Big changes are coming to the Capital Pride Parade this year, which is slated for May 31 through June 9, with the announcement of a new route that will bypass the Dupont neighborhood, traditionally known as D.C.'s LGBTQ+ heart. The parade, drawing between 150,000 to 200,000 attendees last year, is making the shift to accommodate growing numbers and to prepare for an even larger event next year – WorldPride 2025, set to take place in the District.

The Capital Pride Alliance has declared their excitement for maintaining the annual block party on 17th Street in Northwest, where families can gather at Stead Park. With the theme "Totally Radical," the celebrations aim to honor the vibrant activism of the 80s and 90s. The updated route is described as a "test run," and despite not passing through Dupont Circle, the festivities are expected to finish with a lively "Tea Dance" at Constitution Ave NW and 6th Street NW, DC News Now reports.

According to Marquia Parnell, Capital Pride Alliance's marketing and media manager, the decision to reroute was influenced by the neighborhood's narrow streets. Parnell told WUSA9, "During the 1980s and 1990s our community showed up, spoke up, ACTed up and created a TOTALLY RADICAL America." This year's Pride is set to embed those transformative years into its celebration and messages.

Axios notes that the new, roomier downtown routes are also a strategic move as organizers prepare to host not only the upcoming 50th annual DC Pride but also next year's WorldPride celebrations. The switch to broader thoroughfares is a calculated effort to better manage the significant crowds these events draw, aiming to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants and spectators. Whether the change will become a permanent fixture or merely a temporary adjustment, remains to be seen.