June 05, 2015
R. Kennedy/Visit Philadelphia™
The 2016 Pride Parade & Festival kicks off Sunday, June 12.
Now celebrating its 27th year, the Philly Pride Parade and Festival is gearing up for a weekend of fun. It officially begins Friday, June 12, with a big kickoff block party from 6-11 p.m. down 12th Street between Walnut and Spruce.
The celebrations continue Saturday, June 13, with the Philly Dyke March. A rally will start it all off at 3 p.m. in Kahn Park at 11th and Pine streets. The march then promptly kicks off at 4 p.m., and afterward, the park will fill with live performances and free water ice.
The William Way LGBT Community Center will also host its Homecoming party June 13. The community center is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and from 6-10 p.m., the Courtyard of the John C. Anderson Residences (249 S. 13th St.) will be filled with live music, dancing, cocktails, dinner and awards.
Sunday, June 14, marks the Pride Parade, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. at 13th and Locust streets. From there, it will march to the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing around 1 p.m., where the Pride Festival will be awaiting paraders.
The Pride Festival, which costs $15 to enter, will be headlined by actress Fran Drescher. "Glee" star Alex Newell and Puddles Pity Party will also be performing, among other acts. Emcee Henri David will preside over the day's performers and events.
The rest of the party includes a dance floor, a health station for STD screening, plenty of food and drink vendors, religious organizations, a sports zone, a family zone, a dunk tank and much more.
Philly Pride suggests festival-goers purchase discount tickets in advance at various locations (listed here) for $10 to avoid ticket lines.
