The City of Springfield welcomes 5th annual Springfield Pride Parade on Saturday, and 4th annual Ironman 70.3 Western Mass Triathlon on Sunday
– Traffic Impact and Road Closures –
Springfield’s downtown area is expected to be busy this weekend with two major annual events taking place: the 5th annual Springfield Pride Parade & Block Party on Saturday, June 6th; and the 4th annual Ironman 70.3 Western Mass race on Sunday, June 7, 2026. These major events will bring thousands to our downtown amenities - "good business, traffic aspects."
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Department of Public Works Director Chris Cignoli are alerting residents and visitors of impacts / closure of various roadways throughout the City, especially on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
Thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation,” said Mayor Sarno. “There are multiple great events happening this weekend here in downtown Springfield. I always have a blast with Taurean Bethea and our LGBTQ+ community marching in our annual Springfield Pride Parade. The showing of love, support, and pride from so many area organizations, schools, businesses, and residents is fantastic and showcases the beautiful mosaic of our city of Springfield. Thank you to all our city departments who will join to march, and who work behind the scenes to make the day a success. I am also thankful to Dave Christen and the Ironman Group for choosing the city of Springfield once again for their Western Massachusetts triathlon. Thanks also to the Mary Kay Wydra and the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau for helping to coordinate this event, and all the logistics and public safety planning from our dedicated city team and surrounding communities too. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy weekend, and thank you again for your patience and understanding. Good health and God Bless.”
The 5th Annual Springfield Pride Parade and Block Party takes place Saturday, June 6, 2026. The parade route kicks off at Springfield Technical Community College (1 Armory Street) at 12:00PM on Saturday, proceeds down State Street, and concludes at Stearns Square & The Pride Lands (corner of Bridge and Main Streets) with the community-wide block party, from 1:00-6:00PM. Mayor Sarno, Health & Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton Harris, and city officials will proudly join with Springfield Pride Parade founder Taurean Bethea and team on Thursday at City Hall to raise the Pride Flag ahead of this year’s LGBTQIA+ Pride festivities.
The City of Springfield also welcomes the 4th annual Ironman 70.3 Western Mass Triathlon this Sunday, June 7, 2026. Sunday, June 7, 2026 is Race Day, but staging for the event and traffic impacts will begin on Saturday. The staging area for the event will begin on Saturday, June 6, 2026 and will be on the first floor of the I-91 South garage under route 91. Racers will complete bike check-in at I-91 S Parking Garage on Saturday between 10 AM 5 PM. The Ironman event will utilize the first level with the second level open for parking for other downtown events such as graduations, etc.
On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Race Day, Ironman Athletes will complete a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike, and a 13.1-mile run in succession.
- The Race Start begins at 6:00am Sunday at the Pioneer Valley River Club with swimming.
- Athletes exit the river at Riverfront Park and transition to biking
- 56 mile bike loop, leaving Springfield on Hall of Fame Avenue toward Agawam, going through Suffield, CT, then Southwick, MA, to Granville, Westfield, West Springfield, and back over the Memorial Bridge to Springfield to transition to running
- The 13.1 mile run begins in downtown Springfield and goes through beautiful, historic Forest Park and surrounding neighborhood
- The IRONMAN Village and Information Tent will be located at the MassMutual Center
- Athletes will cross the finish line on Court Street (running) between 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM
Hall of Fame Avenue (West Columbus Ave.) will be closed from the Memorial Bridge to State Street for all of Sunday.
Hall of Fame Avenue (West Columbus Ave.) will have the right lane closed from State Street to the South End Bridge.
East Columbus Avenue will be closed south of Main Street to the I-91 north on-ramp near the south end bridge. Access from the bridge to I-91 north and south will not be impacted.
Main Street between State Street and Harrison Ave. / Boland Way will be closed for the day.
The I-91 northbound exit ramp to Longhill Street will be closed for the day
For the run portion of the event, runners will be in the right lane of Hall of Fame Ave., then transition to Longhill Street at the intersection of Main St., East and West Columbus Ave. Police will be stationed at that intersection to properly direct runners and drivers to safely traverse through the intersection.
Runners will be in the right lane (west side) of Longhill Street and then transition to the east side of Longhill Street at its intersection with Sumner Avenue. Police will be stationed at that intersection to properly direct runners and drivers to safely traverse through the intersection. The right lane on Longhill Street northbound will be closed.
The runners will then transition into Forest Park, run within the park, then onto Park Drive, Converse St. (Longmeadow), Porter Lake Drive, then onto Dickenson Street, Trafton Road then into Forest Park----then through the park, and eventually back to Longhill Street at the Washington Blvd. entrance---and back to downtown in the reverse direction.
The runners will run in Hall of Fame Ave. to State Street then transition to East Columbus Ave, then to Court Street, where the Finish Line will be located.
Court Street will be closed Saturday and Sunday.
East Columbus Avenue from State Street to Boland Way will be closed on Sunday.
All routes for the bikers / runners will have cones, barrels, barricades, etc. and there will be significant police support along the entire course.
