Indianapolis, Indiana – At 10 a.m. on Saturday, the 2023 Indy Pride Parade began, and a sizable crowd lined Massachusetts Avenue to watch.
With more than 180 groups participating in the parade this year, the festivities are more extensive than ever.
Last year’s march attracted over 60,000 spectators, and another 35,000 individuals enjoyed the festival that followed, bringing the total number of persons celebrating Pride in 2022 to over 100,000.
The increase in events this year is due to a reason, according to Shelly Snider, executive director of Indy Pride.
“Only last night, I received some hate mail telling me to stop appearing on television and claiming that this is a festival and that we should welcome everyone. That simply confirms to me that the celebrations are more important than ever right now, Snider added.
Additionally, Snider claims that she wants everyone to feel secure while out having fun on Saturday.
The festival at Military Park, which is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., will have a clear bag policy. The festival features more than 300 vendors, three entertainment stages, and a family-friendly, PG-rated community area.
The cost of festival admission is $10.
