Capital Pride
Pride 2009: June 5-14
Annual Capital Pride Parade And Festival Scheduled For The Weekend Of June 14-15
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Lutz (202) 306-0722
June 6, 2008
Parade and Festival demonstrate remarkable growth, new initiatives for 2008.
WASHINGTON - The 33rd annual celebration of Capital Pride will kick-off on Friday, June 06, 2008 and conclude with the annual parade on Saturday, June 14th and the street festival on Sunday June 15th. Capital Pride is considered to be the 3rd largest gay pride event in the United States, and the parade and festival were recently named as the "Best Parade/Festival" by the Washington City Paper in its "2008 Best of DC" publication. The parade and street festival will take place rain or shine.
Parade Information
Drawing over 35,000 people, the annual Capital Pride Parade will step off at 6:30 PM on Saturday, June 14th from the corners of 23rd and P Streets, NW. The parade will travel east on P Street, NW through Dupont Circle, north on New Hampshire Avenue, east on R Street, NW, south on 17th Street, NW, east on P Street, NW and conclude at 14th and N Streets, NW. The parade is expected to last approximately 2 hours.
The parade will feature comedian Bruce Vilanch as its celebrity grand marshall and Wendy Rieger of NBC News 4 will emcee the parade from the judging stand located in front of Whole Foods on P Street, NW. New for 2008, a mid-route announcement stand will be located at 18th Street and New Hampshire Ave NW. Washington-based DJ Brennan Sullivan will spin music prior to the parade and emcee as the contingents pass by.
"We are extremely excited about the growth of this year's parade," said Eric Reader, co-chairman of the Capital Pride Parade Committee. "We've seen an increase in the number of parade contingents of almost 10% compared to 2007, and we continue to receive new registrations each day." Reader also commented that over 20 people have helped to plan the parade, and more than 100 volunteer will assist in the execution of the parade.
The Capital Pride Parade is sponsored by Tangy Sweet, ZipCar, Whole Foods, and iMark. For more information on Capital Pride or to register a contingent for the parade, please visit www.capitalpride.org.
Media attending the event are asked to check in with a Capital Pride representative at the parade check-in stand at 23rd and N Streets, NW.
Festival Information
The festival will take place from 11am - 6 pm Sunday, June 15, on Pennsylvania Ave between 3rd and 7th Streets, NW. Approximately 200,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which will feature two entertainment stages, over 300 organizations, vendors, corporations, and community partners, and 7 hours of non-stop music, entertainment, fun, and pride.
New for 2008, Capital Pride is "going green" at the festival. In cooperation with Burgundy Crescent Volunteers, an LGBT volunteer organization, Capital Pride has started several green initiatives including providing recycle bins at the festival. "This is just the start of the green initiative. It is our responsibility not only as members of the LGBT community but as concerned citizens to make sure that we are as eco-conscious at our celebrations," said Rees Kirkorian, the Capital pride Festival Committee co-chair. "We are so excited to be able to have the energy and expertise that Burgundy Crescent's green coalition is able to offer in this area."
Over 200 volunteers will assist in the production of the festival, which is fully accessible and open to the public. Capital Pride is proud to have Southwest Airlines return as this year's presenting sponsor for the festival. For more information on the festival or Capital Pride, please visit www.capitalpride.org
Members of the media who attend the festival are asked to check-in at the media registration area located behind the main entertainment stage at 3rd Street and Pennsylvania Ave.