Capital Pride is one of the biggest and most widely attended summer events in Washington, D.C. This lively celebration of the LGBT+ community will feature a parade, a block party, and a festival, among various other events.
Every year over 200 different contingents take part in the Capital Pride Parade, and thousands of D.C. residents come out to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. There is also a slew of other parties and events to complement the parade. Here’s what you need to know about the Capital Pride Parade this June.
The Parade
The 2018 Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, June 9, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. It starts at 22
nd and P Streets NW and stretches along the historic neighborhoods of
Dupont and
Logan Circles, finishing on 14
th and R Streets NW.
Capital Pride Alliance is the nonprofit organization that puts on the Capital Pride Parade, as well as other Pride-related events every year. Their mission ...
“serves to celebrate, educate, support, and inspire our multi-faceted communities in order to grow and preserve our history and protect our rights for current and future generations.”
The theme for this year’s Pride Parade is “Elements of Us,” and will focus on
“celebrating and appreciating what makes us unique, while at the same time recognizing that our common elements bind us together, each to each other.”
There will be a diverse range of vendors -- everyone from local news stations, to schools, to nonprofits, to government organizations, to businesses both local and national, to religious institutions. You can view the full list of participating vendors (so far)
here, and you can also get more information about registering yourself or your company for the parade
here.
During the parade itself, there are a couple things to keep in mind. It’s going to be crowded, and while it’s incredibly fun to be surrounded by colorful, beautiful people, it’s probably not the best place for your furry friends. Also, because of the sheer number of people on the street, local law enforcement may be inspecting bags and backpacks at random for the safety of the community, so don’t be alarmed. Maybe leave all the larger stuff at home, and grab a pair of sparkly beads instead!
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Courtesy of washington.org[/caption]
Other Events
While the parade itself will take place on Saturday, June 9, the entire festival will occur from Thursday, June 7, to Sunday, June 10. The Capital Pride Block Party is taking place in tandem with the Pride Parade on Saturday, June 9. The party’s official hours are from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., on 15
th Street, between P and Church Streets NW. You’ll be able to enjoy entertainment, food, and (of course) the parade as it passes by. It’s common for the party to continue to the lively bar scene on 14
th Street afterwards.
Sunday will be the big Capital Pride Festival, from noon to 10 p.m. Here you’ll find exhibitors, food and beverages, and entertainment all intended to educate, support, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Washington, D.C. The free, family-friendly event will feature 300 vendors. It will also be an opportunity to give back and support the issues, either through a donation or by signing up to volunteer.
You can check out all 2018 Pride events
here, and learn more about anything and everything Capital Pride,
here.
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Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com[/caption]
How will you be participating in Capital Pride this year? Let us know in the comments!
