
When: Sunday, June 26th starting at noon
Parade Starting Point: 25th St. & 5th Ave. in Greenwood Heights
Parade Ending Point: 16th St. & 7th Ave. in Chelsea
Held since the 1970s, the NYC Pride March is one of the biggest and most well-established Pride parades worldwide.
For the 2022 NYC Pride March, the theme is “Unapologetically Us'' to recognize the “struggle and the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community.” As somber as that is, the March itself will be vibrant and thrilling, packed with mind-blowing floats, colorful costumes, fun party music, wild entertainment, and a whole lot more.
Headed up by Ts Madison, Schuyler Bailar, Punkie Johnson, and other popular talent, the NYC Pride March will be broadcast live on ABC and several streaming platforms if you can’t be there in person.
And if you can — and you want to do more than just watch and party — you can sign up to volunteer and support the NYC Pride March here.
8. Chicago Pride Parade
When: Sunday, June 26th from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Parade Starting Point: Montrose Ave. & Broadway in Uptown
Parade Ending Point: Diversey Pkwy. & Sheridan Rd. in Lincoln Park
Returning after two years of cancellations due to COVID, the Chicago Pride Parade is back in 2022 to TONS fanfare and enthusiasm!
Fifty-one years in the making, the 2022 Chicago Pride Parade will feature several dazzling floats, along with more than 150 live acts, marching bands, music-backed dancers, local clubs and supporters, and several sponsors.
While no theme has been announced, organizers have dedicated the 2022 Chicago Pride Parade to Richard William Pfeiffer, a devoted organizer of this event since 1974 who recently passed away.
Continuing the tradition Richard helped build, the 2022 Chicago Pride Parade is expected to be one of the biggest Pride parades Chi-town has seen yet — and it’s just one of the many events in June that honor the LGBTQ community.
9. San Francisco Pride
When: Sunday, June 26th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Parade Starting Point: Market St. & Beale St.
Parade Ending Point: Market St. & Eighth St.
The 2022 San Francisco Pride Parade, running for 52 years straight, is a spectacular Pride celebration that draws millions each year.
There's a very good reason for that too — the San Francisco Pride Parade is a totally over-the-top extravaganza, complete with elaborate costumes and floats, hot talent, an array of music, and an exhilarating energy unlike anything else. And it’s just one of many events, including an official After Party, that’s on deck to celebrate Pride in The Golden City this year.
The theme for the 2022 San Francisco Pride Parade is “Love Will Keep Us Together,” and the Parade Grand Marshals include the African American Art & Culture Complex, Melanie DeMore, Vinny Eng, Amber Gray, and a few others.
To buy Grandstand Tickets, sign up to be a volunteer, or get more info on downloading the SF Pride Mobile App (for parade routes and more), click here.
10. Denver Pride Parade
When: Sunday, June 26th starting at 9:30 a.m.
Parade Starting Point: 1599 E. 8th Ave. at Cheesman Park
Parade Ending Point: 101 E. 14th Ave. at the Civic Center
Officially known as the “Coors Light Denver Pride Parade,” the Mile High City’s Pride Parades are always full of sparkling floats, enthusiastic marchers, moving music, and a lot more.
That’s why they have been drawing more than a half a million people to Denver to celebrate Pride.
And it's why you can expect to see some of the most inventive and lively performances, costumes, live acts, and talent around if you’re at the 2022 Coors Light Denver Pride Parade.
In fact, the Parade and this year’s PrideFest, which kicks off on Saturday, June 25th, will include more than 250 exhibitors showcasing support, along with local music, food, beer, wine, crafts, performances, and more.
You can sign up to be a volunteer, and you can get more information about the other events planned for before and after the 2022 Denver Pride Parade here.
Going to a Pride Parade or Event?
7 Tips
If you’re going to a Pride parade this year or at any point, here are some things you can do to plan ahead, stay safe, and still have the time of your life:
Check out the route ahead of time, so you can stake out the best spot.
Beware of street closures around the route, especially if you’re driving to/from the parade.
Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat or visor.
Bring and drink plenty of water to avoid serious dehydration.
Pace yourself. Pride parades are long parties, and you don’t want to miss out on all the fun by overdoing it early on.
Work in a nap if you need to. Standing, walking, and drinking in the sun can wear you out. A little nap can do a lot to refresh you and get you ready for round two of the party!
Plan how you’ll get home before the partying starts. Also, remember that thousands of other people may be counting on taxis, Ubers, or whatever, so think about back-up ride options too.
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