chicago pride parade, 2013
photo credit // chicagopride.com
PRIDEChicago, the organizers of the 45 annual Chicago Pride Parade, have offered these ten tips for parade spectators.
1. $1000 FINE ALCOHOL consumption should NOT take place along the parade route. Open containers containing alcoholic beverages are illegal on the streets and sidewalks. You will be subject to receiving a costly ticket from the Chicago Police Department. The ordinance was updated this year with higher fines and penalties. Instead, bring plenty of bottled water and sun screen and dress lightly! Public urination is also grounds to receive a ticket.
Related: Police plan more officers for Pride, warn of crack down on parties and public drinking
2. STARTING TIME: The parade starts at 12 Noon. So, arrive early to find a good spot.
3. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Parking in the area is limited, so walk, take public transportation (or if you must drive, then car pool). For CTA/PACE/Metra transit information, call 1-312-836-7000; website: www.transitchicago.com or 1-312-322-6900, website: www.metrarail.com. Potential spectators are advised to consider making use of RED line el stations including Sheridan Road, Wilson Avenue or Addison Street (The Belmont stop becomes extremely over crowded on parade day).
4. BARRICADES: The parade route will be lined with iron barricades. Spectators will be required to stand behind the barricades, not in the street. Besides the parade registrants traveling down the middle of the street, only police officers, other city officials, parade marshals and credentialed members of the media will be allowed in the street.
5. PEDESTRIAN CROSS-OVER STREETS: The streets where pedestrians may cross from one side of the parade route to the other side include: Montrose Avenue; Irving Park Road; Addison Street; Grace Street; Roscoe Street; Wellington Avenue. There will be police officers assigned to assist pedestrians in crossing at these locations.
6. CROWDS: Since the number of spectators have increased dramatically in recent years on Halsted Street, spectators are being advised to try other sections of the parade route to view the parade (for example, 4000 to 4300 N. Broadway). In addition, spectators must watch the parade on the actual parade route, not in the assembly area. (The assembly area is for parade participants only).
Related: Chicago Pride Parade route
7. SAMPLING: City ordinance prevents parade participants from tossing items to spectators. Likewise, spectators should not toss items back to parade participants. Spectators are not allowed to walk into the street to get items. Spectators must wait until parade participants come to the sidelines to hand out items. Parade participants are not allowed to hand out items to spectators who are standing on sidewalks in the assembly area. Spectators who want sample items must view the parade from the parade route, not the assembly area. For safety, no high powered water rifles are allowed.
8. TRASH: Keep the neighborhood clean by using trash barrels provided along the route.
9. NEEDS & SPECIAL NEEDS: Physically challenged/wheelchair accessible and senior area is provided. See parade website for details. Portable restrooms are placed along parade route.
10. END OF PARADE: Each year when the parade ends, spectators must stay out of the street because the Streets and Sanitation Department removes barricades and begins cleaning the streets. Then, the police reopen the streets to traffic. Halsted Street (the street) will NOT be closed after the parade.
Police personnel and PRIDEChicago marshals will be on hand, but spectators can be a big help by obeying the above rules. For UPDATES: the parade website is: www.ChicagoPrideCalendar.org.
ChicagoPride.com Pride Guide
Tips for spectators | Parade line-up | Parade map | Live stream
Follow ChicagoPride.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
1. $1000 FINE ALCOHOL consumption should NOT take place along the parade route. Open containers containing alcoholic beverages are illegal on the streets and sidewalks. You will be subject to receiving a costly ticket from the Chicago Police Department. The ordinance was updated this year with higher fines and penalties. Instead, bring plenty of bottled water and sun screen and dress lightly! Public urination is also grounds to receive a ticket.
Related: Police plan more officers for Pride, warn of crack down on parties and public drinking
2. STARTING TIME: The parade starts at 12 Noon. So, arrive early to find a good spot.
3. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Parking in the area is limited, so walk, take public transportation (or if you must drive, then car pool). For CTA/PACE/Metra transit information, call 1-312-836-7000; website: www.transitchicago.com or 1-312-322-6900, website: www.metrarail.com. Potential spectators are advised to consider making use of RED line el stations including Sheridan Road, Wilson Avenue or Addison Street (The Belmont stop becomes extremely over crowded on parade day).
4. BARRICADES: The parade route will be lined with iron barricades. Spectators will be required to stand behind the barricades, not in the street. Besides the parade registrants traveling down the middle of the street, only police officers, other city officials, parade marshals and credentialed members of the media will be allowed in the street.
5. PEDESTRIAN CROSS-OVER STREETS: The streets where pedestrians may cross from one side of the parade route to the other side include: Montrose Avenue; Irving Park Road; Addison Street; Grace Street; Roscoe Street; Wellington Avenue. There will be police officers assigned to assist pedestrians in crossing at these locations.
6. CROWDS: Since the number of spectators have increased dramatically in recent years on Halsted Street, spectators are being advised to try other sections of the parade route to view the parade (for example, 4000 to 4300 N. Broadway). In addition, spectators must watch the parade on the actual parade route, not in the assembly area. (The assembly area is for parade participants only).
Related: Chicago Pride Parade route
7. SAMPLING: City ordinance prevents parade participants from tossing items to spectators. Likewise, spectators should not toss items back to parade participants. Spectators are not allowed to walk into the street to get items. Spectators must wait until parade participants come to the sidelines to hand out items. Parade participants are not allowed to hand out items to spectators who are standing on sidewalks in the assembly area. Spectators who want sample items must view the parade from the parade route, not the assembly area. For safety, no high powered water rifles are allowed.
8. TRASH: Keep the neighborhood clean by using trash barrels provided along the route.
9. NEEDS & SPECIAL NEEDS: Physically challenged/wheelchair accessible and senior area is provided. See parade website for details. Portable restrooms are placed along parade route.
10. END OF PARADE: Each year when the parade ends, spectators must stay out of the street because the Streets and Sanitation Department removes barricades and begins cleaning the streets. Then, the police reopen the streets to traffic. Halsted Street (the street) will NOT be closed after the parade.
Police personnel and PRIDEChicago marshals will be on hand, but spectators can be a big help by obeying the above rules. For UPDATES: the parade website is: www.ChicagoPrideCalendar.org.
ChicagoPride.com Pride Guide
Tips for spectators | Parade line-up | Parade map | Live stream
Follow ChicagoPride.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
