Rhode Island PrideFest 2019: What To Know

PROVIDENCE, RI — For the second weekend in a row, downtown Providence will be closed to traffic, this week for Pridefest 2019. The full-day celebration kicks off at 12 p.m. on Saturday and runs until 7 p.m., featuring food and local businesses, culminating with the illuminated night Pride Parade at 8:30 p.m. Here's everything you need to know.

Schedule of Events

Festival gates open at 12 p.m. More than 250 local vendors and businesses will line South Water Street, including a cash-only spirits garden for attendees over 21 years old.

Musical acts and other entertainment will be going on all day. Here's the schedule:

• 12 p.m.-12:30 p.m. - Jodi Jolt and The Volt
• 12:35 p.m.-1:15 p.m.- School of Rock North Providence
• 1:20 p.m.-1:25 p.m.- Manhattan Prairie Dogs
• 1:25 p.m.-1:35 p.m.- Imperial Court of Rhode Island
• 1:40 p.m.-2:30 p.m.- Mary Day Band
• 2:35 p.m.-3 p.m.- Brian Falduto
• 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.- RI PrideFest Rally- National Anthem by Collegium Ancora
• 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.- Drag Block with Headliners Adore Delano and Alaska 5000. Featuring Monique Heart and Jasmine Masters. With, the famous drag king, Spikey Van Dykey.
• 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m.- Rhode Island Pride Title Holders
  • Mx. Bisexual Rhode Island 2019, Jess Motyl- Szary
  • Ms. Lesbian Rhode Island 2019, Tricia Phelan
  • Mx. Trans Rhode Island 2019, Semi Sweet
  • Miss Gay Rhode Island 2019, PULP
  • Mr. Gay Rhode Island 2019, Bret Jacob
• 6 p.m.-6:15 p.m.- Jackie Collins
• 6:15 p.m.-6:45 p.m.- Taija New
• 6:45 p.m.-7:00 p.m.- DJ Ephraim Adamz

Special tickets are available, which allow access to the VIP pit area right at the front of the crowd as well as access to meet and greets with the headline acts, including Adore Delano of Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars Season Two, Monique Heart of Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars Season Four, Alaska 5000 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season Two, and Jasmine Masters of Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars Season Four. Meet and greets start at 6 p.m. and include a professional photographer. Wristband are needed and can be picked up at any point during the festival.

A map of the festival can be found here.

Pride Parade

The illuminated night parade will step off at 8;30 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. The parade runs along Weybosset, Dorrance, Washington and Empire Streets and will feature floats, performers, groups of marchers, businesses and a massive crowd of spectators. The main viewing area will be on Weybosset Street, under the Providence Performing Arts Center marquee in PPAC Square.

After the parade, The Dark Lady nightclub will host 2019 Pride's official block party from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Snow Street. This year's block party, "Don't Stop Me Now," commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Parking and Travel

Expect heavy traffic in the area on Saturday morning. South Water Street will be completely closed to travel, so plan accordingly. Parking will be a challenge, especially on surrounding streets. Look for parking in lots and garages across the city and consider taking a rideshare service, public transit or bicycle.

RIPTA will be detouring 24 routes on Friday and Saturday to accommodate the festival. Detours for specific routes are listed below.

Route 1 (Eddy/Hope/Benefit):

North: Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Eddy Street, continue on Dyer Street through to Memorial Boulevard, turn left onto Steeple Street through to Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop I.

South: Outbound trips will travel the regular route to the East Side Tunnel, turn right onto North Main Street, left onto Steeple Street through to Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop I. Trips will then turn right onto Exchange Street, left onto Fulton Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard through to Dyer Street through to Eddy Street and then resume regular route.

Route 3 (Warwick Avenue):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Eddy Street, continue on Eddy Street through to Dyer Street through to Memorial Boulevard, left onto Steeple Street through to Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop J.

Outbound trips will leave Bus Stop J, turn right onto Exchange Street, left onto Fulton Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard through to Eddy Street and then resume regular route.

Route 17 (Dyer/Pocasset):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Westminster Street, left onto Dave Gavitt Way, right onto Broadway through to Empire Street, left onto Fountain Street, left onto Dorrance Street through to Francis Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop H. Outbound trips will leave Bus Stop G, turn left onto Exchange Street, left onto Exchange Terrace through to Sabin Street to Broadway, left onto Service Road, right onto Westminster Street and then resume regular route.

