Seattle Pride Parade is my favorite parade in the greater Seattle area. One might think it would be the Torchlight Parade, the biggest in the area. BUT the Pride parade is beyond joyful; it's fun, it's colorful, everyone is super happy in a no pressure kind of way. It's that one time of the year when the marginalized and the sidelined come out in droves to celebrate the LGBTQIA, which is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex, and asexual (or allies). Fact is that there are still those who call them sinners and protest at the parade. Fact is that many live in an invisible bubble hiding their true self; the pride parade and pride festivals are the only times when they can come out dressed as who they are and embrace who they are. You know what, more power to them! Embrace love - love of all varieties. Call me an ally! read more

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Seattle Pride Parade is the most loving/happy/accepting parade I've ever attended. The costumes were elaborate, the music was fun, the scene was amazing, there were churches, banks, clubs, children, animals, and more! It's a LONG parade (it started at 11 and ended around 4) but I'll be sure to go back every year. read more

Seattle Pride - I love the Seattle pride parade! There are a million wonderful pictures I could post! - Local Flavor Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What's there to not love about the Pride Parade?! A group of free spirited people coming together to join in a common goal of spreading the love (and typically enjoying mutual weirdness!). The Pride parade is something to look forward to every year and it's always fun to see what people have come up with to express themselves. If you've never been to a Pride Parade before, mot definitely make sure you try it out at least once!! read more

Awwwwwesome! It was the first pride event I attended. It's really amazing and hearthwarming to see everyone come together for a common goal: to be proud of who you are and have a good time. Seattle pride is all about love, fun, warm fuzzies, and big rainbows. The streets are pretty much booked solid 30 minutes before the parade, so arrive an hour or two early. Before heading out, make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen. It's a great time - amazing people from around the WORLD. All becoming one, one day in SEATTLE. I honestly had no clue that they were this many Gay people in the city. The parade last about 3+ hours... If you ever happen to be in the city during the next Pride Parade. I'd definitely seeing it even just for a little while. I admire these people for not being shy for what they believe in. This is definitely a memorable experience. Can't wait for next year! PS: FREE stuff everywhere! 06/26/16: *This year's team is The Future of Pride but they all symbolize love is love. read more

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Seattle Pride is a real delight. It is definitely a no holds barred affair compared to the only other big Pridefest that I have been to which is in Denver. The Seattle Pride parade is where everyone lets it all hang out...quite literally. While the parade is fun the streets are incredibly crowded and it is sometimes very difficult to get a good view of the parade some of the time so this requires a lot adjusting and moving around as the crowd continues to get more dense. What you can see is fun and Seattle Pride brings in some big names! George Takei was a grand marshal the year I braved the gymnastics of bus rerouting and crowds. Macklemore was also present as well! The parade heads straight to the Seattle Center where everyone congregates, both religious protesters and all. There are several stages set up where you can hear a wide variety of acts...acts that if you know your queer musicians, gay friendly performers and drag queens are pretty big! One year I saw the Lady Bunny, Princess Superstar, Big Freedia and Cazwell! A very nice lineup all for one year and that wasn't all of them. Well known drag queen Jackie Beat was also here one year and I walked right passed her by she can transform herself into another person entirely with each drag ensemble I wasn't entirely surprised when I found this out later. Seattle Pride Parade and Seattle Pride are a lot of fun but it's not something that I do every year since the crowds can be so overwhelming and getting around and seeing things can be difficult. But it is certainly worth doing it from time to time. If there are no performers that I want to see then the people watching is absolutely scrumptious! read more

Seattle Pride - Cazwell doing a DJ set at Seattle Pride. - Local Flavor Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One star for moving it downtown. Seriously, how many years does the Capitol Hill choir need to be preached to? And the business on Broadway have hardly suffered for it. Pride WEEK people - they get theirs. One star for the celebration of diversity in all it's forms and the acceptance displayed by our community. I always get a little misty when the Catholics That Love Their Gay Kids precession marches by. A final star for the floats that are actually cool; for 20 something gay boys dancing around in Underoos atop the Neighbours float, for Bears in giant moving bubble baths, and let us not forget - HOT, fabulous Latino trannies. Less a star for the myriad of political candidates out to get the gay vote - you bore me. I want fabulous, fabulous, and more fabulous. Please go back to the grassroots canvas - you have no place here. Less the final star for moving it downtown - I know, I contradict. But I sort of miss my Rock Star seating in front of Vivace and the family affair that was. So, if my math is right - that leaves four? I suck at math. read more

