When is Pride 2011?
    The San Francisco Pride two-day Celebration and Parade historically takes place the final weekend in June of each year. The 2011 event, which will be the 41st anniversary of San Francisco Pride, is set to take place June 25 and 26.

When/Where is the Dyke March?
    The Dyke March, while concurrent with SF Pride, is a separate event run by a different organization. The following information can be used to reach them:
    E-mail: info [at] dykemarch.org
    Web address: dykemarch.org

When/Where is the Trans March?
    The Trans March, while concurrent with SF Pride, is a separate event run by a different organization. The following information can be used to reach them:
E-mail: info [at] transmarch.org
Web address: transmarch.org

Where can I find parking?
    More than likely, parking will be found in places far too distant from the Parade and Celebration to make driving worthwhile, which is to say nothing of the horrendous traffic. You will save yourself a great deal of time and spare the environment the toxins if you take public transportation.  Apart from Pride, San Francisco is also known for its world-class public transportation system, so please consider familiarizing yourself with the MUNI bus system (for transportation within San Francisco city limits) and with BART (for transportation to and from San Francisco from East Bay and other parts of the Bay Area). To find routes from anywhere in the Bay Area to the Celebration at Civic Center or to the Parade along Market Street, please visit 511 Transit for more information.

Do I need a ticket to get into Pride?
    There is no fee to attend the Celebration or watch the Parade (except in the case of Grand Stand Seating along the Parade route). We do request a voluntary $5.00 donation at the entry gates to the Celebration area. This donation goes directly toward Pride’s Community Partners Program that is awarded back to community non-profits.  Because of attendee donations and beverage purchases, Pride has been able to award back over $1.6 million to community non-profit organizations since 1997.
    Grand Stand Seating for the Parade at U.N. Plaza is available on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee of $30.00 in advance or for $35.00 at the gate. For those with specific accessibility needs including wheelchair access and American Sign Language interpretation, we also have available Accessibility Tickets for spaces and seating on the Grand Stand, which can be purchased on a sliding scale.

Is there an age limit for entry into SF Pride?
    The Pride Celebration and Parade are open to people of all ages. On Sunday, there is a Family Garden area which is focused on providing a safe and less-crowded area for children/youth and their parents or guardians.

Is the event accessible?

    For full details about accessibility, click here. We have a range of services for people with accessibility concerns including a dedicated viewing area for the Parade at our Grand Stands. 
    For Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing attendees, we provide sign language interpretation at the Pride Main Stage in Civic Center all day Saturday and all day Sunday.  ASL interpreters are also available to interpret at our community-run stages and venues by request.  Please visit the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Tent near the Main Stage at Civic Center to request an interpreter.
    Arrangements can also be made for touch interpreters for our Deaf-blind attendees prior to the event -- please contact us by email prior to June 1.

Are pets allowed at your event?
    Yes, pets are allowed at the event, including, of course, service animals assisting people with accessibility needs.  We do, however, strongly recommend leaving pets at home since both the Parade and Celebration are noisy, crowded, and hot. We have found that pets can sometimes be very startled by the crowds and sounds of Pride. In busy areas, it may be difficult to navigate with pets who will be walking on the ground given the high number of stomping feet moving through the crowd.

What are Parade Grand Stand Seats and where can I buy them?
    Grand Stand seats are bleacher style seating set up specifically for the Parade on Sunday morning. Click here for more information on Grand Stand Seating and how to purchase tickets.

Where does the money from the Grand Stand tickets go?
    Money from Grand Stand ticket sales goes toward paying for the bleachers themselves as well as toward Pride grant-giving program, the Community Partners Program.

I’ve never been to San Francisco before. What is the night life like?
    Pride puts together a month of Official Events meant to honor LGBT Pride in the month of June. Check out our Official Events page for everything from art exhibits, to white water rafting outings, to parties and club events.  The following are online resources listing other events in the Bay Area: Queer Things to Do, Betty’s List, LGBT Bars and Clubs in San Francisco

Where can I stay near the event?
    Hundreds of thousands of people from outside the Bay Area visit San Francisco Pride each year.  Check out our Travel & Visitors' Guide for information on our travel partners, including local hotels and our official airline.

Do you recycle and compost at your event?
    San Francisco Pride provides marked disposal cans for recycling (marked blue), composting (marked green), and trash (marked black). Marked signs will also be posted.  All beverage cups used at our event are 100% compostable and are made from natural derivatives -- please toss these in the compost bins at the event -- check the signs.
    To help us keep an event this size as green as possible, your support in using the compost, recycling, and trash bins is crucial. Our goal is to reduce Pride's ecological footprint as we continue to pioneer green event practices. Large recycling and composting bins are made available throughout the Celebration area at Civic Center. Please read the signage and place your trash in the appropriate containers.

