The Chicago Pride Parade
The Chicago Pride Parade, one of the largest in the country, takes place on June 25 to conclude Chicago’s Pride Month celebrations. The parade route is four miles long, starting in Uptown, running south through Northalsted- the oldest official LGBTQ+ neighborhood in the United States -down into East Lakeview and concluding in Lincoln Park. After the parade, soak in the colorful atmosphere of N. Halsted St. and check out the Legacy Walk, a series of plaques dedicated to preserving the histories of local, national and international LGTBQ icons. All ages are welcome!
Pride Fest 2023
The weekend before the parade, June 17-18, N. Halsted St. between Addison St. and Grace St. is the site of Pride Fest. The two- day festival includes food, drinks, vendors and three stages of live performers and DJs. New for 2023 is a Youth Pride Space where LGTBQ+ teens can socialize, enjoy music and receive counseling support on Saturday afternoon. A highlight of Sunday is the Proud Pet Parade hosted by local drag performer Miss Foozie. The $15 suggested donation goes to the Northalsted Business Alliance, the neighborhood chamber of commerce.
Pride in the Park Chicago
Pride in the Park, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ music festivals, will be held in Grant Park on June 23-24. Tickets can be purchased in single-day or for both days, and VIP packages are available. As of present time, the lineup of performers have not been announced, but previous headliners have included the Chainsmokers, Chaka Khan, Tiesto, Iggy Azalea, and Steve Aoki.
Buffalo Grove Pride
Buffalo Grove, a suburb 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, is recognizing Pride Month on June 4th with a parade, followed by a festival in Mike Rylko Community Park from 11:00AM to 8:00PM. The day-long celebration is the work of Molly Pinta, who organized Buffalo Grove’ first Pride Parade in 2019 when she was just 13 years old.
Elgin Pride Parade
Another northwest suburb, Elgin, will hold its inaugural Pride Parade and Festival on June 3 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The day is part of a weekend of activities to support the local LGBTQ+ community that had been in the works since 2019, but the pandemic caused the plans to be postponed until this year.
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
Discover this hidden gem near Ukrainian Village! In June, Heritage invites you to savor the Gold Rush cocktail. This captivating blend of vodka, Oleo-Saccharum, lime, cranberry juice, and a sprinkle of gold dust is yours for just $13. To add to the magnificence, a dollar from each purchase empowers The Trevor Project, helping LGBTQ+ youth. Sip on this extraordinary concoction while making a meaningful difference!
Barcocina
Celebrate Pride at Barcocina in Lakeview or West Town! Throughout June, patrons can enjoy their vibrant Pride Cocktail Collection, representing the colors of the Pride flag. Plus, indulge in the Beyonce-themed “Pure/Honey” and the Taylor Swift-themed “Karmapolitan” cocktails. The best part? One dollar from each of the Taylor and Beyonce cocktails sold goes to support Howard Brown Health. Raise your glass, toast to diversity, and make a difference this Pride month!
Take a moment to explore CP’s Guide to Local Businesses Owned by LGBTQ+ Individuals – a valuable resource for discovering and supporting a diverse array of establishments.
