In case you live under a rock, the entire month of June has been labeled as 'Pride Month,' an entire month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in Manhattan, as well as celebrating the impact that LGBT+ people have on the world. At the end of the month, cities across the world hold annual 'Pride Parades,' where LGBT+ groups come together to celebrate diversity and culture. One of the most popular Pride Parades was held in New York City just this past Sunday, where yours truly had the pleasure of attending. Given that this was my first Pride Parade, I did not really know what to expect. All of my friends who had been to the Pride Parade in the past said that it would be nothing like I have ever experienced, and they were not joking. Although Pride Month is almost over, and the NYC Pride Parade will not be for another year, there is no shame in planning ahead! Here are 10 things to bring to a Pride Parade!
10. A Solid Plan
New York City is packed hours before the parade even begins, it is not the time to be wandering around looking for your group or making plans up as you go along. My friends and I made a group chat the night before and decided where we were meeting and all of the details beforehand, and it spared us so much time and aggravation. Obviously you do not need a schedule planned down to the minute, but just a basic idea of where you are going and how you are getting there will help a lot.
9. Extra Time
As I said before, NYC will be overcrowded with people all heading to the same place at the same time. This is crucial especially if you take public transportation (like I did) because trains will be delayed. Leave yourself plenty of extra time and leave earlier than when you normally would so that there's room for error (or trains being 10 minutes late).
8. Front-Row Seats
No matter where you are, you are going to have an amazing time. But nothing will ever be better than a front-row seat to the parade. There, you get first pick on the beads, stickers and other goodies being handed out by those marching. You also get plenty of high fives and kisses blown in your direction. The most crowded areas of the parade will be at the beginning and at the end, so shoot to stand somewhere in the middle, and get there about 30 minutes before. You'll get a front row seat to all of the glitter, rainbows and temporary pride tattoos.
7. Sunscreen
Obviously this one is dependent on the weather, but for this year, NYC Pride was extremely hot. I stood in the sun for a solid four hours and I have some killer tan lines as a result of it. There's very little shade, so even if you apply just a little sunscreen to your face, it should be enough to protect your skin.
6. Water
Again, Pride was extremely hot (and I'm not just talking about the drag queens). Pack at least 2 water bottles before you leave so that you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Buying your water is also an option, but if you are anything like me, you are cheap and you are not about to spend $6 for a water bottle in NYC.
5. Comfortable Shoes
If you are going to be standing and walking for hours at a time, it is probably not the best time to wear shoes that you know will give you blisters. Save the shoes that pinch your feet for another occasion, and opt for comfy sneakers and sandals. Your feet will thank you later.
4. A Portable Phone Charger
Pride parades can go on for hours, so you will want your phone to be fully charged so that you can take pictures to post on Instagram and Snapchat. I know I wish I brought a portable phone charger, because my phone ended up dying 5 minutes into the parade, so now I have no pictures to remember the event by.
3. A Couple of Granola Bars
I cannot speak for every Pride festival, but I got to NYC Pride at 11:30am, and when I left at 6pm, there were still people marching. If you plan to stay the entirety of the march, bring a couple of snacks to eat throughout the duration of the parade. This will prevent you from fainting, and your wallet will thank you later because you brought snacks from home as opposed to buying them.
2. Rainbow Everything
If you are going to take at least one of these reminders seriously, let it be this one. If you think that you are wearing enough rainbow, then add another colorful item to your ensemble. Other than Halloween, this is your one time a year to dress as boldly and as colorful as you want, so have some fun with it! You can never have too much rainbow.
1. A Positive Attitude
When I went to Pride, I was almost taken aback by the positive nature of everyone I encountered. Everyone that I met was so friendly and accepting, and even on the train ride to Manhattan, complete strangers were chatting away and making plans to celebrate together. Welcome this with open arms, it will make for an incredible experience!
