Pride Houston says over 700K attended weekend festival and parade

Cheering on participants in the parade at the LGBT Pride Festival Saturday, June 27, 2015, in Houston. The festival features over 200 exhibitors like the Houston LGBT History exhibit, Family Fun Zone, Health and Wellness Pavillion, Free HIV testing and entertainment. less Cheering on participants in the parade at the LGBT Pride Festival Saturday, June 27, 2015, in Houston. The festival features over 200 exhibitors like the Houston LGBT History exhibit, Family Fun Zone, Health ... more Photo: Gary Coronado, Houston Chronicle Photo: Gary Coronado, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 189 Caption Close Pride Houston says over 700K attended weekend festival and parade 1 / 189 Back to Gallery

Pride Houston organizers estimated Monday that over 700,000 people attended the Pride Celebration on Saturday night.

This was the event’s maiden voyage into Downtown Houston and it appears the larger area and Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states, pushed attendance numbers higher than ever.

The festival and parade had spent the past 36 years in the Montrose neighborhood.

“We expected a large crowd but we were blown away by the support of the LGBT community and our allies who came out to celebrate history in our new location,” said Frankie Quijano, President and CEO of Pride Houston, in a release Monday afternoon.

David Ly, spokesman for Pride Houston, said that last year's attendance estimate was 425,000 for the festival's last Montrose edition.

“We saw all walks of life come out,” Quijano said. “There was something special for everyone.”

Quijano added that planning for next year’s festivities had already begun. All indications point to the event staying in downtown Houston.