San Diego Pride: Everything you need to know from parking to road closures

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — It’s almost time for the San Diego Pride Parade and this year, it’s extra special: It will be the 50th anniversary of the first pride march in America’s Finest City calling for LGBTQ+ rights.

Now considered one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the U.S., about 300,000 people are anticipated to gather in Hillcrest for the parade honoring the local LGBTQ+ community Saturday morning. Then, it will be followed up by the two-day San Diego Pride festival in Balboa Park.

Whether you plan to attend or just live in the area, here is everything you need to know to plan ahead for the parade and festival this weekend:

What time is the parade and festival?

The San Diego Pride Parade will commence at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20. An homage to this year’s anniversary, the theme for the event is “Making History Now.”

The festival, which requires paid admission, will begin shortly after the parade wraps up, running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Marston Point in Balboa Park. It will resume Sunday, July 21 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online starting at $38.

While no rain is forecast for the weekend, the events will be held rain or shine, according to organizers.

What is the parade route?

The parade will begin at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Avenue and Normal Street, then proceed west on University Avenue, turn south on 6th Avenue, left onto Balboa Drive and end at Quince Drive. The total route is 1.5 miles long.

Where is parking available?

Free parking will be available for those who choose to drive to the event at the Old Naval Hospital parking lots, located near the intersection of Park Boulevard and President’s Way.

Shuttles will be available to transport folks to and from the parade and festival during the following times:

• Saturday, July 20
  • Pride Parade Route – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • The shuttle will drop parade-goers at Essex and Richmond Street, one block south of University Avenue.
  • Pride Festival Route – 8 a.m. to midnight
    • The shuttle will transport people between Old Naval Hospital and the Pride Festival at Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street.
  • Festival Express – 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Catch a ride from the Pride Parade’s starting line to the entrance of the Pride Festival. Pick up the shuttle at Essex and Richmond Street for drop off at Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street.
• Sunday, July 21
  • Shuttles will run continuously from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. between Old Naval Hospital and the festival drop-off at Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street.

There are also a handful of “No Parking Zones” throughout Hillcrest during the parade and festival:

• Hillcrest DMV Parking Lot (3960 Normal St)
• University Ave (5th Ave to Park Blvd)
• Centre St (University Ave to Park Blvd)
• Normal St (University Ave to Washington St )
• Cleveland Ave (Richmond St to Washington St )
• Harvey Milk Way (Cleveland Ave to Centre St )
• Lincoln Ave (Washington St to Park Blvd)
• Polk Ave (Normal St to Park Blvd)
• Herbert St (University Ave to Robinson Ave)
• Essex St (Herbert St to Richmond St)
• Centre St (University Ave for half the block south)
• 6th Ave (University Ave to Upas St)
• Robinson Ave (5th Ave to 6th Ave)
• Evans Place (5th Ave. to 6th Ave.)
• Pennsylvania Ave (5th Ave to 6th Ave)
• Anderson Place (5th Ave to 6th Ave)
• Ivy Lane (5th Ave to 6th Ave)
• Upas St (5th Ave to 6th Ave)
• Balboa Dr in Balboa Park (6th Ave and Upas St to El Prado)

Using public transit to get to the parade and festival

For those who want to skip traffic and parking all together, utilizing public transit is a great option. Riders can take one of several MTS bus routes to get to the festival.

According to MTS officials, the Rapid 215 bus line is the best way to get to all of the Pride festivities, running every 15 minutes throughout the day from downtown near Santa Fe Depot to the edge of City Heights. The last bus of the day in both directions leaves around midnight.

Route 7 is also another good option to get to the Old Naval Hospital for Pride’s shuttle service, MTS officials say. Route 7 runs from the 11th Avenue & C Street Trolley stop in downtown to the College Area, including a stop at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way.

Besides these options, MTS says those who want to use public transit can also utilize Routes 1, 3, 11 and 120 to get to the parade route, or Routes 3 and 120 to get to the festival.

One important caveat: some of these routes will be detoured or have service delays due to the parade’s road closures in Hillcrest. To see the full list of detoured bus routes, please visit the MTS San Diego Pride Parade & Festival webpage .

The UC San Diego Blue Trolley Line will also be impacted throughout the day, but for planned track maintenance between the 12th & Imperial and E Street stations.

Those using public transit to get to and from the Pride Parade and Festival are encouraged to download the free PRONTO app ahead of time to purchase fares or use the new tap payment system once getting to the station.

What roads are closed?

According to San Diego Pride organizers, the following streets will be closed:

• Friday, July 19th
  • Normal St. and Harvey Milk St. are closed starting at 6am
• Saturday, July 20th
  • Streets closed at 5 a.m. with reopening by 4 p.m.
    • Centre Street (University Avenue to Park Boulevard)
    • Normal Street (University Avenue to Washington Street)
    • Cleveland Avenue (Richmond Street to Washington Street)
    • Harvey Milk Way (Cleveland Avenue to Centre Street)
    • Lincoln Avenue (Washington Street to Park Boulevard)
    • The Quince Street exit off 163 North will be closed at 6 am and will reopen by 4 pm
    • The University Avenue exit off 163 South will be reduced to one lane and right turn only onto University Avenue (west bound) at 6 am and will reopen by 4 pm
  • Streets closed at 6:30 a.m. with reopening by 4 p.m.
    • University Avenue (5th Avenue to Park Boulevard)
    • Herbert Street (University Avenue to Robinson Avenue)
    • Essex Street (Herbert Street to Richmond Street)
    • Centre Street (University Avenue for half the block south)
    • 6th Avenue (University Avenue to Upas Street)
    • Robinson Avenue (5th Avenue to 6th Avenue)
    • Evans Place (5th Avenue to 6th Avenue)
    • Pennsylvania Avenue (5th Avenue to 6th Avenue)
    • Anderson Place (5th Avenue to 6th Avenue)
    • Ivy Lane (5th Avenue to 6th Avenue)
    • Upas Street (5th Avenue to 6th Avenue)
    • Balboa Drive in Balboa Park (6th Avenue and Upas Street to El Prado)

Have a great Pride weekend, San Diego!

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