River City Pride Festival & Parade
About This Event
Jax River City Pride is Jacksonville's main Pride weekend, held in October in the Riverside, Avondale and Five Points neighborhoods. It traces back to 1978, when the city's first Pride gathering was held in Willowbranch Park. Several organising groups came and went after that. Volunteers restarted the parade and festival in 2010, and Jax River City Pride, Inc. became an all-volunteer non-profit in 2017.
The parade leaves Willowbranch Park in the afternoon and covers about 1.5 miles through Riverside and Five Points to Riverside Park. A free festival there has a stage, vendors, a kids' zone and an 18+ drag revue. In 2023 Donna Deegan became the first sitting mayor to serve as grand marshal. In 2024 rainbow walkways were unveiled on the route in Five Points.
The 2026 weekend ran 3–4 October. The parade was on Saturday, with city council member Jimmy Peluso as grand marshal, and the festival was on Sunday. We couldn't find a crowd count. The 2027 dates hadn't been announced when we checked.
Where to stay during River City Pride Festival & Parade
via Stay22Schedule & Sub-Events
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Check the official website for the latest programme.
Practical Tips
Parade Route
The parade kicks off at Historic Willow Branch Park and proceeds through Avondale, Riverside, and Five Points, ending at Riverside Park.
Festival Location
The main festival is held at Riverside Park in the Five Points area.
Organizer Contact
For parade-related questions, email parade@jaxrcpride.org.
Community Involvement
The event is organized by a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization, Jax River City Pride, Inc., which aims to make a lasting impact in Jacksonville's LGBTQIA+ Community.
Videos
River City Pride Festival
