2024 Capital City Pride Parade
The Capital City Pride Parade is PrideFest Weekend, must see! A celebration of community and culture the pride parade honors LGBTQ+ social and self-acceptance, legal rights, achievements and pride.
The iconic route starts at the Iowa State Capital and travels down Grand Avenue into the Historic East Village. The parade kicks off at 12:00 pm on Sunday June 9, 2024.
The 2024 Pride Parade is proudly presented by:
Parade Route
Show us your PRIDE, Iowa! Want to join the parade? The link below has all the details on registration and parade rules. All applications are reviewed within 10 days. Approved applicants will then receive an invoice for payment. Upon receipt of payment your spot in the 2024 Pride Parade will be secured.
Show us your PRIDE, Iowa! Want to join the parade? The link below has all the details on registration and parade rules. All applications are reviewed within 10 days. Approved applicants will then receive an invoice for payment. Upon receipt of payment your spot in the 2024 Pride Parade will be secured.
Parade Contest
Got mad float building skills? Bring It!
Capital City Pride and our Pride Parade Presenting Sponsor, Veridian Credit Union will be awarding the top 3 parade floats!
- First Place: Stellar bragging rights + One amazing trophy, Free 2025 Pride Guide Ad and 2025 free Pride Parade Entry.
- Second Place: You are still pretty cool and should tell everyone about it + One slightly less amazing trophy, 2025 free Pride Parade Entry.
- Third Place: You still did really great + One still cool trophy and memories that you can hold onto forever!
Parade Registration – Deadlines and Fees
- Online registration closes on Saturday Jun 1, 2024.
- All parade participants must register and pay an entry fee. The entry fee is used to cover the increasing costs from the city to shut down, barricade and staff the parade route and ensure the safety of participants and attendees. Thank you for your understanding and support in covering these fees.
- Nonprofit/Community Organization – $50.00
- Current Office Holder/Dignitary – $50.00
- Political Party/Candidate – $50.00
- For Profit/Commercial – $150.00
Refunds
While no parade entries shall be entitled to a refund, each refund shall be in the sole discretion of the Festival Organizers based upon the timing of the termination or cancelation, the number of participants, etc. No entries shall be entitled to a refund based on a Force Majeure or a weather event.
Basic Information
The parade starts promptly at Noon on Sunday, June 9th. The parade route will exit the State Capitol Lot #16 and proceed down Grand Avenue into the East Village. The route will be clearly marked and volunteers will be available along the route to provide any needed information.
Parade Staging
Staging and line up will begin at a NEW location this year due to construction in the lot used in previous years. We will be staging in Capitol Lot 16 located at 14th and Des Moines St. Staging begins at 10am. The entrance to Lot 16 is located on Des Moines St between 13th and 14th Streets.
There are two entrances to Lot 16. One entrance will be used exclusively for parade entrants and check-in. The other entrance will provide limited parking for parade participants. The entrances will be clearly marked.
It is imperative that parade participants DO NOT park their personal vehicles that are not a part of the parade in the staging area. This takes up critical space for parade staging and line up and you will be asked to move the vehicle. Please park only in the designated participant parking section of Lot 16 or in parking lots west of the IRS/Iowa Department of Human Services building. These lots are located off of E. Walnut St. and Dey St.
We will not inform you of your place in the parade lineup until you check-in at the parade. Should you have any special needs, please reach out to [email protected] for consideration.
All participants must check-in on arrival. At check-in you will be given your assigned spot in the parade line-up. Please have your group leader/contact check in immediately upon arrival at the check-in station located at the entrance of Lot 16. There, you will be given your line up number and directed to your area in staging. Volunteers will assist in directing you and your participants to your designated staging area. Please help us by sharing your staging area with your participants to limit the amount of people queuing at the check-in station.
If your group needs special arrangements, please contact the Parade Director immediately to discuss alternative arrangements at [email protected] Staging time is 10:00 to 11:30am
11:30am will be the last call to ensure that all groups are in order and for the Parade Deputy Director and/or Pride Fest Director to communicate parade status with the parade emcees located on the parade route. The parade will begin at 12pm sharp.
Inclement Weather
If it is cloudy or raining, the parade will go on as scheduled—keep an eye on the forecasts. If there is lightning or storms, the parade will be delayed or canceled for everyone’s safety. The Parade Director will have the final say in whether or not the parade is canceled.
Rules
For the safety of parade participants, spectators and the general public, and to ensure the parade is in line with the values of the Capital City Pride organization, parade participants MUST agree to the following terms and conditions. It is the responsibility of each group/organization to ensure that all participants understand these terms and conditions:
- Applications are subject to approval by the Capital City Pride Board. Capital City Pride reserves the right to reject any application it believes would be inappropriate given the nature of the event and all entrants should align with the mission and vision of the organization.
- Entrants are responsible for the set up and cleanup of their vehicle before and after the parade.
- All units agree to follow the direction(s) of the Capital City Pride Parade Coordinator, Capital City Pride Parade Security, and the local police department at all times.
- Capital City Pride is a family-friendly, inclusive celebration of community. No signs, banners, or groups promoting or showing profanity, sexual acts, or obscene material will be permitted.
- All state and local ordinances regarding nudity will be strictly enforced. All costumes and other apparel worn during the parade (during line-up or the actual parade) must comply with the obscenity statutes of the State as well as the public decency ordinances of the City. All decisions as to the propriety of attire to be worn in the parade will be made by the Parade Coordinator.
- The throwing of objects is NOT permitted. It is OK to hand out candy and items along the parade path, but throwing of any and all objects is prohibited.
- The use of glitter or confetti in the parade is prohibited, as the city imposes a substantial fee for clean up of these items.
- The use of strobe lights is prohibited.
- Drug use is prohibited. Consumption of illicit illegal drugs during line up or the actual parade is grounds for immediate expulsion from the event.
- No animals will be allowed in the parade without approval by the Parade Director and/or Pridefest Director.
- All entrants with a motorized vehicle must carry proof of insurance with them in the parade. All motor vehicles, including motorcycles, must abide by posted speed limits during the parade route. Operating vehicles in close proximity to spectators is dangerous and NOT permitted. Operators of automobiles must possess a valid driver license. Operators of motorcycles must possess a valid driver license with motorcycle endorsement.
- It is the responsibility of any entrant to help immediately remove vehicle(s) that become disabled. If you are unsure about your own vehicle, please plan ahead for any towing needs you may have. Any fees associated with towing, repairing, and tickets issued by law enforcement agencies for abandoned vehicles will be the responsibility of the entrant. Capital City Pride is not responsible for any damages to any unit before, during or after the parade.
- At no time shall a unit stop in or along the parade route once the unit has stepped off, unless given specific instructions to do so by Capital City Pride Staff or local Police or in the event of an emergency.