I am a local non-profit and want to participate in the Pride Celebration. What is the best way I can go about doing that?
    We have a multitude of ways for local non-profits to participate with Pride. First and foremost, we have a grant-giving program called Community Partners in which your organization can receive a grant from Pride in exchange for the number of volunteer hours that your organization supplies for the Celebration and Parade.  We also have community-level sponsorships through our Partners in Pride Program. Lastly, you can get non-profit rates on Parade entries and for booths at the Celebration. Parade and Booth applications can be found here.

I have an event happening in June that I would like to promote through Pride. How can I do this?
    Each year, we compile a list of Official Events. In order to become an Official Pride Event, the Pride Office must receive all event listings prior to March 1, 2010. The Pride logo will be posted on all promotional materials related to the Official Events. In return, Pride publishes community events in our annual Pride Guide (50,000 distribution throughout the Bay Area), post it in our newsletter (going out to over 12,000 subscribers) and post it on our website. Contact us by email for more information.

How can I advertise with SF Pride?
    SF Pride has two yearly publications that each offer unique advertising opportunities. We have a magazine-sized Pride Guide that comes out in early June and we have a portable publication called Pocket Pride, which comes out the day of the event. If you are interested in advertising with Pride, please contact us at sponsorship [at] sfpride.org and we would be more than happy to supply further information specific to your needs.

Who will be performing at Pride?
    Each year we have a headlining performer on the Main Stage and some of our past performers have included Lady Gaga, BoA, Solange Knowles, Kat DeLuna, Meshell Ndegeocello, En Vogue, Chaka Khan, the Pointer Sisters, and Joan Baez as well as celebrity guest hosts and appearances by Alec Mapa, Margaret Cho, Alan Cuming, and Graham Norton. Our final schedules are finalized by the end of May. Check back under our Celebration section to find out the most up-to-date information on performers.

How can I perform on the Main Stage at Pride?
    SF Pride is accepting press packets from interested artists for the 2010 SF Pride Main Stage.  Press packets must be submitted prior to the March 17, 2010, deadline to be considered.  Please review press kit submission requirements prior to sending.  SF Pride's Main Stage Contact us by email.

How do I volunteer for SF Pride?
    The Pride Celebration and Parade could not take place with the more than 1,000 volunteers who lend their talent and time during Pride weekend.  There are five main types of volunteers: Office, Safety, Medical, Parade, and Celebration.  There are volunteer opportunities for people of almost all skills, backgrounds, and ability levels. Interested persons must submit an application to become a volunteer.  For more information on volunteering for SF Pride, contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteers [at] sfpride.org.

How can I become a sponsor of SF Pride?
    We welcome organizations who are interested in sponsoring our event and have a variety of custom sponsorship packages to fit your organization’s needs.  For more information on becoming an official SF Pride Sponsor please email our development department.

Who are the Grand Marshals for this year?
    Grand Marshals are people or organizations within the LGBT community who have strived to create change and usually are local heroes who have fought for LGBT rights over the years.  To view the most up-to-date information on Grand Marshals click here.
    Community Grand Marshals are local leaders who have fought on behalf of LGBT rights and who have have made a notable contribution to the LGBT community.

How can I nominate someone for Grand Marshal?
    You can submit suggestions for Grand Marshal by emailing your nomination to info [at] sfpride.org.

Where can I get a copy of the Pride Guide or Pocket Pride?
    Pride's print publications are available at a number of locations around the city during the month of June (including the SF LGBT Community Center at 1800 Market St).  If you would like a copy of the most recent year's Pride Guide (Inside Pride) sent to you, you must submit a check or money order in the amount of $10.00 along with your return address to:

SF Pride
ATTN: Pride Publication Order
1841 Market St., Fourth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103-1112

    Pocket Pride is a highly portable pocket-sized mini guide to the SF Pride Celebration & Parade.  It contains the most current information regarding the Pride event including Main Stage set times, Parade route information, exhibitor booth locations at the Celebration site, and much more.  Pocket Pride available on the day of the event at any one of our on-site Information Booths in Civic Center Plaza.

What additional security precautions can I take to make Pride safe and enjoyable for all?
    Pride is a large-scale public event. Please make sure that your valuables and effects are secure.  Please do not leave bags or personal items unattended.  These can be a security risk and encourage crime.
    Please be careful.  Don't venture around unaccompanied, especially at night. Carry a whistle and use it if you find yourself in any danger.  Report anything suspicious to the nearest member of the safety team. And be sure to always employ safer sex practices, should you find yourself engaging in sexual activity.  Make sure your friends know where and with whom you are playing.

sfpride.org