Hundreds from Canberra's queer community joined their friends, families and other allies from outside the Legislative Assembly through City Walk and down Bunda Street to Glebe Park in the spring sunshine.

The inaugural parade finished with a family fun day featuring a barbecue, cake, popcorn, face painting and a performance by drag queen Vanessa Wager in the park as one of the final events of the SpringOUT Pride Festival.

Political statements and banners were banned, with organisers intending the parade to be a celebration of diversity rather than a protest.

Organisations such as youth mental health group Headspace, queer social group Spectrum and singers Qwire were among those represented in the parade.

Participants responded to organiser's requests to dress up with a multitude of costumes, butterfly wings and even rainbow decorations for their canine companions.

Parade and family fun day organiser Pam Todd said she was pleased with the turnout.

"I was a bit worried we wouldn't get as many people, because you don't know who's actually going to come out on the day, but it's been great," she said.

"We thought this would be a fun thing to finish off the month with and would give people the chance to let their hair down."

SpringOUT, now in its 17th year, launched on October 11 to coincide with Coming Out Day.

A march kicked off the first SpringOUT festival in November 1999, with about 300 people attending.

Ms Todd said this year's parade was an experiment to determine how many people would join the festivities.

"This is the first one of this type of parade, but we're hoping it will be the first of many," she said.

"This was just a tester, so we plan for next year to be even bigger and better."

Revellers could continue into Saturday evening with an "all genders" masked ball at 16West, with all proceeds going to TranzAustralia.

The festival's award ceremony will be held next Saturday night to recognise individuals, communities and businesses.