Pride Festivals in Illinois
Mark your calendar for this summer’s celebrations of love and equality!
All over the world, Pride celebrations take place throughout June, which is known as Pride Month.
Since the start of the modern LGBTQIA+ liberation movement— following the Stonewall Riots in 1969 — hundreds of independent Pride events have sprung up in cities worldwide, each distinctly tied in some way to the foundational movement.
After over 50 years of Pride celebrations, it’s easy to find a way to celebrate that feels best to you. From parties and picnics to festivals and parades, here is a list of Pride celebrations around Illinois:
Annual Quad City UNITY Pride Parade
June 1, 2024 at 11 AM
Held in downtown Moline, the Annual Quad City UNITY Pride Parade brings together the vibrant communities of the Quad Cities for live music, local vendors, drag performances and burlesque. Join them for an event that bridges the Mississippi River!
Rockford Pride Alley Party
June 1, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Begin Pride Month festivities at the Rockford Pride Alley Party, where you can enjoy food, music, drinks, vendors, and lots of entertainment. Best part? It's a FREE event, open to everyone!
Lake County PrideFest
June 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Lake County PrideFest is one of the area’s most highly anticipated summer events—with this year’s event touted to be bigger and better than ever. Get ready for drag shows, music, a beer and beverage tent, food trucks, craft vendors, and games and entertainment for kids.
Springfield PrideFest
May 18, 2024
With more than 100 vendors, entertainment, a drag show, delicious food and drinks, a fun family area, youth and teen talent shows and so much more, the 2024 Springfield PrideFest will be one of the biggest pride-related events across the state.
Buffalo Grove Pride Parade & Picnic
June 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Step out to the sixth annual family-friendly Buffalo Grove Pride Parade. At the age of 12, Molly Pinta of Buffalo Grove attended Aurora's inaugural Pride Parade, which inspired her to create one for her hometown. More than 100 local groups take part, including businesses, school groups, and religious organizations. Following the parade, attendees are invited to the Buffalo Grove Pride Picnic for food trucks, drinks, face painting, lawn games and DJ entertainment.
Ottawa PrideFest
June 8, 2024
Ottawa is gearing up for its 3rd annual family-friendly PrideFest in the city’s historic downtown district. The event features live music, celebrity drag queens, crafts from local vendors, food, activities, and a whole lot more!
Galena Pride Picnic
June 8, 2024 at 12:00 PM
The fourth annual Galena Pride Picnic in Grant Park is on its way, and if it's anything like previous years, it's sure to be a great day out! Think games, face painting, drag queens, live music, raffle baskets, and more fun reflecting the local community. The event prides itself on championing a safe, welcoming, inclusive space.
Woodstock Pride
June 8-9, 2024
Woodstock PrideFest is a weekend of celebration, starting with a Rainbow Run and Pub Crawl on Saturday, and the main event on Sunday, a parade and afternoon festival with entertainment, food, and more. There's also a Pride Promenade all weekend, touring homes and vehicles adorned with pride-inspired displays, and a Pride Art Show.
Aurora Pride Parade
June 9, 2024 at 12:00 PM
The fifth annual Aurora Pride Parade begins at noon on June 9, welcoming participants from businesses, religious organizations, non-profits, youth groups, schools, and more. The event shows the city's support for their LGBTQIA+ family, friends, and allies.
Chicago Pride Festival
June 22-23, 2024 at 11:00 AM
One of the country’s biggest Pride Festivals, the Chicago Pride Fest is a two-day street event held in the iconic Northalsted neighborhood on June 22-23, leading up to the city’s annual Pride Parade on June 30. The festival features live music on three stages, more than 150 food and merchandise vendors, a pet parade, dance exhibitions, drag performers, guest speakers, and teh Chicago Gay Men's Chorus. Entry donations support not only the event itself, but local non-profits and programs supporting local communities.
Chicago Pride Parade
June 30, 2024
The Chicago Pride Parade is one of the most popular LGBTQ+ events in the city. Now in its 53rd year, the Parade concludes the city’s month-long celebrations with a four-mile procession held on the last Sunday of June. The parade makes its way through Uptown, Lakeview, and Lincoln Park. This year 125 contingents will take part, making it one of the largest events of its kind in the country.
Pride in the Park
Date TBC
This two-day music fest celebrates equity, diversity, and good times in Grant Park. The festival donates a portion of ticket sales to The Center on Halsted and provides free tickets to ensure LGBTQ+ youth can celebrate their pride openly and safely.
Navy Pier Pride
June 29, 2024
Navy Pier Pride is an annual free event that consists of a full day of family-friendly festivities. This year's event includes music, performences from local LGBTQIA+ artists, educational programs, and more.
The Queer Fam Pride Jam
June 2, 2024 at 10 AM
The Queer Fam Pride Jam is a joyful, all-ages Pride event featuring a day's worth of creativity-focused activities like dance lessons, music perofrmances, and DJ sets. This year it opens the Chicago House Music Festival at Millennium Park!
Chicago House Music Festival
June 2, 2024
The House Festival brings a full day of DJs to two stages at Millennium Park, including Wayne Williams and Alan King of the Chosen Few DJs, Tony Touch, DJ Slugo, and Johnny Fiasco.
Elgin's Pride Parade & Festival
June 1, 2024 at 11:00 AM
It's back for a second year! 2023 saw Elgin hold its first community-driven Pride Parade and Festival, attracting more than 4,000 attendees. This year's event features a family-friendly Pride parade, followed by a festival with food, music, vendors, and more in Festival Park
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