Amid a sea of rainbow flags, festive clothing and outrageous floats, spectators at Seattle's Pride Festival celebrated the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community on Sunday.

The June 24 event was part of a citywide Pride weekend which included a Queerfest in Capitol Hill and a "Raise Your Voice" political march on Saturday.

The parade procession, which began at Columbia Street and ended at Seattle Center, featured floats ranging from a Seattle Transit Bus with the route reading "Special" to a Bear, Bath and Beyond foam party float. "Bear" is a reference to an outwardly masculine subculture in the gay community.

Aids Clinical Trial Unit (ACTU), a UW organization, participated in Sunday's parade.

Group member Megan Fisher said the group hoped to raise awareness by handing out buttons and fliers.

"It's important for us to show our support for the gay community, and our group has been participating in the parade for years," she said.

The Pride Festival began in 1975 and was originally located in Capitol Hill, the heart of Seattle's gay community. Last year the event was moved to Seattle Center and left Seattle $102,000 in debt due to higher expenses, according to www.pridedepot.com

Seattle City Council members Tom Rasmussen and Sally Clark were presented with and later approved a large-scale Pride project this year, pairing the parade and festival, and creating joint advertising in order to curb costs.

Jarid Scheurer, a participant at both the Capitol Hill and Seattle Center parades, appreciates the move.

"I think having the event at the Seattle Center draws in and accommodates more people," Scheurer said. "I also like the stages they set up for music."

Performers at the Fisher Pavilion included female dance singers/songwriters Inaya Day and Reina as well as DJs Brian Pfeifer and Wasabi. The Seattle Men's and Women's Choruses also took to the stage, singing songs about religion and the incorporation of the gay community.

Non-profit organizations and corporate sponsors, such as Macy's and Naked Juice set up booths and games.

One such group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, created a large game of Twister on the lawn next to Fisher Pavilion. Members of the group are described as 21st century nuns for gay and lesbian communities.

A 6-foot-3-inch group member by the name of Sister Lotus, adorned in a bright purple veil, white make-up and a Japanese-inspired ensemble, has traveled to Pride events all around the country.

"Seattle is much mellower than San Francisco or Portland," Sister Lotus said. "However, Seattle has a whole weekend of activities and the whole city is involved."

According to gaylife.com, cities across the U.S. sponsor festivities each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York — the first protests against gay discrimination and violence.

Scheurer said the diversity and number of people at the festival impress him each year.

"These events can be pretty theatrical, and it's all part of the fun," Scheurer said. "Gay pride isn't just today, it exists all the time and I like how PrideFest brings everyone together."