The Chicago Pride Parade was started in 1970. Initially the parade used to be called as  the Chicago Gay Pride Parade or PRIDE Chicago. This is the annual pride parade of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and it takes place each year on the last Sunday in June. In 2012 it will be held on June 24, Sunday in Chicago .There are several marching bands, dance groups and twirlers  every year as part of the parade. In 2010 the Chicago Blackhawks' Brent Sopel and The Stanley Cup was a part of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association and in 2011 the parade included 250 entries and more than 800000 people. Because of these large and heavy audiences the route for 2012 parade has been re-arranged.

The updated plan for 2012 parade is: (1) the parade starts at 10:00am; (2) the route for parade will be made by five blocks to provide lodging for the audience and two extra elevated buildings will be added to accommodate the arriving audience. The presentation area will be Montrose (from Broadway to Clark) and Broadway (from Montrose to Wilson) and the parade route will be starting from the Montrose/Broadway corner to south on Halsted and then east on Belmont; then south on Broadway; then east on Diversey  to Cannon Drive. (3) The parade entries have been decreased to 200 instead on 250.

 The parade will be consisting of variety of gay sports, food tastings, parades, plays, musical performances, parties, eccentric youth gatherings, and ceremonies of all types. The parade will appear different with over 200 colorful sets, many of minutely worked designs and filled with people from different states of dress from elaborately adorned costumes to the skimpiest of clothes. The Chicago Gay Pride Parade also presents awards for each category .This will be announced each year the day after parade.