SF Pride is one of the biggest and busiest celebrations in the city. People come from around the world for the marches and parties, and that of course includes lots of children of all ages. The team at SF Pride has a full suite of programming specifically geared families, so if you're wondering about kid friendly options, you'll find plenty to accommodate all weekend.
There will be a LOT of people here. Saturday won't be quite as large as Sunday, but there are going to be a lot of extra folks in the city both days, so there are a few general tips for navigating such a massive event with your kids. Even if you've done it before pre-child and feel like you know the ropes, a little advance planning never hurts where kids are involved!
- Don't drive. Seriously. Street closures are all over downtown (here's the map) and parking is so limited, its just not worth it. Plan on making your trip to the fun part of the experience and don't forget you also need to leave, so save some energy (and sanity) for a round trip! Take BART or Muni, and decide where you want to go first so you can map the closest station or exit. Organizers recommend using the Civic Center entrance.
- Plan your gear accordingly. For security reasons bags over 18"x18" are not permitted, so make sure you can carry everything you need for the day in a bag that size.
- Carriers vs. Strollers: I'm a huge fan of carriers in public like this, but strollers are sometimes a necessity! Just don't forget about the bag size above. If you're taking BART expect the elevators to be sketchy, and Muni to be be crowded.
- Plan your entry and exit. Have an idea of where you'd like to be (check out the event maps and details below for both days).
- The Trans March is also taking place this week on Friday, June 23rd and Dyke March is on Saturday, June 24th.
- Polly Pagenheart of the Our Family Coalition has a LOT more great info in '5 Pride Pro-tips for Pride-Rookie Parents', like putting your name on your child in case you get separated. She's marched several times with her kids so she knows the ropes! And if you're interested in marching the parade, make sure to read it to learn how you can sign up!
SATURDAY JUNE 24
We expect around 100,000 people at the Celebration site in Civic Center Plaza on Saturday.
SUNDAY JUNE 25
There will be just about 1 million to attend on Sunday.
- If you want seats for Sunday's parade, there are still a few available on Eventbrite!
- After the parade, the Family Garden will be a be a draw for families. It's near City Hall and is open to ADULTS WITH KIDS only! You can't drop your kids off here and leave them either--this is a place for kids with their caregivers to get some facepaint and do other kiddie crafty things. It's free with donations welcome, open 11am-4pm on Sunday.