Some basic questions answered about Dallas Pride 2023.
If you don't see the answer to your question in the FAQ's below, you can contact us here.
Dallas Pride considers the safety and well-being of our attendees to be our highest priority, and it is an integral part of every decision we make. We have been and will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners to help ensure Dallas Pride is safe, accessible, and enjoyable.
SECURITY ISSUES
The City of Dallas prohibits any individual or group from participating in an activity at a public park that creates a danger to the public or may be considered a public nuisance (Dallas City Code Art. I, Sec. 32-1). We encourage any individual or group planning to demonstrate or protest to contact the Dallas Police Department’s Intelligence Unit at (214) 671-3300 and our Director of Safety & Security via our Contact Us form.
The unlicensed carry of firearms is prohibited at all Dallas Pride events (Tex. Penal Code § 30.05).
The licensed, open carry of handguns is prohibited at all Dallas Pride events (Tex. Penal Code § 30.07).
The licensed, concealed carry of handguns is prohibited at the Music Festival (Tex. Penal Code § 30.06).
Knives with a blade longer than 5 ½ inches are prohibited at the Music Festival.
Batons, knuckles, and clubs are prohibited at the Music Festival.
ABOUT THE EVENTS
Dallas Pride 2023 will feature the Dallas Pride Music Festival on Saturday, June 3rd and The Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade on Sunday, June 4th.
Festival Hours
Centennial and Vendors | 11am-7pm
Teen Pride and Family Pride | 11am-6pm
Esplanade Festival & Concerts | 11am-9pm
Parade Hours
Parade steps off at 2:00 pm.
Parade-goers are encouraged to arrive early.
Food trucks and vendors will be on-site.
Yes. The Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade returns bigger and better this year to Fair Park on Sunday, June 4, 2023. The parade is FREE to attend. State Fair is offering parking at $10/car. DART has train service to the Front Gate via the Green Line.
Yes. The Dallas Pride Music Festival will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Fair Park. Tickets can be purchased here. State Fair is offering parking at $10/car. DART has train service to the Front Gate via the Green Line.
Festival Hours
Centennial and Vendors | 11am-7pm
Teen Pride and Family Pride | 11am-6pm
Esplanade Festival & Concerts | 11am-9pm
If we have severe inclement weather that poses a danger to people (e.g. lightning strikes to ground, tornado, large hail) then we will call for a SHELTER IN PLACE from the command post on all radio channels.
SaturdayThe crowd will be divided based on which side of the Esplanade water feature they are on and be moved into the Centennial Building and Auto Building.
Sunday
The crowd will be divided based on where they are at when the SHELTER IN PLACE is called:
- Coliseum will open to those in the staging area
- Centennial Hall will open to those on Admiral Nimitz Circle
- Auto Building will open to those along the Court of Honor, Big Tex Circle, and Grand Avenue
- Grand Place will open to those on First Avenue & in Cotton Bowl Plaza
Police personnel will assist by directing people to the proper building. The ALL CLEAR will be called by the command post.
Please Note: In the event of inclement weather and you choose not to attend, ticketing is controlled by Fair Park and all sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges. For questions on this policy you will need to contact Fair Park directly, Dallas Pride is unable to assist you.
There will be a Festival, Teen Pride and Family Pride Zone on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Fair Park in the Centennial and Automobile Buildings and on the Esplanade. We will have our Parade on Sunday, June 4, 2023 with the parade route starting at the Coliseum Building, and winding around in front of Hall of State past the Esplanade.
Tickets can be purchased here to avoid tickets lines at the entrance. Tickets are needed for the Festival and can be purchased at the Gate, but the Parade is Free for everyone to attend.
Festival admission prices:
- Children 1-12 - Free
- Ages 13-19 - $5
- Ages 20+ - $10
Festival tickets can be purchased here, or at the Gate.
The parade is FREE for everyone to attend.
Yes, all ages can attend. Children 12 and under are free at the Festival. Paid admission tickets are required for ages 12 and up. The parade is free for all to attend. Children are always welcome, but we leave it up to the parents for discretion on children attending. Both the Pride Festival and Parade are a little more risquè than other events. We encourage parents to take this into consideration. The Festival will have a Teen Zone and a Family Pride Zone where age-friendly events are offered.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase on-site. Cash and credit will be accepted, and contactless payment will be available. No outside food or beverage will be allowed into the event. $1 bottled water will be available throughout the park.
You may bring your own empty bottle to fill at a water fountain inside the park.
All bags will be screened upon entry or re-entry at the Music Festival.
All bags are subject to random screening at the Parade.
Large bags (e.g., luggage, duffel bags, or any dimension longer than 18”) are prohibited.
Unattended bags are subject to removal and/or disposal.
Our top priority is the health and safety of our patrons and participants! Dallas Pride is following all applicable local and CDC guidelines. We will continue to update our protocols as needed based on those guidelines. Face coverings are not required but are recommended for unvaccinated patrons. We also remain dedicated to maintaining the highest cleanliness and sanitization standards throughout the Festival and Parade. Please ensure you understand and practice healthy hygiene during your visit. Remember the basics: Keep socially distanced, Wash hands Frequently, and Cover coughs & sneezes.
