In addition to the parade, check out these big pride events from all over the Chicago area and www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/chicago/events/upcoming.php .
Pride in the Park festival June 29
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, Dreambrite Productions presents the inaugural Pride in the Park festival, at Butler Field in Grant Park, Saturday, June 29, 1-10 p.m.
A cavalcade of stars will entertain, including Tamar Braxton, Taylor Dayne, Todrick Hall, Kathy Sledge, Gia Woods, local rapper KC Ortiz, Miss DJ Meg and co-headliners Iggy Azalea and Steve Aoki. Also, expect drag performances from Coco Montrese, Alexis Michelle and Chicago's own Shea Coulee.
The list of hosts reads like a who's-who of Chicago drag, including T-Rex, Dida Ritz, Ruff N' Stuff, Mimi Marks and many more.
Get tickets and info at ttps://prideintheparkchicago.com .
Navy Pier Pride taking place June 29
Navy Pier Pride Presented by American Airlines will have various events taking place Saturday, June 29, noon-11 p.m.
There will be LGBTQ programming, including music, arts and crafts, storytelling, educational resources and more.
The schedule is as follows:
—12-2 p.m.: Chicago Children's Museum Family Resource & Activity Station: Make a rainbow bracelet to show pride and learn about the museum's LGBTQ inclusion resources for parents and teachers
—12-4 p.m.: PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois Resource Station
—1-2 p.m.: Story Time with Drag Queens
—2-2:30 p.m.: Lakeside Pride Marching Band
—2-11 p.m.: Various DJs
—3-4 p.m.: Chicago Gay Men's Chorus
—4-6 p.m.: Wave Wall Wax weekly DJ series with DJ All the Way Kay
—10:15 p.m.: Aon summer fireworks
—11 p.m.: "Radio Ga Ga" finale
See navypier.org/event/pier-pride/ for more information.
Back Lot Bash returns June 29-30
The girls are coming out to play once again in the Cheetah Gym parking lot for two days of music and mayhem.
On Saturday, attend the Flagship Festival, with hosts Rose Garcia and Kat Florek, presenting music by Devmo, DJ Zel, Ultrabeat, Fiat Lux, Mel Sense and headliners The Veronicas.
After the parade on Sunday, head back north for the Post Parade Bash, featuring Catfight, Dorian Electra, Psalm One, DJ All the Way Kay, Gemini Jones and headliner Jackie Cruz.
The weekend also includes a Family Fest on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., complete with children's-music performers, face painting, family photos, balloon artists and a petting zoo.
Go to www.backlotbashchicago.com for complete information.
Organized Pride June 28-30
The Organized Grime Crew is curating Organized Pride with several events to help Chicago celebrate 50 years of the Parade.
They include:
—Friday, June 28, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.: Bike Zambia Sunset Fundraiser at the Woof-Top Deck, 5646 N. Kenmore Ave. ( with $50 tickets );
—Saturday, June 29, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.: Organized Pride main event at Cerise at Virgin Hotels Chicago, 203 N. Wabash St.;
—Sunday, June 30, 5-10 p.m.: CUN-Tea ( a post-parade tea dance ) at Spybar, 646 N. Franklin St.; and
—Monday, July 1, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.: AFTER THOTs at The Jackhammer Complex, 6406 N. Clark St.
For tickets or more info, visit OrganizedPride.com .
Lighthouse Pride Party June 28
Homewood is hosting the 3rd annual Lighthouse LGBTQ+ Pride Party on Friday, June 28, 5-9 p.m.. in Martin Avenue Square as part of the village's Pride Month Celebration.
This will be the first time Homewood is hosting the party and celebrating Pride during June with rainbow flags decorating the downtown area.
The Homewood Business Association is sponsoring the commemorative flag program that kicks off at the Homewood Artisan Street Fair on Friday, June 7. The Lighthouse Pride Party is free and open to the public. More information is at HomeSweetHomewood.com .
Joliet PrideFest to take place June 29
The inaugural Joliet PrideFest will take place Saturday, June 29, 12-4 p.m., at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St, Joliet.
Some of the events planned include a resource fair of non-profit organizations, food trucks, music sets from a family-friendly DJ, a bounce house, an LGBTQ history display, a traveling zoo, storytime with Miss Foozie and more.
Visit "Joliet PrideFest" on Facebook for more details.
'Chicago is a Drag' June 28
A Queer Pride presents the inaugural Chicago is a Drag festival, Friday, June 28, in the Cheetah Gym parking lot in Andersonville, starting at 4 p.m.
The event will be hosted by TS Madison and Tiffany "New York" Pollard and will feature special guests Raja, Candis Cayne and Spikey Van Dykey. Emceeing the show will be Aunty Chan, Dida Ritz, Khloe Park, Lucy Stoole and T Rex.
Among the 40+ acts slated to perform are Sheri Payne, Tenderoni, Alexis Bevels, Dusty Bahls, Mokha Montrese, Monica Beverly Hillz and many more.
Tickets available at do312.com/chicagoisadrag .
Pride North festival June 29-30
Rogers Park's Pride North festival hits Glenwood Ave. for two days of DJs, dancing and ( with any luck ) sunshine. Now in its fifth year, Pride North has expanded to two days for the first time. The event will feature two stages of DJs. Following is a complete schedule, which applies to both days:
312 Goose Island stage:
—1-2:30 p.m.: DJ Ron S & DJ FR8O
—2:30-4 p.m.: DJ Eric Daly
—4-5:30 p.m.: DJ Byrne Twins
—5:30-7 p.m.: DJ Sandra Suave
—7-8:30 p.m.: DJ Scandall
—8:30-10 p.m.: DJs Laura B & Val ( The Spinsters )
Ketel One stage:
—Noon-1:30 p.m.: DJ Riley York
—1:30-3 p.m.: DJ Jerry Featherstone
—3-5 p.m: DJ Rich Tunnel
—5-6:30 p.m.: DJ Ron Geronimo
—6:30-8:30 p.m.: DJ DigiMark
—8:30-10 p.m.: DJ Ricky Sixx
Visit www.pridenorth.co for more information.
Inaugural Pride South Side set for June 28-30
The Pride South Side Organizing Committee will hold an inaugural pride festival on Friday-Sunday, June 28-30, in partnership with various local venues.
Those venues include:
—The Stony Island Arts bank, 6760 S Stony Island Ave.;
—The DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl.;
—The South Shore Cultural Center Beach, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.;
—Gallery Guichard, 436 E. 47th St.;
—The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West; and
—Jeffery Pub, 7041 S. Jeffery Ave.
The weekend will kick off with a film screening, in partnership with OpenTV, at the Stony Island Arts Bank on Friday, June 28, 8-10 p.m. The opening night will also include a kickoff party curated by Melloe Drama at Gallery Guichard at 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
On Saturday, June 29, The DuSable Museum will host the main event—a concert and festival at 12-9 p.m. After the festival on June 29, four different venues ( The Promontory, Jeffery Pub and two others TBA ) will host various after-parties.
On Sunday, June 30, The South Shore Cultural Center Beach will host the closing event, "Beachnic; Queering in the Parks."
For tickets and more information, visit PrideSouthSide.com .
Also see Windy City Times calendar at www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/chicago/events/upcoming.php .
