2016 Chicago Pride Parade was filled with joy, pride and pain
Thu. June 1, 2017 12:54 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Memories & moments to remember from the 2016 Chicago Pride Parade
The 47th annual Chicago Pride Parade, held Sunday, June 26, 2016 was a mix of emotions under a sweltering sunshine, with the temperature in the 90s: joy, pride and pain.
The opening of the parade – with the moving tribute to the 49 slain victims of the June 12 tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. – was exceptional. Chicagoans carried posters of each victim. It was a colorful, touching tribute.
"That was a commemoration and tribute, and the right thing to do," parade organizer Richard Pfeiffer told ChicagoPride.com.
Photos: Orlando Memorial in 2016 Pride Parade
Orlando was represented, and honored, throughout the parade – with signs, banners, posters, t-shirts and more.
Riding in a convertible near the front of the parade procession, Chicago Fire star Monica Raymund served as Grand Marshal.
The parade certainly was shorter in 2016. With only 160 entrees (down from 215 in 2015), it seemed to move quickly. If a near-three hour parade can be called quickly.
One thing was certain about the 2016 parade ... there was no shortage of police, and not just in-uniform Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers.
Balloons By Tommy had one of the strongest showings of any.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel walked with his daughter. The Mayor, State Rep. Greg Harris and others wore a DISARM HATE t-shirt, which spoke to the tragedy in Orlando.
An estimated crowd of one million people attended in 2016.
Photos from 2016 Pride Parade: Gallery One | Gallery Two | Gallery Three
2017 Chicago Pride Parade
The 2017 Chicago Pride Parade will remain in the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods again this year. The parade will step off at noon on Sunday, June 25 at Broadway and Montrose, then the 150 festive and colorful entries will march the 21-block parade route before ending on Diversey in Lincoln Park.
Organizers last month announced that "Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria will be the Grand Marshal for the 48th annual Chicago Pride Parade.
There are about 90 Pride Parades annually in the U.S., and about 13 are held on the last Sunday in June.
2017 Chicago Pride Calendar
Ross Forman contributed to this report.
The opening of the parade – with the moving tribute to the 49 slain victims of the June 12 tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. – was exceptional. Chicagoans carried posters of each victim. It was a colorful, touching tribute.
"That was a commemoration and tribute, and the right thing to do," parade organizer Richard Pfeiffer told ChicagoPride.com.
Photos: Orlando Memorial in 2016 Pride Parade
Orlando was represented, and honored, throughout the parade – with signs, banners, posters, t-shirts and more.
Riding in a convertible near the front of the parade procession, Chicago Fire star Monica Raymund served as Grand Marshal.
The parade certainly was shorter in 2016. With only 160 entrees (down from 215 in 2015), it seemed to move quickly. If a near-three hour parade can be called quickly.
One thing was certain about the 2016 parade ... there was no shortage of police, and not just in-uniform Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers.
Balloons By Tommy had one of the strongest showings of any.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel walked with his daughter. The Mayor, State Rep. Greg Harris and others wore a DISARM HATE t-shirt, which spoke to the tragedy in Orlando.
An estimated crowd of one million people attended in 2016.
Photos from 2016 Pride Parade: Gallery One | Gallery Two | Gallery Three
2017 Chicago Pride Parade
The 2017 Chicago Pride Parade will remain in the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods again this year. The parade will step off at noon on Sunday, June 25 at Broadway and Montrose, then the 150 festive and colorful entries will march the 21-block parade route before ending on Diversey in Lincoln Park.
Organizers last month announced that "Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria will be the Grand Marshal for the 48th annual Chicago Pride Parade.
There are about 90 Pride Parades annually in the U.S., and about 13 are held on the last Sunday in June.
2017 Chicago Pride Calendar
Ross Forman contributed to this report.