Seattle Pride - From the last Broadway Parade - Local Flavor Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was our first year attending - decided to take the kiddos and go despite the fact I'm not gay. This, by far, is the best parade in Seattle. Yes, I said it. This title was held by the Fremont Solstice Parade, but no, now it goes to the Pride Parade. Hands down the most fun (and longest) parade we have been to. We hardly noticed we'd been sitting there for three hours as it was entertaining the whole way through. Kids got lots of goodies (candies, juice, chips) and the people handing out the adult items (condoms, etc) made sure they didn't get those. Very well done, I'm very impressed, and intend on returning for years to come. read more

Not a year goes by that I'm not somehow involved in this epic event if I'm not with toys in babeland or when I was with the lusty lady or Dyke's on bikes this parade is celebrated with love for everyone it's moved back to it's original location and capital hills Broadway is not what it used to be but this is a must see at least one time in your life bring your pets and your pride #Lovewins read more

Seattle Pride - Local Flavor Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Good energy, friendly people, it was just too too long. We got bored and bailed after three hours. But it was worth going to... and on the weekend of nationwide marriage equality, the vibe was right. Not up to par with LA, SF, or San Diego... but better than Phoenix, Baltimore, or Central Pennsylvania (clearly). read more

On the eve of a historic vote to legalize gay marriage in this state, what better to review than the Seattle Pride Parade, which happens every June? I love the parade, which is a true celebration of love in all shapes, sizes, and forms. There are the businesses that support their employees and customers, there are the families who understand that love trumps gender, and yes, there are leashes, chains, whips, body paint, glitter, drag queens, drag kings, and girls (and guys!) wrestling in pools of lube. And yet, the parade stays family friendly with lots of treats for the little ones such as candies and stickers, and even some treats for the big ones such as condoms. You do need to pack your patience and/or plan a strategic break or two, as the parade is quite long and, true to form, never starts on time. I find it works best to scout out a spot near the start of the parade route, if you don't plan to attend PrideFest at the Center afterwards. You likely won't be able to cross 4th once the parade starts, so choose your spot accordingly. Expect crowds, don't expect parking, and get there early for the best view. I like to think of it as a family outing/picnic sort of event. Pack a blanket and some snacks and come to be entertained and show your PRIDE! read more

The Gay Pride Parade is one event I love to visit. It is like a carnival with food, souvenirs, a parade but, most of everyone is LGBT. Straight people are welcome because it is about diversity. I think it's cool that straight people are willing to learn about our culture. My favorite thing is just being out. I can just be assumed a the lesbian I am rather than people always thinking I am straight (it does get annoying after awhile) It's fun to be in the majority for a change. Another fun thing is they throw mardi gras beads. (you don't need to flash) All kinds of free stuff is handed out by gay-friendly companies. Parts of it is like a street fair where you can buy jewelry and other items. You can even find S&M stuff on occasion. The parade is colorful and fun. There are dancers, jugglers and many musicians. (And adorable butch lesbians, let's not get me started) There are the lesbian firefighters, if you are lucky you will be the mock victim. There are new people on it every year. I have yet to see any anti-gay protesters. If you do see them, do not yell or make gestures at them, they have enough problems dealing with their own hate. It's best to leave them alone. You wouldn't want to be thrown out of this fun event over a fight would you? read more

My first time at Pride and it was amazing. It was awesome to see so many people come out and be supportive. There were prizes and music and lots of participating restaurants in Capital Hill. This is truly an event where it lets anyone be who they are without being judged. Sad to say, I could only withstand the heat for so long. It was almost 100 degrees and I was literally melting. I was only able to stand outside and watch for about 30 minutes. If you want front row viewing, you have to get there atleast 2 hours before the parade starts. Because I got there at 10:30 and the parade starts at 11 but there was already a lot of people lined up to watch the parade. This is definitely a worthwhile experience. read more

Now as a queer individual, I am all about Pride rallies and the like, afterall, many of us have to tone down who we are in the workplace, or in public (be it in our home towns, or travelling in other places). And what better way to let us be "US"...be it that we are status quo, "green" and environmentally aware, kinky, motorcycle afficianados, or what have you. Kudos for another great year And by the way....Space Needle peeps.....BRAVO on the Pride flag over Seattle!!! Hopefully that won't be the last time Seattle, sees a huge Pride flag over our fine city. read more

