First time at Pride Week in Toronto? If you think your rookie status is easy to spot, you're right. But it doesn't mean you can't fit in. Pride veterans share their first experiences, as well as advice for those who are yet to have their Pride cherry popped.

Be fashionable - but don't forget to be practical:
Michael Snell and Derrick Sorles, creators of Best Gay and New Gay Travel Guide, dressed in matching Dolce & Gabbana underwear and combat boots at their first Pride Week. While the outfits were major hits, finding a restaurant in nothing but undergarments proved to be difficult. The couple eventually found a place to dine, but they also learned a valuable lesson: bring an extra outfit. Sorles said, "We just got really lucky."

Pace yourself:
With plenty of alcohol involved, it's important to remember that Pride Week is a long festival. Snell said amateurs are easy to spot because they are usually "passed out by 3 p.m."

Meanwhile, retired lawyer Bruce Walker is not an amateur by any means, as he's been to about 25 Pride Weeks. He advises people to bring hats in case of a hot day and keep hydrated.

Being proud shouldn't equate to being tacky:
Snell shared that a common rookie mistake is dressing in head-to-toe Pride symbols, or what he calls the "rainbow throw-up." He said, "There's a difference between showing your identity and still being tasteful, versus over-the-top ‘Oh my God. What were they thinking?'"

Explore outside The Village:
This especially applies to out-of-town visitors. Jack Candido, originally from the Kitchener-Waterloo area, is a photographer for ChadzBoyz, a website for gay youth. He said that other cultural events happening during Pride Week attracted him to Toronto. Likewise, Snell and Sorles, who live in Chicago, also recommend visitors explore the rest of the city.

Ultimately, despite fashion mishaps and untimely intoxication, Pride veterans agree that the most important thing is to have a good time, whether it's your first or 30th Pride Festival.

-By Christal Gardiola, Media Committee Journalist