Watch Live: 2023 Columbus Pride March and Festival

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands are in downtown Columbus for the 2023 Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival.

NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall will be hosting the march along High Street with Amber Nicole and Virginia West. You can watch the full march live in the video player above.

Everyone from organizations to companies to friends and family all came to show their support. “We love being out here for pride," said Columbus Kodiaks secretary Corey Phillips. "You know this is one of the biggest prides in the state, so we love being able to come out here and represent the team, show the community what we’re about, give back to them and just show we support you no matter what.”

Among the early highlights of the parade was a proposal. You can watch the special moment in the player below.

Also in the first section of the parade was the NBC4 team. You can see when they were welcomed below.

Thousands of rainbow flags, beeds, bandanas, and colors lit up downtown in one of the biggest pride parades anywhere in the United States. People from all walks marched to show they are stronger together. “It was difficult being both a woman and a lesbian during don’t ask don’t tell," said veteran Hannah Botkin-Doty. "Having to serve in private and in silence undermined my ability to truly bring my fullest self to the army, but it also allowed me to pave a way for others to follow my example.”

High Street will be closed for the parade from Rich Street to Buttles Avenue and will not reopen until 3 p.m. The parade will lead to the festival, which Stonewall expects to be the largest crowd in history for a Columbus pride festival, with more than 250 vendors featured.

For a full guide on this weekend's events, click here.