West Hollywood announces street closures for L.A. Pride Parade

Numerous roads in the West Hollywood area will be closed Sunday for the L.A. Pride Parade and festival – one of the largest gay pride events in the country.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights boulevards. It will travel westbound, ending at the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards.

The following streets will be closed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department station in West Hollywood:

-- Crescent Heights Boulevard from Romaine Street to Fountain Avenue will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

-- San Vicente Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue closed at 8 p.m. Thursday and will remain closed until 7 a.m. Monday.

-- Santa Monica Boulevard from Fairfax Avenue to Doheny Drive will close at 5 a.m. Sunday. It is scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m. Sunday.

-- Streets one block north and south of Santa Monica Boulevard from Fairfax Avenue to La Peer Drive will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

City officials warn of heavy traffic, congestion and a lack of parking on Sunday. The city will offer a free shuttle bus, called the Pride Ride, throughout the weekend. It will stop at all Metro stops along Santa Monica Boulevard.

The bus, according to the city, will “feature festive music to add to riders’ celebration of Pride Weekend.”

The bus will run from Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday on Santa Monica Boulevard between Fuller Avenue and La Peer Drive, and from about 3 p.m. Sunday on Santa Monica Boulevard between Fuller Avenue and La Cienega Avenue.

The city will not enforce permit parking through 7 a.m. Monday, though meter parking will be enforced, according to city officials. The 1.9-square-mile city borders Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, which have their own parking restrictions that must be observed, officials said.

West Hollywood Park was closed last week and will remain closed until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

L.A. Pride weekend kicked off Friday night with the annual WeHo Dyke March. Hundreds of lesbians and their supporters and friends marched down Santa Monica Boulevard through an area known as Boystown, where men cheered as they passed the crowded outdoor patios of numerous gay bars.

One young woman said to a friend as they marched, “Do you understand that we’re making history right now?”

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hailey.branson@latimes.com

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