A few dozen excited spectators were already lined up for the choicest parade watching spots before 8 a.m. Sunday, and they're just the start.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to converge on the Boystown neighborhood for the 42nd annual Gay Pride Parade.
Parade coordinator Richard Pfeiffer says many participants in the Sunday event will be celebrating legalized civil unions in Illinois, and gay marriage in New York.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel will be at the front of the parade, and Gov. Pat Quinn also will participate.
Pfeiffer says there are a number of new entries this year, including the Peace Corps, the Chicago Teachers' Union and City Colleges of Chicago.
The parade begins at noon and is expected to last roughly 2 hours. But the parade does move slowly due to the huge number of participants and spectators, and can take much longer.
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It features 250 entries, including floats, musical groups and walking contingents.
If you're heading to the parade, remember that once it starts, there are only four spots where you can cross the parade route. Those are:
- Halsted & Wellington
- Halsted & Addison
- Broadway & Addison
- Broadway & Wellington
