Chicago Pride Parade 2018: Route, Schedule, Parking, Transit

CHICAGO, IL — The 2018 Chicago Pride Parade has nearly reached its 50th anniversary, and there's a lot to celebrate. The event has grown from a small parade in Boystown to a thriving Chicago tradition that brings more than one million people together from around the world. The event is one of the largest gay pride parades in the country.

Orlando "El Fenomeno" Cruz, the first openly gay active professional boxer, has been named grand marshal of the 49th annual parade. Cruz came out in 2012 and has since been an active spokesperson for the LGBTQ community.

The parade will kick off at noon on Sunday, June 24, from Montrose Avenue and Broadway in Uptown to Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.

For the liveliest viewing spots, organizers recommend heading to the Boystown section of North Halsted Street, between Belmont Avenue and Grace Street. If you are looking for a less crowded area to view the parade, look for spots near the beginning of the route along Broadway between Montrose Avenue and Sheridan Road or farther along Broadway between Belmont Avenue and Diversey Parkway.

Transit To Parade:

In anticipating of large crowds for the parade, the UP and BNSF lines will operate additional service on Sunday. You can view the added BNSF train schedule here, and the additional service for Union Pacific here.

Pride Parade Parking:

To ease congestion, ChicagoPride.com has teamed up with SpotHero to offer parking passes within walking distance of the parade route. To reserve a parking spot, visit the parking page for the Pride Parade and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.

Parade Parking Restrictions:

Temporary signs will go up along the parade route that read, “NO PARKING ON SUNDAY JUNE 24, 2018, FROM 5:00 a.m. TO 8:00 p.m. - Both sides of the street, unless otherwise indicated.” The issuing of parking violation, citations and towing will start promptly at 5 a.m., the city said.

Here is a list of no parking areas:

• Montrose Ave. - Greenview Ave. to Hazel St.
• Broadway - Leland Ave. to Grace St.
• Sunnyside Ave. - Broadway to North Sheridan Rd.
• Halsted St.* - Grace St. to to Belmont Ave.
• Belmont Ave. - Racine Ave. to Broadway St.
• Broadway - Melrose Ave. to Diversey Pkwy.
• Diversey Pkwy. - Broadway to Cannon Dr. (Sheridan)
• Cannon Dr. - Diversey Pkwy. to Fullerton Pkwy.
• Addison St. - 736 W. Addison St. to Sheffield Ave.
• Waveland Ave. - Halsted St. to Broadway St.
• Grace St. - Halsted St. to Fremont St.
• Clifton - Montrose Ave. to Sunnyside Ave.
• N. Sheridan Rd. - Sunnyside Ave. to Buena Ave.
• Buena Ave. - Sheridan Rd. to Broadway
• Wellington Ave. - Clark St. to Sheffield Ave.
• N. Sheridan Rd. - Montrose Ave. to Agatite St.

* Please note that parking on Halsted and Belmont will be restricted until 4 a.m. Monday, June 25

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• 5 Years That Defined The Chicago Pride Parade For Nearly 5 Decades
• Metra To Add Extra Trains For Chicago's Pride Parade 2018

Top photos & YouTube video by Amber Fisher (Chicago Pride Parade 2017).