AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Pride parade and festival return this weekend!
While most cities celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in June, Austin celebrates in August. This year's parade will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10, starting at 8 p.m. As always, it will begin at the Texas Capitol building, make its way down Congress Avenue and conclude in the Warehouse District.
There is no cost to attend the parade and it is open to the public. Tickets to the festival, which begins at 11 a.m. at Fiesta Gardens, cost $10 for kids ages 7 to 17 and $20 for adults.
Let's get into the details of how to get around during the parade.
Getting to the parade
While driving near the parade may be difficult, there are a number of alternative transportation options attendees can use, including taking the Ann and Roy Hike-and-Bike Trail, biking to the event, using Capital Metro transit or taking a rideshare.
If you do drive to the event, carpooling is encouraged. You can take a look at where to park on the city's paid parking page.
Road closures in Downtown Austin
As mentioned, driving near the parade route may be difficult due to a number of road closures and lane reductions.
The following roads will be completely closed from 1 p.m. until midnight on Saturday:
- San Jacinto from 11th to 15th streets
- 14th Street from San Jacinto to Trinity streets
- 13th Street from San Jacinto to Trinity
- 12th Street from San Jacinto to Trinity
These roads will be completely closed from 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday:
- 11th Street from Colorado To San Jacinto streets
- Congress Avenue (including the bridge) from Barton Springs Road to 11th Street
- Fourth Street from Lavaca Street to Congress
Additionally, 11th Street from San Jacinto to Trinity will be closed westbound from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Here are a few alternative traffic routes:
- Northbound/southbound traffic: Red River, Trinity (northbound only), Lavaca and Guadalupe streets
- Eastbound/westbound: 15th Street, Riverside Drive and Barton Springs Road
Check out this street closures map for more information.
Stay safe in the heat
Even though the sun will be on its way down by the time the parade starts at 8 p.m., it's still likely to be very warm in Downtown Austin. Saturday's forecast high, as of Wednesday, is 101 degrees.
Whether you plan to be out all day at the festival or just attend the parade, follow these guidelines to keep yourself safe and healthy:
- Pre-hydrate before going outside and continue to hydrate throughout the event(s)
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
- Take frequent breaks in the shade if you'll be out during the daytime
- Learn the signs of heat-related illness and what you can do to help
- Always know where you are. The what3words location app can help first responders find you quickly in an emergency