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New Yorkers Rev Up for NYC Pride on Heels of DOMA Decision

 NYC Pride Week will fill the streets of Manhattan just days after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of New Yorker Edie Windsor in same-sex marriage rights case.
Pride Week 2013 Preparations
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WEST VILLAGE — New Yorkers celebrating the Supreme Court's decision Wednesday on federal recognition for same-sex couples will be able to personally cheer on plaintiff Edie Windsor at the 44th annual NYC Pride March on Sunday.

Windsor, an 84-year-old New Yorker who sued the federal government to win equal treatment for LGBT couples, will serve as a grand marshal in the parade, which kicks off at noon on Sunday and will fill Manhattan streets with an expected 1.5 million spectators.

In advance of the four packed days of festivities, set to start on Friday, NYC Pride organizers feted the court's decision to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, clearing the way for thousands of same-sex couples in New York to receive federal benefits.

"#DOMA falls 5-4. Edie prevails," organizers posted on Facebook Wednesday after the morning ruling. "We love the support we're seeing across the web today! So much love to be had!"

Robert Ziegler, owner of the Christopher Street gay bar Boots & Saddle, said he thought the ruling would electrify this year's festivities.

"It's really going to amp up Pride and bring out more people to celebrate," he said. "It's going to be overwhelming."

With many of the annual events moved from Pier 54 in the Meatpacking District to TriBeCa's newly revamped Pier 26, DNAinfo New York put together a 2013 NYC Pride guide to help revelers navigate the festivities:

Friday, June 28

The Rally

Pride will officially kick off at 7 p.m. Friday with performances and speeches on Pier 26, on the Hudson River near North Moore Street. The lineup includes Pandora Boxx of "RuPaul's Drag Race," comedian Keith Price and singer Vicci Martinez, who was a contestant on "The Voice."

The event, scheduled to end at 10 p.m., is free and no tickets are needed.

Saturday, June 29

VIP Rooftop Party

The Hell's Kitchen club Hudson Terrace will host an all-day dance party on Saturday for people age 21 and older. The three-story club at 621 West 46th St. overlooking the Hudson River will feature DJs Marco Da Silva, Frankie Knuckles and Serving Ovahness.

General admission tickets to the party, scheduled to run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., were available for $79 each as of Thursday morning. VIP tickets that include priority entry, VIP access and a gift bag were also available, for $149 each.

Rapture on the River

The biggest lesbian dance party of the week will take place on Pier 26 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The party, being held for the 10th year, will featured DJ Dimples and DJ Whitney Day. Some 3,000 women are expected to attend.

Tickets start at $25 each.

Sunday, June 30

PrideFest

The annual LGBT street fair component of NYC Pride will combine food and product vendors, activities and entertainers. The free event starts at 11 a.m., ends at 6 p.m. and will run along Hudson Street from Abingdon Square to West 14th Street.

Twenty performers are set to perform on a stage set up at Hudson and West 13th streets.

The March

The LGBT pride march that will turn a huge stretch of Manhattan into a sea of waving rainbow flags will kick off Sunday at noon. More than 300 groups, including thousands of individuals, will line up at Fifth Avenue and 36th Street, travel down Fifth Avenue, and head west on West Eighth Street before moving down Christopher Street toward the Hudson River.

Windsor will be joined at the head of the parade by two other grand marshals — singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte and Earl Fowlkes, the president and CEO of the Center for Black Equity, which advocates for the black LGBT community.

A panel of judges will evaluate the parade of floats and marchers and name winners for Best Use of a Theme, Most Original, Best Decorated Vehicle, Best Musical Contingent and more.

Seating at the march for the disabled will be available at Fifth Avenue and 24th Street.

Pride Poolside

People seeking to cool down after the Pride March can head to the Hotel Americano at 518 W. 27th St. The British record label Hed Kandi will play house music.

Available tickets start at $49 each.

Dance on the Pier

After the parade, many revelers will head to Pier 26 to dance the night away. Cher and Deborah Cox will perform at the dance, which is scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. All tickets, however, were sold out as of Wednesday afternoon. On Craigslist, one ticket holder offered two tickets for $300. 

Heritage of Pride advises Pride Week participants and spectators to take public transportation to the events.