Everything you need to know as Pride takes over the streets of NYC

Millions of people are expected to march through the West Village this Sunday for the annual NYC Pride March, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world.

The march — which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising credited with birthing the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement — promises to be both an exuberant and determined show of solidarity for the city’s queer communities and allies. It and other major Pride events will also shut down multiple streets and lead to an increased police presence around the city.

Here’s everything you need to know about the NYC Pride March — as well as other major events happening this weekend.

NYC Pride March

This year’s NYC Pride March will start at noon Sunday at 26th Street and Fifth Avenue and move through Greenwich Village, where it’ll eventually reach the Stonewall Inn, the site of the police raid that led to two days of violence and demonstrations.

There are several grand marshals: former SNL comedian Bowen Yang; actress, model and activist Dominique Jackson, who played Elektra Abundance on FX'ss “Pose” and authored autobiography "The Transsexual from Tobago;" Peppermint, the first out trans contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race;” subway announcer and radio personality Bernie Wagenblast, also known as “the voice of the MTA;” and advocacy group Gays Against Guns.

The route heads south from 25th Street to 8th Street, west to 6th Avenue, down Greenwich Avenue and Christopher Street to 7th Avenue, then north on 7th Avenue to 16th Street, according to the NYPD.

Police plan to close blocks along the route, along with formation streets from 25th to 33rd Streets between 6th and Madison Avenues. Dispersal blocks from 15th to 19th Streets between 6th and 9th Avenues will also be closed or partially blocked, city officials said.

NYC Pride is also hosting two other major events this weekend:

• Youth Pride will take place at Pier 16 South Street Seaport from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. The outdoor event will feature DJs, live performances and carnival games.
• Pride Fest, the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in the country, will take place along Fourth Avenue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The street fair will feature queer artists, queer-owned businesses and a wide array of food.

Queer Liberation March

More than 10,000 people are expected to cluster into Union Square West around 3 p.m. on Sunday to participate in the Queer Liberation March, which will take participants to Washington Square Park.

The Reclaim Pride Coalition organizes the march as what it calls a “corporation-free event.” It’s an alternative to the NYC Pride March that honors the grassroots history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, according to Jay W. Walker, one of the march’s cofounders.

“The thing about the Queer Liberation March is that you really need a gathering space that's large enough to accommodate that many thousands of people, and you need an endpoint that is capable of absorbing and being able to safely disperse that number of people,” Walker said. “And so that's the big piece of planning a really big march like this.”

This year’s theme is “Breaking the Chains of War and Oppression for Trans and Immigrant Rights.”

Neither the NYPD nor the city’s department of transportation advised of any street closures for The Queer Liberation March.

Dyke March

This year’s Dyke March — held to celebrate the lesbian community — will take place on Saturday, the day before the NYC Pride March and the Queer Liberation March.

Organizers say anyone who identifies as a dyke — including lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, trans, non-binary and people — can take part in the march. They supporters who identify otherwise should cheer from the sidelines.

The march begins at 5 p.m. Attendees will travel from Bryant Park and march along Fifth Avenue to Washington Square Park around 8 p.m. This year’s theme is “Hot Dykes Melt Ice,” protesting ICE actions throughout the country.

The march has taken place each year since 1993 without permits or sponsors, as a demonstration of the right to protest, organizers said. They planned to provide sighted guides, wheelchairs, ASL interpretation and assistance in transportation funds for disabled or ill participants.

Neither the NYPD nor the city’s department of transportation advised of any street closures for the Dyke March.

Last year's Pride ended in two violent incidents that police said were unconnected to the march. A man sprayed bear deterrent into a crowd at Washington Square Park, setting off a stampede that injured nearly 50 people. Several hours later, two teens were shot and a third was stabbed near the Stonewall Inn on Sheridan Square, in what police said was a fight between rival groups; a 17-year-old boy was later arrested on attempted murder charges.

Check Gothamist’s Pride events guide for an extensive list of other parties, demonstrations and celebrations taking place this weekend.