Route 19 (Plainfield/Westminster):

Please refer to the Route 17 (Dyer/Pocasset) detour.

Route 20 (Elmwood Ave.):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Broad Street, left onto Dave Gavitt Way, right onto Broadway through to Empire Street, left onto Fountain Street, left onto Dorrance Street through to Francis Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach and then left onto Washington Street Bus Stop H.

Outbound trips will leave Bus Stop H, turn left onto Exchange Street, left onto Exchange Terrace through to Sabin Street to Broadway, left onto John Partington Way, right onto Broad Street and then resume regular route.

Route 21 (Reservoir/Garden City):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop H. Outbound trips will turn left onto Exchange Street, left onto Memorial Boulevard and then resume regular route.

Route 22 (Pontiac Ave.):

Please refer to the Route 20 (Elmwood Ave.) detour.

Route 27 (Broadway/Manton):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Fountain Street, turn left onto Dorrance Street through to Francis Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace to temporary Bus Stop W.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route.

Route 28 (Broadway/Hartford):

Please refer to the Route 27 (Broadway/Manton) detour.

Route 30 (Arlington/Oaklawn):

Please refer to the Route 21 (Reservoir/Garden City) detour.

Route 31 (Cranston Street):

Please refer to the Route 17 (Dyer/Pocasset) detour.

Route 33 (Riverside):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Steeple Street through to Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop H.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route.

Route 34 (East Providence):

Please refer to the Route 33(Riverside) detour.

Route 35 (Rumford/Newport Ave.), both Saturday and Sunday:

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to South Main Street, left onto Steeple Street through to Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop H.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route to Memorial Boulevard through to Dyer Street to Eddy Street, left onto Point Street, right onto South Water Street and then resume regular route.

Route 50 (Douglas Avenue):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Francis Street, left onto Exchange Terrace, right onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop J.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route.

Route 51 (Charles Street):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop G.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route.

Route 54 (Lincoln/Woonsocket):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route the Downtown Exit, continue onto Memorial Boulevard, turn right onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop G.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route.

Route 55 (Admiral/Providence College):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Exchange Street, and then right onto Exchange Terrace to temporary Bus Stop V.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route.

Route 56 (Chalkstone Avenue):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Francis Street, left onto Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, and then right onto Exchange Terrace to temporary Bus Stop V.

Outbound trips will leave Exchange Terrace, turn right onto Francis Street and then resume regular route.

Route 57 (Smith Street):

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Francis Street, left onto Exchange Terrace, right onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop G.

Outbound trips will leave the temporary bus stop on Exchange Terrace, turn right onto Francis Street and then resume regular route.

Route 60 (Providence/Newport), both Saturday and Sunday:

Inbound trips will travel the regular route to I-195 West through to I-95 North, right at the Downtown Exit, right onto Francis Street, and then left onto Exchange Terrace to Bus Stop Y.

Outbound trips will travel the regular route to Memorial Boulevard through to Dyer Street to Eddy Street, left onto Point Street, right onto South Water Street, and then resume regular route.

Route 78 (Beverage Hill/East Providence) both Saturday and Sunday:

Please refer to the Route 35 (Rumford/Newport Ave.) detour.

Route 92 (RI College/Federal Hill/East Side):

Eastbound trips will travel the regular route from Rhode Island College to LaSalle Square, left onto Fountain Street, left onto Dorrance Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop J and then resume regular route.

Westbound trips will travel the regular route to Memorial Boulevard, left onto Steeple Street through to Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, and left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop J. Trips will then turn left onto Exchange Street, left onto Exchange Terrace through to Sabin Street and then resume regular route.

R-LINE (Broad/North Main):

NORTH Inbound trips will travel the regular route to Broad Street, left onto Dave Gavitt Way, right onto Broadway, right onto Empire Street, left onto Dorrance Street through to Fountain Street, right onto Memorial Boulevard, right onto Exchange Street, right onto Terrace, left onto East Approach, and then left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop J. Trips will travel the regular route to Pawtucket.

Southbound trips will travel the regular route to the Providence Amtrak Train Station, left onto Exchange Street, right onto Exchange Terrace, left onto East Approach, left onto Washington Street to Bus Stop J, left onto Exchange Street, left onto Exchange Terrace through to Sabin Street to Broadway, left onto Service Road, right onto Broad Street and then resume regular route.

More information on Pridefest is available on RI Pride's website.