ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival return this weekend for a sixth year of celebrations in Maryland's capital city.
The festivities get underway Saturday in downtown Annapolis, with the parade stepping off at 11 a.m. before the festival takes over by 12 p.m. Get the latest details here.
While most pride-related parades and festivals tend to take place in June for Pride Month, organizers opted for an October showing to ensure enough time was allocated for planning, Capital Gazette reported.
Annapolis' 2025 iteration of the festival and parade was also held in October, although it was due to inclement weather.
The 2026 grand marshal will be singer-songwriter and award-winning LGBTQ activist Ryan Cassata. Organizers said this year's theme will be "United In Pride, Together We Thrive."
"The City of Annapolis is proud to welcome back the Pride Parade and Festival for another year," Mayor Jared Littmann said in a statement.
"The October 3 festivities will be a time for us to recognize and celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and neighbors. I invite all Annapolis residents to join us for the Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival!"
From the parade routes to the festival, road closures and parking, here's everything you need for this weekend's celebration.
Organizers say parade entrants will begin lining up along St. John's Street before the Saturday parade officially steps off at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Calvert and Bladen streets.
The parade will proceed along Calvert Street to Northwest Street and Church Circle before continuing to West Street, ultimately coming to a close at Amos Garrett Boulevard.
The parade is expected to take about 90 minutes, as the festival portion of the Saturday events runs from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Residents can attend the festival at the Bates Athletic Complex, which is located at 935 Spa Road.
More than 150 vendors will be participating the family-friendly event, which will include a designated Kids Zone that features bounce houses, face painting and arts and crafts stations.
See a full list of the participating vendors here.
Authorities say that rolling road closures will be implemented along the entirety of the parade route, which runs from Calvert to West streets.
Closures will be in effect on portions of St. John's, Bloomsbury Square and Calvert streets from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, with no on-street parking available.
Drivers are urged to follow directions from Annapolis Police. The roadway will reopen at the conclusion of the parade, city officials said.
Attendees have parking options in the area: paid parking at the city garages and the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, or snagging a free spot at the State Garage on Calvert Street. Learn more about parking.
Organizers note the Mills Hillman garage is closest to the parade, whereas the Park Place garage is closest to the festival grounds.
As of Friday, pre-sale parking at the stadium will run residents $24 per vehicle. Pricing is expected to increase to $30 on Saturday and can only be paid by card.
Free shuttle service will be available from the parade route and festival to the Navy stadium from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Shuttles will make stops at the following locations:
The weekend celebration is a rain or shine event. Attendees can get the latest updates tied to the festivities by texting PRIDE26 to 38276, signing up for the official email list or following along on the official Annapolis Pride social media pages.
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