What you need to know about the 2017 Boston Pride Parade
It wouldn’t be shocking if the 47th edition of the Boston Pride Parade on Saturday featured a more defiant tone than years past. Boston Pride organizers have chosen the theme “Stronger Together” for this year’s Pride Week.
“The silver lining of the largely unpredicted outcome of the 2016 presidential election is that it has galvanized our community and those of other oppressed minorities into concerted action and resistance,” the organizers wrote in the official 2017 Boston Pride Guide. “From the Women’s March to demonstrations of support for Muslims at airports, for trans and gender non-conforming students throughout the country, for immigrants and refugees in many cities, and for communities of color, our country is answering the wake-up call.”
Jaiy Dickson of Boston helps carry a rainbow flag as she marches during the 2013 Pride Parade in Boston.
Numerous events celebrating the LGBTQ community have taken place throughout the Boston area since Pride Week 2017 kicked off last Friday. But the biggest gathering will occur this Saturday, as City Hall plays host to the Pride Festival and Concert and serves as the finish line of the Pride Parade route.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s festivities:
What time does it all start?
The Pride Festival is scheduled to kick off at City Hall around 11 a.m., while the Pride Parade will start in Copley Square at noon. Copley will be full of parade participants and well-wishers, so if you’re looking to watch the start of the parade and want a relatively unobstructed view, get there a bit early. If you’re planning to catch the parade farther down the route, arriving around 12:30 p.m. should be OK.
Where should you go?
The Boston Pride Parade route.
The parade route begins in Back Bay’s Copley Square, at the corner of Boylston and Clarendon Street. It dips into the South End by heading down Clarendon, takes a left on Tremont, a left on Berkeley, a right back onto Boylston, a left on Charles, a right onto Beacon, and a final left back onto Tremont, before arriving in Government Center. If Copley Square is too packed, catching the parade on Charles Street as it runs between the Boston Common and Public Garden is a good bet.
What should you expect?
Thousands of people marching, cheering, dancing, and riding through the heart of Boston, rain or shine. There will be participants of all ages, from all walks of life, including groups from churches, high schools, and after-school centers. Don’t be surprised if you see some eclectic outfits along the way, as well.
What should you do before, during, and after?
Leah Spivey from Tewksbury sports long eyelashes during the 2013 Boston Pride Parade.
While the Pride Parade and Festival are the marquee Pride Week events, plenty of other activities will go on throughout the day. Saturday morning will see services at two LGBTQ-friendly churches near the parade route: the 10 a.m. Pride Interfaith Services at Union United Methodist Church and the 11 a.m. Pride Morning Service just down the street at Old South Church.
At City Hall, the Pride Festival and Concert will feature eight artists, including R&B singer Lillie McCloud and X Factor finalist/former member of Menudo Carlito Olivero.
Once the festival winds down around 7 p.m., the Boston Pride Youth Dance will take place at City Hall until 10 p.m. (tickets cost $10). Elsewhere, the LUSH Pride Party at Machine will begin at 8 p.m. (tickets are $20), and the [email protected] Main Event at the House of Blues will kick off at 9 p.m. (tickets are $32.25).
For even more activities happening this weekend and throughout the rest of the month, check out the calendar of events on the Boston Pride website.
