Just be sure to save some energy for the following weekend’s parade! This mini-Pride will feature three stages, DJs and drag shows, plenty of food and drink and over 100 arts and craft and merchant vendors. PrideFest organizers are expecting over 100,000 participants. This is a two-day street festival taking over the Boystown district the weekend before the official Pride Parade. It’s preceded a week earlier by Chicago PrideFest (16-17 June). This year’s Pride Parade will be the city’s 49th. Last year’s parade had over 150 entries and around one million spectators and participants, Not only is Chicago Pride one of the biggest summer events in the city of Chicago, it’s one of the biggest Pride events in the US. Chicago Pride (Photo: Illinois Office of Tourism) Chicago Pride Other Illinois cities such as Springfield and Champaign also go all out with their own Pride festivities.Ĭheck out our suggestions below. Its LGBTI scene comes together each year to celebrate Pride, but it’s not the only festival coming to Illinois this yearĬhicago will also be playing host to the 40th anniversary of International Mr Leather festival, pulling in attendees from the four corners of the globe.
Chicago in Illinois is one of the most enticing cities in the US, with breathtaking architecture, a reputation for amazing restaurants and a big gay scene based around Boystown.