We wanted to know your questions about Pride in Chicago so you could make the most of all the fun. With Pride Fest coming up this weekend, June 16 and 17 in Boystown, and the Pride Parade happening the following Sunday, June 24, from Uptown to Lincoln Park, there’s lots to do. Here’s what you asked and our best answers.
Any deals in bars on food and drink? —Charlotte
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Given the volume of crowds that turn out for the two primary weekends of Pride every year, the foot traffic is significant for local businesses. Bars and restaurants are typically packed. For that reason, food and drink specials aren’t typically advertised much in advance. Your best chance to find any deals would be to walk around Lakeview and the areas surrounding the festivities to find a sidewalk sale or walk-in special.
Best time to arrive?—Charlotte
Pride Fest begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Feel free to arrive whenever.
For the parade June 24, the earliest arrivers start claiming their space at 7 a.m., but if you want to skip waking up at the crack of dawn while still getting a good space, you might try getting there closer to 9 a.m. The parade begins at noon, so you’ll still have to wait for the procession, but finding a good spot is competitive. Folks eventually line up about a dozen people deep for the parade.
As far as where to be, the official Chicago Pride website suggests this:
“For the liveliest viewing spots head to the Boystown section of North Halsted Street, between Belmont Avenue and Grace Street. If you are seeking a less crowded area to view the parade, look for your viewing spots near the beginning of the route along Broadway between Montrose Avenue and Sheridan Road or further along Broadway between Belmont Avenue and Diversey Parkway.”
One more key item to mind: Beware of limited street-crossings. Halsted and Broadway are closed near the beginning of and during the parade, so don’t get caught on the wrong side of the road.
Designated street-crossings will be available. There are at least nine locations, according to the Chicago Pride Calendar:
Montrose Avenue at Broadway
Irving Park Road at Broadway
Grace Street at Halsted Street
Addison Street at Halsted Street
Roscoe Street at Halsted Street
Wellington Avenue at Broadway
Aldine Street at Halsted Street
Cornelia Avenue at Halsted Street
Oakdale Avenue at Broadway
How late do festivities go?—Charlotte
During parade weekend, the main Pride event (besides the parade) will be the women-centered Pride celebration Back Lot Bash, which runs from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and offers a post-parade party from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Both will be in the parking lot behind Cheetah Gym (5248 N. Clark St.).
The parade itself runs from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, but you can hang around the route area for unofficial festivities throughout the evening.
Where do we have our Ubers drop us off? –Charlotte
On parade day, between road closures and traffic, your best bet is to hoof it a little. Try Clark and Belmont or Clark and Addison, or, if you’re coming from the lake, Broadway and Belmont.
If parents want to bring children under 12, are there any specific family-friendly areas or events away from the drunken revelry? –Eric
While there aren’t specific family-friendly parts of the Pride Parade, it’s probably a safer bet than Wrigley Field after a Cubs game. For one, open alcohol containers are prohibited — with a $1,000+ fine for those caught. Sure, you’ll probably see your share of jock straps and bustiers, but the opportunity to show your young ones what it means to be an ally and honor diversity is about as good of a learning experience as you can get (and a few rainbow flags and glitter don’t hurt).
If you’re looking for kid-focused events, check out Back Lot Bash’s Pride Family Fest on June 23 (5238 N. Clark St.). This free party includes live kid’s music, entertainment, crafts and more. Also on June 23, Navy Pier will host its annual Navy Pier Pride (600 E. Grand Ave.), a day of free, family-friendly Pride activities along the lakefront. Details: navypier.org
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Throughout the year, Muffy Fishbasket and her Good Time Gals host weekend “Storytime with Drag Queens” at Shapiro Ballroom (1612 W. Chicago Ave.) and other venues around the city. The $10 per family donation supports school initiatives for LGBTQIA+ youth. Details: muffyfishbasket.com