Philly Pride Festival Enters New Era: New Location, Schedule, Road Closures

PHILADELPHIA — The Philly Pride March and Festival return Sunday, with more than 100,000 people expected in the celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.

After four years in Philadelphia's Gayborhood, the festival is moving to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Road closures and parking restrictions will also be in place. Here's what to know.

Pride March

The Pride March will begin at 11 a.m., traveling from 13th and Locust streets to the festival site at 21st and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It is scheduled to conclude at noon.

Although floats, banners of corporations, large institutions and vehicles won't be permitted, the march is free and open to the public.

March participants will assemble on Spruce Street (between Juniper and 12th streets) and at 13th Street (between Locust and Pine streets. These streets will become no-parking zones at 8 a.m.

The march will commence at 11 a.m. at 13th and Locust, proceeding northbound on 13th Street to Market Street, westbound on Market Street to Juniper Street, northbound on Juniper Street to John F. Kennedy Boulevard, westbound on John F. Kennedy Boulevard to 16th Street, northbound on 16thStreet to Benjamin Franklin Parkway, westbound on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and ending at 21st Street.

Pride Festival

The festival takes place from 12-7 p.m., spanning Eakins Oval ad several blocks of Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

With over 140,000 people attending last year's festival, organizers say the new venue makes it easier to keep people safe.

Along with the location change, this year's festival will have a cost of admission at $10. Philly Pride 365, which organizes the event, says it's necessary to keep up with costs.

"Ticketing is one part of creating a sustainable model that allows Pride to continue, evolve, and serve the community responsibly," the organization said. "This is not about profit. It is about sustainability."

Philly Pride 365 says free access is available through several community partner organizations. Find out more here.

Festival Road Closures

The following roadways will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with no parking allowed:

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, between 20th Street to Eakins Oval, including cross streets
• Spring Garden Street Tunnel
• Spring Garden Street Bridge inbound
• Kelly Drive inbound lane will be detoured to Pennsylvania Avenue

Cross traffic is permitted at 20th and 21st streets as conditions allow, the city says.

Public Transit

SEPTA bus routes 7, 32, 38, 43, 48, and 49 will be detoured from 4:30 a.m. until about 10 p.m. Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at septa.org.

For more information, visit phillypride365.org.