Cincinnati Pride Festival returns

By Milissa Hudepohl for CityBeat

Need a reason to celebrate outrageously this weekend? Decorate yourself with bright-colored garments and accessories and hitch a ride downtown to partake in the annual Pride celebration. Saturday morning, root for all of your favorite LGBT-friendly organizations as they festively parade through the streets of downtown and relish their show-stopping displays.

Head to Sawyer Point afterward to continue the celebration at the Pride Festival. This year, enjoy two stages featuring artists and DJs from all genres. Marvel at the stilt walkers, balloon animal makers, jugglers, mimes, magicians and face painters. On Sunday morning, recover from the day before with an After Pride Lunch at Palominos. Cure your hangover with delicious Bloody Marys and mimosas. Then, head out to Covington for a second round at the Northern Kentucky Pride Festival. Sounds awesome, right?

INFO: Parade begins Saturday at 11 a.m. Through Sunday, July 1. cincinnatipride.org .

Find out more here .

Below is a map of the parade route downtown.

View Pride Parade Route in a larger map