Business and community leaders wave from the Out in Career float at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)

Dancing and cheering filled Center City on Saturday as Philadelphia welcomed the inaugural OURfest parade, billed as the country’s first parade held in honor of National Coming Out Day.

Hundreds gathered in the late afternoon to watch dozens of floats, troupes, and clubs march proudly up Market Street from Independence Mall to City Hall. 

Themed floats included Out in Sports, Out in Community, Out in Culture, Out in Youth, and Out in Career, surrounded by the Philadelphia Freedom Band, Free Mom Hugs, Cheer Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Choir, and more.

Also present: the huge, longest-in-the-world rainbow flag. More than 10 volunteers successfully wrangled the 200-foot symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, carrying it through the windy weather.

The world-record-holding 200-ft. pride flag at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)

Produced by Pride 365: A Program of Galaei, the parade and accompanying festival is named with an acronym: OUR stands for “Our Uniting Resilience.” OURfest replaces OutFest, an autumn event held annually for nearly three decades until the collapse of the organization that hosted it.

The parade in total lasted an hour, and festivities continue Sunday with a block party and resource fair taking over the Gayborhood from 12 to 7 p.m.

Scroll down for more pics from the city’s — and nation’s — first-ever parade of its kind.

A large crowd lines Market Street to watch the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
The Philadelphia Freedom Band marches and plays at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
Bubbles stream from the Out in Youth float at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
A group pulls a float of the diversity pride flag at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
A member of Free Mom Hugs carries pride flags at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
Volunteers pulling a float wave to spectators at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
Onlookers pose with Drag Queens after the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
A family waves a pride flag and joins the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
Cheer Philadelphia performs at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
A member of the Philadelphia Freedom Band plays at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
Onlookers dance to the sounds of the Philadelphia Freedom Band at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)
Phillies pride and LGBTQ+ pride at the OURfest National Coming Out Parade. (Daisie Cardona for Billy Penn)