Capital Pride Parade Returns to Ottawa with Road Closures and Street Festival
Ottawa is set for a colourful finish to Pride Week today as the Capital Pride Parade takes over downtown streets. Beginning at 1 p.m., the parade will feature 175 groups and more than 6,000 participants, creating one of the city’s biggest celebrations of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
The route kicks off at Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue, heads north past the National War Memorial, moves west along Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, and then turns south on Kent Street, finishing at Kent and Albert. For organizers, returning to Wellington carries symbolic weight, as Pride reclaims a space once occupied by the 2022 Freedom Convoy.
Road Closures to Expect
With thousands lining the route, road closures are in effect across the core:
- Bank Street: Fully closed between Slater and Gladstone all day Sunday.
- 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Laurier Ave. W. closed between Nicholas and Elgin.
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Elgin closed from Laurier to Wellington; Wellington closed from Mackenzie to Lyon.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Kent closed from Wellington to Laurier; Slater closed from Kent to Metcalfe.
OC Transpo buses will continue service but with detours. Routes 6, 7, and 11 are using nearby streets until Monday morning, while routes 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, and 19 will be detoured during the parade itself. Para Transpo stops are available at the National Arts Centre, O’Connor at Laurier, and Gilmour at Derby Place.
Street Festival and Main Stage
Alongside the parade, the Capital Pride Street Festival continues on Bank Street from Gladstone to Laurier. Visitors will find local artisans, community groups, food trucks, and patios spilling into the streets. The TD Main Stage at Bank and Slater keeps the celebration going until 10 p.m.
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More Than a Parade
Capital Pride organizers say the event is about celebration, advocacy, and reclaiming public spaces. Executive director Callie Metler said marching past Parliament again is “about making that space one of action, protest, and joy for our community.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, local business leaders, and community groups have voiced support, while city officials are urging patience with traffic delays.
A City Celebration
From rainbow flags flying on Parliament Hill to packed sidewalks along Elgin, today marks not just the end of a festival, but a moment of visibility and solidarity for thousands of people across Ottawa and beyond.
If you’re heading downtown, plan for delays, take public transit where possible, and prepare for one of the city’s most vibrant street parties of the year.
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More…
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-todays-capital-pride-parade
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/pride-parade-road-closures-what-you-need-to-know-1.7615944
- https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/08/22/traffic-transit-impacts-expected-this-weekend-for-capital-pride-parade
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