Thousands of rainbow-clad men and women will be packed onto Penn’s Landing Sunday for the Pride festival.
The annual Pride parade will kick off at 13th and Locust streets at noon, while the Penn’s Landing festival will run from noon-6 p.m.
This year’s event is expected to draw about 9,000 people, said executive director Franny Price.
For the first time ever, Pride has sold out the vendor spots at Penn’s Landing, with 150 community organizations, merchants and businesses on the Great Plaza.
“This is a huge, huge networking day for our community,” Price said. “Of the 150 vendors, most of them are community groups, so it’s really important for people to learn more about them.”
The festival will also feature a pet zone with six agencies offering adoptable animals, a dance area and, for the first time, members of the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, who will regale the crowd with their trapeze and acrobatic acts.
The entertainment on the main stage will also be impressive, Price said.
Headliner and comic Aisha Tyler will be joined by performers Betty, Mr. and Miss Philly Gay Pride and Sandy Beach, among many others.
Among the 50-some groups set to march in the parade — a figure up from last year’s 46 — is the popular flag-turning Flaggots of New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.
The parade will be led by grand marshals Carrie Jacobs, Jeff Sotland and PGN, along with youth grand marshals Kristen Thomas and Alex Lopez and Friend of Pride Rep. Bob Brady.
The day before Pride, a different kind of march will take place in the Gayborhood.
The annual Philadelphia Dyke March will set off at 4 p.m. from Kahn Park, 11th and Pine streets, after a rally beginning at 3. Following the march, participants are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the park while the spoken-word artists, musicians and other entertainers take the stage.
Although Sunday’s forecast calls for a slight chance of storms, Price said she’s not concerned about the skies.
“It rained twice last year, but it’s always hot, so people actually enjoy it,” she said. “We’ve been through it all, but Pride happens no matter what, rain or shine.”
Pride weekend will kick off on Friday with an opening party at Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St.
For more information, visit www.phillypride.org.