Dallas Pride cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed to Covid-19 during your visit. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting the Dallas Pride Festival and Parade, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree to follow all guidelines.
Well-behaved dogs are allowed in on a short leash. Please be prepared to clean up after your dog. Don't have a furry friend to accompany you? Animal adoption agencies will be on hand for you to find that forever companion.
PLEASE NOTE: North Texas in June can be very hot. Be sure to have water and shade available for your dog.
We highly recommend pets be transported in a vehicle or wagons. If they are walking in the parade we recommend they wear protective shoes on their paws as the asphalt/concrete can get very hot.
The City of Dallas mandates that:
- Dogs must be vaccinated for rabies (Dallas City Code Art. IV, Sec. 7-4.1)
- Dogs must be microchipped (Dallas City Code Art. IV, Sec. 7-4.2)
- Dogs must be on a leash or tether and under your control (Dallas City Code Art. I, Sec. 32-6 & Art. IV, Sec. 7-4.7)
- You must collect and dispose of all dog feces (Dallas City Code Art. IV, Sec. 7-4.8)
On Saturday Festival day, personal pop-up tents are not permitted. The Centennial and Automobile Buildings offer indoor areas and there are various shaded areas around the Esplanade and exterior.
On Sunday Parade day, there will be dedicated areas for tents. Visit our Transportation | Maps | Parking information page for more information. Tent areas are noted in light green on the map and is located on Nimitz Blvd. between the Coliseum and the Cotton Bowl
Coolers are not allowed on either day. In order for us to have alcohol at the parade, we need to have a master concessionaire with at TABC license and of course, alcohol cannot be brought in. Since we cannot inspect thousands of coolers for alcohol, we have to make the decision of "coolers are not allowed." There will be many stands offering water at $1 per bottle.
Coolers are allowed for parade entries since they must arrive early for staging. They must follow all rules set forth and are subject to inspection.
Chairs - camping style folding chairs are allowed. No metal folding chairs.
Grills and BBQ's are not allowed. The City of Dallas prohibits open-flame grills inside Fair Park (Dallas City Code Art. II, Sec. 32-19).
The City of Dallas prohibits smoking tobacco and tobacco products in city parks (Dallas City Code Art. II, Sec. 41-2).
Yes, on Sunday for the parade viewing. The ADA and ASL area is located at the end of the Esplanade along Grand Avenue. Visit our Transportation | Maps | Parking information page (coming soon) for more information.
Designated handicap parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis throughout Fair Park. Please notify a parking attendant for further direction upon arrival.
Festival day on Saturday - there will be several picnic tables for use around the festival grounds and some limited seating available near the Centennial Stage.
Parade Day on Sunday - Designated handicap viewing areas reserved for attendees with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and similar devices are setup at 3 locations along the Parade route:
- Admiral Nimitz Circle at M.L. King Boulevard near the Livestock Center
- In the Court of Honor in front of the Hall of State
- First Avenue at Cotton Bowl Plaza next to the Children’s Aquarium Annex
On Sunday, parade staging takes place in the parking lots behind the Coliseum in Lots 12 A, B & C (between the Coliseum and Fitzhugh Street entry gates). Visit our Transportation | Maps | Parking information page (coming soon) for more information.
The City of Dallas prohibits unauthorized vending, sales, or advertising in city parks (Dallas City Code Art. I, Sec. 32-10). Please see our application for vendors here when our Registration process is open and on-line.
Fair Park will charge $10 per car. Gates will be noted when the festival/parade map is made public. Visit our Transportation | Maps | Parking information page for more information.
Yes, DART will be running its normal schedule. Take the Green Line to the Main Entrance at Fair Park on Parry Ave., or to the MLK Station at MLK Blvd. and walk 1 block East. Plan your trip on the DART Schedule Planner here. Visit our Transportation | Maps | Parking information page (coming soon) for more information.
Recreational drone/UAV use is prohibited at all Dallas Pride events. State law restricts the use of unmanned aircraft near the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park (Tex. Gov’t. Code § 432.0046). Federal law restricts the use of unmanned aircraft over crowds of people (14 CFR § 107.39) and in Dallas Love Field Airport’s Class Bravo controlled airspace (14 CFR § 107.41). Please be a good sport and leave your drone at home.
Yes. You can watch the Parade live from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm on Dallas/Ft. Worth's cw33.
VENDORS
Yes. We will vendors on Saturday, June 5th at the Dallas Pride Music Festival. VENDOR REGISTRATION CAN BE FOUND HERE.
DALLAS PRIDE AT FAIR PARK
Several factors led to the decision to move both the Festival and Parade to Fair Park. Our home for many years, Cedar Springs Road, was scheduled for re-construction. Parade permits would not be available during this construction period. Changes in the permitting process and requirements for large scale events from the Office of Special Events also lead to the decision.
Fair Park offers room to grow, more parking and accessibility. New alcohol policies and upcoming enforcement on public streets also led to the decision.
Read more about the decision in depth on our History page here. Navigate down to "Dallas Pride at Fair Park".
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