If you’re planning on being in Paris near the end of June, there is a good chance you’ll run into the annual Gay Pride Parade, or Marche des Fiertés LGBT. The colorful procession starts at Tour Montparnasse and ends at Place de la Bastille, and will have a ton of kickass after parties in Le Marais, Paris’ gay district.

Pride 2015 in Paris has events that started the last week of March and will go through the last week of July, celebrating diversity and emphasizing the importance of having full civil rights for LGBT people, both in France and around the world. The main event – the parade – is held on the 27th of June, and more than 700,000 people will be partying in the streets of Paris to make this the biggest French gay pride parade. The parade begins at 1:30PM and finishes around 4-4:30PM.

If you’re looking for something to do after the parade, check out Les Souffleurs, an adorable little gay bar in the center of the Marais. Giving off a chill and relaxed ambiance, Les Souffleurs plays host to some amazing local DJ talent, concerts, and performances. Get there early before it gets seriously busy!

Another place definitely worth checking out is Le Spyce Bar, a gay Paris landmark, also located in the Marais. You can’t miss the gigantic screen out front that flashes the name of the current night in huge, rainbow colors, nor can you miss the unmistakable sounds of drunken, happy revelry emanating from within. The younger crowd is happy, sweaty, and undressed, ready to dance the night away until 4AM most nights. It’s busy and crowded every night of the week, but trust me: Thursdays and Fridays are the best nights to go.

Pride in Paris is a huge and all-inclusive event for people from all walks of life, and though the city is generally very accepting of PDA (gay or otherwise), don’t forget to play it safe at night – wander with a buddy, and stick to well-lit streets. Check the official website for more details.

Happy Pride, everyone and enjoy yourselves at Gay Pride Paris 2015!