The route of the Prague Pride parade is changing at the last minute. The parade will start with the singing of the national anthem
The parade route was changed at the last minute due to excavation work in Celetná Street. The organizers had to modify the planned march and move part of the route. The parade will now take Na Příkopě, Revoluční and Dlouhá streets, from where it will arrive at Old Town Square. From there, the participants will continue through Pařížská Street, cross the Čechův most bridge and head up the stairs to Letná pláň.
"Last year, 60 000 people joined the parade and the total attendance at all events during Rainbow Week reached 100 000 people. Considering the high attendance at this year's Budapest Pride parade and the fact that the Czech Republic is facing parliamentary elections, we see this year's numbers as very promising. What we are watching with concern is the development of the weather," said festival director Kamila Fröhlichová.
The parade is expected to arrive at Letná, where it will be followed by an all-day programme in Pride Park at around 3 pm.
Without engines, but with music and a strong human rights message
The colourful parade will traditionally be without cars with internal combustion engines. However, it will be accompanied by eight so-called music points, which will provide music and good mood along the entire route. This year, a record 67 organized groups - from businesses and non-profit organizations to political parties - will join the parade.
Among the confirmed personalities planning to take part in the parade are Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, MP Jan Berki (STAN), Government Commissioner for Human Rights Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, Prague Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and Slovak MP Lucia Plaváková. The parade will also be attended by a number of personalities from the cultural scene, including theatre director Daniela Špinar, actor Viktor Zavadil, writers Emma Kausc and Marek Torčík, and drag queen Miss Petty.
Letenská pláň will offer music, entertainment and testing
After arriving at Letná, the event will move to Pride Park, where an all-day festival programme will be prepared. Visitors can look forward to a JarmarQ of non-profit organizations, refreshments, booths, musical performances and other attractions. There will also be a testing zone of the Czech AIDS Aid Society, which will offer anonymous and free testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
In line with this year's festival motto "Where is my home?", the main stage dramaturgy relies on the local scene. The Red Stage by Vodafone will feature, among others, Aneta Langerová, Jana Uriel Kratochvílová, Slovak queer performer Vojtik, the band Something Something and Miss Petty.
The festival programme at Letná will last until 22:00. The full programme and maps are available on the festival website.
