Pride FAQs

Have a question? See below!

Pride Parade FAQs:

  • The parade will start at 11:00 a.m. on July 20th at the intersection of South Avenue and Science Parkway. It will travel north on South Avenue and end at the festival, which will take place in Highland Park.

  • Yes! 

  • Please avoid parking on the neighborhood streets. Parking will be available for $5 at the Al Sigl Center (1000 Elmwood Avenue). There will also be parking in a grass lot between the Al Sigl Center and Meadowbrook Road for $5. There will be free parking for people with disabilities at the Lilac Adventure Zone (249 Highland Avenue). We recommend ride sharing if you are marching in the parade. There will be a shuttle running continuously between Highland Avenue and Science Parkway from 12:45 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

  • Yes, however, you can't bring alcohol.

  • No, pets may not march in the parade. However, service animals are welcome.

Pride Festival FAQs:

  • The festival will take place on July 20th from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the part of Highland Park known as Beikirch Park (located at 1440 South Avenue). It's the same location as the Lilac Festival.

  • Yes. General admission is $5 and VIP tickets are $50. Kids under 12 are free. General admission includes access to entertainment, food trucks, a beer and wine bar, a kid's area, and vendors. VIP tickets include general admission plus a bar that sells beer, wine, and canned cocktails, as well as a lounge area and a private restroom trailer. We recommend avoiding the lines and purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets will also be available at the gate on the day of the event (cash only).

  • We recommend bringing cash. Tickets purchased at the gate will be cash only. You will also need cash for parking and to buy drinks at the festival. There were be ATMs available on-site.

  • Please avoid parking on the neighborhood streets. Parking will be available at the Al Sigl Center (1000 Elmwood Avenue) for $5. There will also be parking in a grass lot between the Al Sigl Center and Meadowbrook Road for $5. There will be free parking for people with disabilities at the Lilac Adventure Zone (249 Highland Avenue). We recommend ride sharing. There will be a shuttle running continuously between Highland Avenue and Science Parkway from 12:45 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

  • Yes! There will be a shuttle between Science Parkway and the Purple Crosswalk on Highland Avenue. The first shuttle run will depart at 12:45 p.m. and then run continuously until 7:00 p.m.

  • Sorry, dogs are not allowed at the Festival, except for service dogs.

  • You're welcome to bring a water bottle! However, outside food and beverages are not allowed. We will have many vendors!

  • Sorry, backpacks are not allowed at the Festival.

  • Folding chairs are OK, but please do not bring tents or other large structures.

General FAQs:

  • In Rochester, Pride is traditionally celebrated in July! We also celebrate Pride Month in June, which honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. There are many other Pride events held across New York State in June, and scheduling the Pride Parade and Festival in July allows people to travel to many different cities and attend many different celebrations. We also like to say that one Pride month isn't enough for us - we need two!

  • Over the past few years, the turnout at the Rochester Pride Parade and Festival has exceeded our expectations! In 2023, more than 200 groups marched in the parade and over 15,000 people attended the festival. It was Rochester’s largest Pride ever! After speaking with LGBTQ+ community leaders and conducting surveys, we decided that we needed more space to accommodate the crowds. Highland Park was selected because it will offer more shade, better parking, and improved accessibility, along with more room for performances, food trucks, community organizations and vendors. Pride will be bigger and better than ever before!

     

     

  • We take safety very seriously. At the Parade, the Rochester Police Department will have a presence throughout the parade route. At the Festival, RPD will be present outside the entrance. There will also be additional private security at both events. As for all large events across our county, the Monroe County Crime Analysis Team will monitor any chatter about the events, and they will adjust their safety plans if needed. For all attendees, we urge you to stay vigilant, be aware of your surroundings, and call 911 or tell a Pride volunteer if you see something suspicious. We look forward to celebrating our community with Pride!

  • The money raised at Pride goes into a restricted fund to pay for the two largest events – the Parade and the Festival. If there is a balance in the fund after all expenditures are met (including an administrative fee for Trillium Health) organizations may apply for a portion of the funding to support LGBTQ+ events and programming throughout the Rochester area. View previous recipients.

  • Please send an email to pride@trilliumhealth.org.