Chicago will celebrate Pride Month in June with a wide range of events honoring LGBTQ+ pride, culture, and community, according to a May 29 announcement. Activities will take place across the city throughout the month, including the annual Pride Fest and Parade as well as songwriters showcases, film screenings, markets, trivia nights, drag performances, youth queer prom events, sports team celebrations, and museum nights.
The Chicago Public Library is hosting free Pride-themed programs at various branches from June 1-30. Other highlights include the Yellow Peril Drag Show at the Chinese American Museum on May 30; Sapphic Sunday Reset yoga class at North Pond Restaurant on May 31; and a Pride flag raising in Logan Square on June 1 featuring Alderman Anthony Quezada and Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez.
Additional scheduled events are diverse in scope. For example, “Pride In The Sky Sip And Paint” at 360 Chicago on June 2 offers skyline views with guided painting and drag performances benefitting AIDS Foundation of Chicago. The Guinness Open Gate Brewery hosts a celebration on June 6 supporting Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland. Film screenings such as “Paris Is Burning” with panel discussions will benefit local organizations like Life is Work.
Sports teams are also participating: White Sox Pride Night takes place at Rate Field on June 10 with special hats designed by Tee Sanders for fans attending their game against the Atlanta Braves. Cubs Pride Night is set for Wrigley Field on June 15 featuring live entertainment outside Gallagher Way and exclusive jerseys for attendees.
Pride Fest returns to Northalsted from June 20-21 with three stages of live music headlined by artists including Durand Bernarr and G Flip alongside youth spaces and over 150 vendors. The culminating event is the Chicago Pride Parade scheduled for Sunday, June 28 through Lakeview to Lincoln Park—marking its fifty-fifth year—with floats, marching bands, performers, and thousands of spectators expected.
Other community-focused activities include art exhibitions at Hyde Park Arts Center’s Art Of Pride (June 7), queer maker markets at Center On Halsted (June 7), youth queer prom in Little Village (June 13), Back Lot Bash women-centered festival in Andersonville (June 27-28), Black LGBTQ+ Beach Day (June 27), Unity Park family event in Logan Square (June 28), Urban Pride Picnic in Jackson Park (June 28), and South Side celebrations continuing into July.
