Event: Pride Parade

Details: Starts at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park at Gadsden and Washington, ending at Finlay Park, where celebration continues until 7 p.m.

Parking tips: Park between Memorial Park and Finlay Park.

Avoiding the jam: If you want to join the festivities, arrive early. Several Vista streets will be closed from about 1-1:30 p.m. and portions of Main Street and Hampton will be closed from about 1:30-2 p.m.

What else? Bring a chair and wear a hat. It's a long day to be out in the sun.

Event: Family Fitness Challenge

Details: Gov. Mark Sanford’s cross-state bike ride takes off from Williams-Brice Stadium at 9 a.m. The shorter Family Fun Ride does a loop on George Rogers Boulevard, Shop Road, South Beltline and Shop Road. The longer ride ends at Joe Miller Park in Elloree, with stops at Congaree National Park and the U.S. 601 landing on the Congaree River.

Parking tips: Plenty of spaces available at the stadium. If you’re making the longer ride, arrange for somebody to meet you or leave a car where you plan to stop.

Avoiding the jam: Shop and Bluff roads will be a mess from 9-9:30 a.m. Riders will be tough to pass on Bluff Road between the stadium and U.S. 601 off-and-on from 9 a.m.-noon.

What else? If you aren’t sure about your road-cycling stamina, ride 17 miles to Congaree National Park, the first rest stop. Parking next to the visitors center is limited. Leave your vehicle in the after-hours lot at the stop sign halfway through the entrance road.

Event: March for Education Equity

Details: Thousands are expected to march to the State House to show support for increased education funding in the state and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision that ended segregation.

Parking tips: Starts at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Baptist Church at the corner of Washington and Gadsden. You could park there and walk back after the rally at the State House. To avoid Pride parade traffic, park near the State House (better to be south of Gervais) and walk to Zion Baptist.

Avoiding the jam: The march goes along Washington to Main to the State House. Avoid the State House and Main Street from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

What else: If you’re not physically up to the short march (maybe a mile) but want to show your support, the rally itself is slated to begin around 11 a.m. at the State House. Bring a chair and find a spot of shade on the Gervais Street side.

Event: Providence Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler

Details: The 5-mile run, a 3-mile and a 5-mile walk, and a 5-mile wheelchair race begin at 8 a.m. The races will start at Laurel Street near Finlay Park, go through the Vista and the USC campus, and end at Memorial Park on Hampton Street.

Avoiding the jam: Streets along the route close as early at 6 a.m. and some will remain closed until after 10 a.m. If you must drive in the USC/Vista area during those hours, be patient and be prepared for detours.

What else? If you decide to tackle the course Saturday, you can still register. Registration is $35 on race day.

Event: Black Expo

Details: Seminars, vendors, entertainment and celebrity autographs at the Colonial Center 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Parking tips: There’s plenty around the Colonial Center.

Avoiding the jam: Enter the Colonial Center parking lot from the Blossom Street side to avoid the parade and march backups in the Vista and around the State House.

What else: Wear comfortable shoes and bring a shopping bag because vendors throughout the Colonial Center have stuff to give away.

Also happening Saturday: Midlands Intertribal Empowerment Group Powwow and Indian Waters Council-Boy Scouts of America Expo

Details: The powwow and the Scout expo are separate events in different areas at the State Fairgrounds, starting at 11 a.m. and noon, respectively.

Parking tips: There’s plenty of parking.

Avoiding the jam: Most of the Family Fitness Challenge traffic should be gone by the time people arrive at the Fairgrounds for the powwow and Scout expo.

What else: You could arrive early, ride in the Family Fun Ride, grab a snack across the street at Bojangles, then go to the two events at the Fairgrounds.