WorldPride this weekend: What you need to know

The 10-day WorldPride 2014 festival is gearing down, but not before a blow-out weekend that will see the big parade and a slew of other events sure to draw huge crowds.

Here are the marquee events and related road closures you should know about heading into the big weekend.

Friday

• MTV Presents POP GOES PRIDE: A live concert hosted by MTV’s Lauren Toyota and Phoebe Dykstra featuring pop acts like Carly Rae Jepsen, Dragonette, and Fefe Dobson, to name a few.

Location: TD Wellesley Stage, 15 Wellesley St. E.

Starting Time: 7 p.m.

• WorldPride 2014 Trans* Pride March: A grassroots, community-focused event that provides a safe space for trans people to rally and stand together as one.
  

Location: North Stage Intersection of Church Street & Isabella Street

Starting Time: 8 p.m.

Saturday

• Pride and Remembrance RUN: The premiere sporting event during Toronto Pride week features the Pride 5K run and 3K walk.

Location: Church and Wellesley

Starting Time: 10 a.m.

• WorldPride 2014 Toronto Dyke March: Described as a “political demonstration of critical mass,” the Dyke March celebrates diversity and solidarity among individuals who identify anywhere within the dyke spectrum.

Location: Allan Gardens, 19 Horticultural Ave.

Starting Time: Rally at 1 p.m. March at 2 p.m.

• WorldPride SMART Party: This free event features legendary Miss Honey Dijon and electro-superstars AUSTRA!

Location: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E.

Starting Time: 8 p.m.

Sunday

• Family Pride: A kid-friendly zone with activities and entertainment for children and families.

Location: Church Street Public School, 83 Alexander St.

Starting Time: 10 a.m.

• WorldPride 2014 Parade: The big parade is the culmination of WorldPride 2014 and it takes over Yonge Street on Sunday.  The Grand Marshall for the parade will be Toronto’s Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, who has been a longtime activist for human rights and performed the first ever same sex marriage in 2001.

Route: From the corner of Church and Bloor streets all the way down Yonge Street to Yonge-Dundas Square. (See map below)

Starting Time: 1 p.m.

WorldPride 2014 Parade Route Map

WORLDPRIDE ROAD CLOSURES

Church Street Pride Festival: Church Street from Carlton Street to Hayden Street will be closed from Friday at 3 p.m. to Monday at 7 a.m.

Pride and Remembrance Run: Wellesley Street from Jarvis Street to and including Queen’s Park Circle will be closed on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Dyke March: The Dyke March will start at Carlton Street between Jarvis and Sherbourne, run west along Carlton Street to Yonge Street, run north on Yonge Street to Charles Street East, and east on Charles Street East to George Hislop parkette. The march is from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Roads used for the march will be closed between 1 and 5 p.m.

Pride Parade: Roads on the parade route (see map above) will be closed Sunday for varying periods between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Courtesy: City of Toronto