Full Disclosure: I am friends with the festival organizer and a few members of his team, but I wouldn't review it if I couldn't be unbiased. I had a great time at the parade and festival this year after missing it last year due to the conflict with the Seafair marathon. Not only did we have great weather, but the parade was fantastic, enthusiastic and fun. The one thing I didn't like about the parade was how many groups weren't well identified if you missed the banner out front. The police Segways and the fire engine were a nice touch. If they took all the political supporters of various candidates and bunched them together instead of letting them intersperse amongst other groups, my life would be complete. The candidates who had no special signs for Pride and did nothing special for the parade kinda made me go "meh." I'm glad that they're all for supporting us in the legislature, but I wish they would have some respect for the fact that this is a huge celebration, not their "get out the vote" campaign. If they really wanted to have some fun with it and put supporters in t-shirts, they would leave their hands free to play with beach balls or wave flags or do something that's not carrying a sign that says something "Joe Blow for City Council." The festival definitely showed a lot of corporate sponsorship, which I have to say is awesome, in spite of other reviewers' dismissals of it. Yes, it's corporate presence at Pride, but in a recession like ours, to have that corporate sponsorship to help pay for the event is pretty darn great. Egan Orion puts on a world-class show and knows how to make it happen in a way that's great for everyone. He even sees to the little things like free water for attendees and cologne in the bathrooms at Neumo's. Thanks SmartWater! After last year's heat-stroke-bonanza, that's pretty essential. I was very impressed that even with the corporate presence and come-one-come-all-bring-the-kids invite to the event, the Mistress of Ceremonies still paid tribute to all those Prop 8 haters with Lilly Allen's "F*ck You" in all its glory. Nothing seemed compromised by the sponsorships at all. Thanks for another great year of Pride!!!!! read more

I was very excited to go this year, it was my first pride for me and my boyfriend. He wanted to wear a dress and heals and he did, I wore pasties because it was super hot. However we couldn't see the parade so we stayed behind. The whole thing felt very strange. It was super corporate. My boyfriend got so many disgusting looks. It literally killed his self esteem about the whole thing and I felt bad because I promised him it would be a safe place for him to express himself. The homeless people were terrifying. There definitely where perverts there taking pictures of women. At least 5% of the people there were just there to watch "the freak show" you could definitely tell. Almost everyone there didn't make any eye contact with anyone else but when you actually looked up and saw what was going on around you. It was seriously disappointing. I'm glad we have a place to express ourselves, but it wasn't very excepting. The whole thing felt like a corporate event where "we except you, buy from us". I don't know if I'll go back. I thought Seattle was an excepting place but if you don't fit into the norm, you're just a freak. That's how we felt there. I'm surprised because it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Although to see so many people together, at least the people who were there for the right reason, it was definitely moving to me. read more

This was my first year at the Pride Parade and what a sight it was! As I'm sure you all recall (but maybe years from now, someone will read this and didn't remember this year!), DOMA was overturned right before Pride Weekend- what a historic moment and victory for the gay rights movement! I was very touched by some of the groups that came by. For example, there was a group of newlyweds, the first gay couple to be married in Washington, some representatives and other public policy ppl, a boy scouts for gay rights group, some WW2 vets, Mormons supporting gays and lots of companies out to support gay rights. Some of the groups, like the Starbucks lady, were funny. I also enjoyed checking out everyone's costumes. The ones involving leashes, chains, whips, nudity and other more risque things were a little much for me, but hey, I respect people's different interests! Logistics: We went all the way down to Belltown to Wall St. It gets crowded fast but it makes sense if you're going to Pride Fest after. We walked all the way from Capitol Hill but it was worth it rather than try to park anywhere nearby! Also, I find it odd this is still listed under Capitol Hill because we all know its DT now. I know they have it in DT and Belltown because of the PrideFest in Queen Anne thing, but I'm not the only one who thinks this is a little odd right? The heart of the Seattle gay community IS in Capitol Hill, after all. All in all, this was really cool and I'm so happy to have witnessed so many historic moments in the gay rights movement and to see it celebrated in this way! read more

2.5 stars at best. After the dykes on bikes and pflag passed by I was pretty much done. That was what I really wanted to see. I was not going to go to the parade since I have not gone for 3 or so years now but one of my hags wanted to go real bad and asked me to take her. SO being a good gay I took her to the parade. I guess she liked it but for me it was still too fucking long (about 3 hrs) and hardly any floats. Come on people! Some of you are large corp marchers! I know you bitch's got the money! It is nice though that it is not dt which provides a lot more space for those who like to attend the parade. Will I be back next year? Meh prob not, not unless the dykes let me ride my scoot :) read more

I hadn't been in years. Found a good spot and was really enjoying the love and the parade - until.... why on earth is it necessary or in good taste to have a guy on a float pretending to be stroking a 3 ft. penis? why? just why? so many kids - no, not just kids. this 63 year old lesbian found it in very poor taste! Many people stay away just because of this. C'mon - we're more than what happens in bed! read more

This was my first Seattle Pride Parade and it didn't disappoint. The parade participants were festive and entertaining. I will admit that after awhile, the parade did get boring at around 2 hours. My attention span doesn't last that long, so hopefully it was almost over before we bailed to the Pride Fest! read more